Scream Theme Studios' Battle of the Haunted Houses has been a Fort Collins tradition for 23 years, but is adding spooks and thrills to our community for the last time this year. We knew it was a classic and a must-see for any Halloween reporters (a title we lovingly hang up after this column), so we shelved our insecurities, took deep breaths and locked hands for what we were sure would be torture in its finest form.

So how did it go?

We had a blast.

Haunts start before you even get into a haunted house with in-character gate keepers sporting off-colored eyes, professional-grade makeup and costumes and scripts to adequately psych you out for the experience. Animatronics (which we won't reveal so as not to ruin your experience) in the lobby also added for a few surprised patrons who thought their scare experience was complete after exiting house doors.

Read the full review on the Fort Collins Coloradoan.

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