The Soap Factory

Used to be great place a few years ago when it first started and lasted about 30 minutes. Now they warn you before you go in they may spit in your face, cover you in peanut butter, etc. I got locked in a trunk box for 10 minutes, which, granted, is scary and understandable but when I emerged my date told me that an actor choked her hard against a wall and she was recovering from Pneumonia. I also (besides being in the box) think the whole thing took only about 5 minutes to get through and for about $ 60 for two people not worth it.

The Haunted Basement was amazing! It was very «involved», don’t be surprised to be covered in water, oatmeal, shaving cream, etc or be touched by the actors. That’s what made it though, wayyyy better then any other haunted house, worth every penny and then some, amazing actors, add it to your bucket list! Thanks for the experience

Rating as event venue: attended a wedding here and it is a very chic use of post industrial space. The inside is beautiful and looking at art installations adds a unique flair. It would be better if there was a place for people to smoke cigarettes other than right outside the only entrance.

Just broke my Soap Factory virginity and boy was it. excitingly strange? I loved it. First of it — it’s free! Sounds like my kind of place! Plus parked across the street for free so, so far I’m liking it.
The exhibition featured six different artists — each had their own space with information posted about themselves and their specific art being showcased. Some times I am a little slow to figure out some of the abstract and experimental art but they provide a lot of information about what the artist did and why and how it relates to their overall theme. Lots of interesting pieces that took me a little of out my comfort zone, which I really enjoyed!
Note: It was freezing inside! I was practically shivering (but I was also wearing a spring jacket since I’m optimistic that if I act like it’s Spring it will happen sooner rather than later.)

I came here a few weeks ago on a Friday night with a group of four friends. And I think I went into my experience here with too high of expectations. I’d heard stories that made me shiver but during my own experience I barely let out a scream.
We bought our tickets online the Sunday before for the 9:50 time slot at $ 30 a piece. After submitting myself to the dark maze full of crazy creatures who are allowed to touch you, grab you, and get fake blood and other mysterious fluids on you, I honestly believe it was worth only about half that price.
Upon entry you check in at a front desk, are handed mask that must be worn at all times, and the «rules» are explained to you. There’s a free coat check which is really convenient and I highly recommend using. After checking out coats we stood and waited to be let into the haunted basement. I was more afraid at this point in time than I was in the basement.
I thought the actors were amazing. From the creepy clown to the jittery, crazy woman, I found myself very entertained by their abilities to act so insane. Their costumes were fabulous and effective. I also believe it’s an organized way to give lots of individuals the chance to submit themselves to terror all at once. But it wasn’t nearly as scary as people had told me. I’m wondering if things were different this year. I only screamed once or twice out of shock.
Overall, it was cool and got me in the Halloween spirit but I doubt I will pay $ 30 next year to do it again.

Save your money. It’s crappy, not scary and LAME. It’s been 3 years since they got it right.

I would give it no stars really. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY. This was not anywhere near scary, or fun, no theme, no cohesiveness, and not many characters dressed up to scare patrons. We had on scary masks, the intent I’m sure was we scare each other. So, unless you call running into I-​beams, wood railings, chairs, boxes, etc. in the dark fun you will be disappointed. In our short visit we walked through the same rooms twice. The rooms were set up nicely but had no gools or anyone else inside. We would stand and discuss if there was someone in hiding who would grab or jump out for a scare, alas NO ONE. I have have been going to haunted houses for 25 years and heard about soap factory a couple of years — maybe it was good once but a total rip-​off this year. I go to 1 – 3 haunted houses each year and this was the worst. I wouldn’t have cared if it weren’t for the $ 28.5 for a ticket. After all that we were in for 15minutes before we were «kicked out for hitting» We were a group of women in our mid 50’s and the one they accused of «hitting» is a pediatrician. Not one of us hit anyone, it never happened or they grabbed (and I mean grabbed) the wrong person. By the way their little tease, «if you are too scared, take off your mask and yell uncle and we will lead you out» is also crap. In order to get out you have to take off your mask and say uncle because there is no rhyme or reason, no path to follow out, you’re just wandering around in the dark trying to find someone other then other patrons to scare you…

Delightfully freaky! I visited a preview of the Soap Factory Haunted basement and had a startling, exciting good time. It was nothing too intense, but it was also a nice balance between psychological terror and jump-​scare fun. My only criticism is the tours are done in large groups, which dilutes the scare factor a bit — it’s not as freaky when you notice the actor nearby jumping out at another group, and makes it less likely you’ll be shocked by what lies ahead. Also, the smells, while they add to the aesthetic, are a bit nauseating. But it was definitely worth a visit!

