Nightmare on Edgewood continues to arguably be the most well-rounded haunted house we visit. This season brought an immense amount of changes, great actors and just the right amount of intensity to keep any visitor on edge.
I’ve always been impressed with Edgewood’s take on the movies. Ever since I first spotted their marquee facade years ago, I was hooked. The dusty, retro, incandescent light-filled billboard looked like something from another era that you only see in movies. At that time, the haunt was a homage to our favorite horror characters. This year, Edgewood once again opens with the movies, but this time, it’s their own feature. First off, a little mini effect kicks off before you go it. The spire of the marquee cracks open to reveal an unfortunate soul being engulfed by the demons within. It’s a nice metaphor for what’s to come.
Inside, we were greeted by Chip, the theater manager….several times. The guy gets around. As he escorted us through the disheveled halls of this 1980’s movie house, it was clear this theater had seen many better days. We quickly found ourselves upstairs in the projector room. Nightmare on Edgewood has excelled at the art of foreshadowing. In this case, the projector rooms overlooks the movie theater that you’ll soon find yourself seated in after descending back down the stairs. After a short break and a glimpse at the feature film, we became one with the movie literally entering through the screen. Inside the twisted tale, we were now part of a horrific house full of demented killers and possessed victims. One very notable feature was a bedroom complete with levitating bed and nightstands with an incredible actress writhing on the bed as if it were a supernatural rodeo. These actors are not shy my any means. They’ll touch, grab and most certainly intimidate.
After escaping this hellish house through the back fence, we found ourselves in line for the next area – an abandoned factory-turned underground club. Before you go thinking it’s time for a rave, stop, and think more or something along of lines of the movie “Hostile”. Still wanna party? You are the entertainment…well, pieces of you perhaps. A few rooms in, once again, the foreshadowing is doubled up. This time you’ll find yourself in a viewing room with not one but TWO rooms you get to look forward to – the world’s most unsanitary dentist office and a general-purpose examination room. If you’re lucky, you’ll be selected for one or both procedures. These actors come complete with tools of the trade and they will get very up close and personal with them. Best of all, the visitors behind you will get to watch! Better put on a good show.
Lastly, it was once again time to visit Conley Farm. It sounds like this may be the last year to visit this insane family, made infamous by the “table scene” over the past two years. This year, without a question, the showcase of this area were the actors. It seemed like no matter where we were in this haunt, they were right there over and over. “Momma” especially made her threatening presence known multiple times. The Conley’s aren’t afraid to make personal contact. We were pushed against walls, shoved into troughs, nearly face planted into utility tubs of water and pretty much relentlessly accompanied through the whole thing. The Conley’s also may hold a record for the largest collective of both animal and human body parts and they’re a bit fixated on shoving them in your face for a tasty sample.
Nightmare on Edgewood is one of the most polished haunts we visit. Every scene is complete and seamless. It’s one of those places where brand new construction looks like it’s decades-aged and the ambient props are so plentiful that the rooms feel authentic and not vapid. The walking areas are purposely narrow to ensure there is no means to avoid the actors or triggered effects. No actors are timid. All of them will approach you without hesitancy and though the level of their physical contact ranges, it never feels like, “ok that’s going too far.” It takes a great deal to scare me anymore, but I am sure many less desensitized people will find Edgewood to be among the more frightening haunts they visit and certainly one of the most entertaining.
This haunt continues to dodge my constructive criticism. It’s executed so well on each of the facets that we score on that it’s quite challenging to find an area of improvement. If I were forced to pick, I would rate the middle area, the factory, as the weakest though Edgewood’s weakest is still superior to some other haunts’ full presentation. The only reason I even mention it is that by comparison, this area felt less chaotic and slower paced. I would push the torture angle a little more one way or another, perhaps not all through interaction but side scenes of other torturous aftermath that has taken place taken place. Pools of flesh and blood….walking over countless teeth, with audible crunching. It should be vile! Or maybe that’s just ME going too far?
Nightmare on Edgewood deserves to be on your “Must Visit” list!
I’ve always been impressed with Edgewood’s take on the movies. Ever since I first spotted their marquee facade years ago, I was hooked. The dusty, retro, incandescent light-filled billboard looked like something from another era that you only see in movies. At that time, the haunt was a homage to our favorite horror characters. This year, Edgewood once again opens with the movies, but this time, it’s their own feature. First off, a little mini effect kicks off before you go it. The spire of the marquee cracks open to reveal an unfortunate soul being engulfed by the demons within. It’s a nice metaphor for what’s to come.
Inside, we were greeted by Chip, the theater manager….several times. The guy gets around. As he escorted us through the disheveled halls of this 1980’s movie house, it was clear this theater had seen many better days. We quickly found ourselves upstairs in the projector room. Nightmare on Edgewood has excelled at the art of foreshadowing. In this case, the projector rooms overlooks the movie theater that you’ll soon find yourself seated in after descending back down the stairs. After a short break and a glimpse at the feature film