Since the theme changes every year, I feel that I can now review 2013’s Haunted Basement without dropping «spoilers». But still, if you want to be totally surprised when you go in, then DON’T read this review (duh, dumbass)! It’s difficult I think to rate a haunted house — it couldn’t be any more subjective due to everyone’s own fears and scare-​ability. But the whole point of this experience is to make you uncomfortable, so if you give this place a low rating only because you were TOO uncomfortable, then I think you may have missed the point… I was successfully brought outside of my comfort zone and scared sh*tless, so 5 stars from me. Also note that everyone has a different experience. I went in with my boyfriend, we got split up (they do this on purpose), and I saw and did things that he did not, and vise versa.
So in the waiting room, after signing the waiver, the anxiety builds as you wait to the sound of loud heart beats. Thankfully there’s a bathroom (one room/​stall) nearby, so I was able to use it right before I entered because I was afraid I’d literally piss myself in the basement. We robed up in jumpsuits and goggles.
I applaud that this place tries to approach many elements of fright. It’s not just jump-​out-​at-​you-​and-​startle-​you scary, or just that’s-wicked-gory scary, it’s all of that and also just puts you in situations that are foreign and uncomfortable for you. Like first, they separate you from your friend (s) and dictate orders to you. I found this was different and creative because most haunted houses are not allowed to interact with patrons in this way. Here are a few highlights aka things I hated the most aka things I loved the most (since I got out without having a panic attack):
— Being separated and forced to do weird things at «gunpoint»
— Having a mad clown drag me off into a cage, put a bag over my head, and tickle my feet (yup, worst fear.)
— Navigating through a completely dark and very narrow hallway all alone, and being met by a scary-​ass creature in it
— Meeting up with my boyfriend who ended up shirtless lol
— Having to pass this alien-​like creature on stilts to get to exit
— There was this one actor who made the creepiest noises, that my bf and I still occasionally imitate it to freak each other out
— Not pissing my pants
However much I enjoyed it after the fact, I will still get heart palpitations when I consider going this year…

I have a history of reviews for the Haunted basement, and they have been steadily declining. This year was the first time I left a haunted anything and was so mad I wanted to punch something. It was beyond stupid. I’m getting angry all over again some two months later as I write this review. So I guess it was memorable at least.
First of all, what is up with the fetish-​like fixation on sexual molestation? Not scary except for the fact that I paid to be sexually threatened, molested, and demeaned. I was excited, briefly, when we had to put on overalls and face masks. Then figured out it was a paintball situation, and I am glad they didn’t shoot me with a paintball (because dude, that hurts) but that isn’t scary. Its annoying.
Then waiting around… then waiting around… then the sex stuff happens. Its like its too much work to be scary so they go for the cheap and easy sexual threatening stuff. I sat next to a guy who listened to the idiots who were telling him to take off his clothes in the previous room and he clearly was feeling like shit about the whole thing. This was supposed to be FUN. I go to haunted houses to have FUN. Not to sit next to some guy who is on the edge of tears because of the shitty things that were being said and done to him. After last year my wife said never again, and I am glad because I think I would have torn the place apart if I thought she was somewhere being treated the way I was.
I have gone with 6 – 8 other people to this for as long as it has been around. We all agreed: we’re done. New tradition next year. The haunted basement was fun for a while… it was amazing for a time. Now its just worthless.

This was my first year attending The Haunted Basement and my friends and I had a blast!
I got myself all worked up from hearing stories about it, being separated from your group, touching, etc. but I ended up having a really good time. Yes, people touch you, ALOT and sometimes not with their hands. If you do not like to be touched in any way, DO NOT GO. I didn’t mind it. It was fun and I really liked how much they interacted with their guests. I was actually wishing for more when I got to the end.
Cannot wait to see what next year brings : —)

Not really scary. More annoying than anything. I was really excited to go, I think maybe the build up of how amazing everyone says it is, and then having to sign a waiver kind of builds up expectation. To me it didn’t live up to the hype by a long shot.
Don’t want to spoil it for anyone else who’s planning to go, hopefully you enjoy it more than I did.

1^st time visitor and I will be back for viewing arts and their special events.
I attended the North Coast Nosh IX there last Saturday to help with a purveyor. The place has a nice, older building touch along with modern conveniences. The volunteers were more than helpful, and the wifi seemed to work great as both purveyors and attendees were often busy providing content via their preferred social media portals.
The air conditioning was provided by fans. It would be great if an updated air conditioning system will be put in place. The event was pretty warm for both purveyors and attendees.

Art. Pure Art.
That’s what came to my mind when I pondered about my experience at The Soap Factory. After all, even the building itself looks like a work of some imaginative thinker. Why? It’d take a genius to expect an arts gallery to be placed inside an old abandoned sh*thole-lookalike building. When I first strolled past the place, it was being renovated and the caution tapes made me think of a horrid murder scene. Funny enough, I’ve actually been wanting to go to this very place since I first moved to MPLS since I’m an arts geek at heart. But it wasn’t until one sunny day when I decided to go there that I finally put two and two together.
When I went inside, I was blown away that 1) It was free, and 2) there were no dead bodies! I don’t know what the exact theme was at the time, but I’m guessing it’s related to recycling since there were random pieces of flip-​flops and tires assembled together into one fine piece of… art.
Pardon my tongue-​in-​cheek language, but I truly did loved my experience at The Soap. I admired the talent behind all the masterpieces that I saw, and I even scored some pics to share with you guys.
I’d highly suggest you take a date there without first explaining what The Soap Factory is, especially when it’s darker outside. The reaction you get might make for a good kodak moment.

I had wanted to go for years since I had heard that it was deemed one of the scariest haunted houses. I went in 2012 and, while I had a good time, it wasn’t the scariest thing I’ve done. I heard that they tamed it down a bit from a few years ago.
However, I did have a good time. There were definitely scary points, but a lot of the unease of the Haunted Basement came from the actors not worrying about getting up close and personal. They will touch you. I even left with a stamp on my forehead. I was entertained and will probably go again, but I wish the scare factor had been upped a couple of notches.

I try to update my review each year after my visit to the basement. I was pretty disappointed in this year. I even dragged 3 friends who were basement virgins to give them a good scare! It was not scary at all and was slightly boring. How about some rotten smells, wheelchairs, coffins and blindfolds? The best part was the cow slaughtering room with the grinder turned slide. I felt embarassed for talking the place up to my 3 friends who had never been. I hope its better next year!

When my friend offered me a free ticket (one her friends had to cancel), I was stoked to finally visit the Haunted Basement. It is always super hyped, I had high expectations. Unfortunately I was pretty disappointed after leaving the basement. Perhaps I’ve seen too many horror films, but things jumping out at you in a dark hallway are merely startling, not terrifying. A lot of work went into making the sets, but with the limited light I could hardly make out the details. The meat-​packing set was amusing, but I could have done without the creepy playtime section as well as the grabby mask-​wearers near the end. Often the actors seemed like overzealous drama majors at their first gig.
I am glad I didn’t pay to visit, because sadly a trip throught the Haunted Basement is definitely not worth $ 25.

After hearing the non-​stype hype on the Current (89.3 FM), I was pretty stoked to go to this haunted house. Unfortunately, the hype about this place ended up being just that, exaggerated propaganda.
Upon arriving, we waited in a gallery filled with asian «art». However, I found it tough to appreciate the frumpy nudity that greeted those of us that were waiting to proceed downstairs to the basement. Perhaps I’m just too ignorant to «get» the message the «art» was trying to communicate.
As other reviewers have stated, the first half of this haunted house consists of walking in the dark while following a rope. Yawn. Don’t get me wrong, there is plenty of potential to freak people out here. However, this potential is never exploited.
The second half of the haunted house is equally disappointing. The second half wasn’t scary at all. However, some it was slightly disturbing. For example, one room consisted of a large man screwing a «stuffed animal» that resembled a large dog. Upon entering the room and «disturbing» the sex act, the large man then proceeds to grope you as you try to navigate through the room. As you proceed through the room, a stubby man with a «rope for a penis» joins in on the grope session. All in all, not scary but I don’t like pudgy strangers mauling my body for their own entertainment.
$ 21 a ticket? Me thinks not… I wouldn’t pay $ 10 for this experience.

I was hoping my search to find a haunted house that was scary would end here. Unfortunately, the search goes on.
Spoiler Alert:
The first half is completely in the dark, where you hang on to a rope to find your way through. I expected something, anything to happen that would startle me, but nothing. The only «surprise» was walking into something that brushed my neck and touching something along the rope that felt similar to a .50 squishy ball kids win from the arcade. The second half was not any better with boring, dim lit rooms that contained different themes of which not one was scary. The big ta’da was the end where they separate the group and push you into a standing coffin which still has light thanks to a peephole. If you’re claustrophobic this would probably be scary, but quite frankly it was just hot and stuffy and left me thanking Secret for making a great product.
Moral of the review: Don’t waste your time or money. The hype is just that, hype.

My first year at the Soap Factory Haunted Basement was 2010. I couldn’t stop raving about how fantastic it was. It was scary, it was fun, and I couldn’t wait to get back. This year was not anything like that. Adding the smells and the people chasing us was fun. But being physically accosted by men twice my size was unexpected and not welcome. They used their bodies to push us around, hold us against a wall, and touch us inappropriately. And when I tried to resist they yelled at me to «stop touching the actors.» Really? Then get your 6’3″ body off of my tiny frame. We were in and out in 15 minutes and every single person emerged asking «was that it?»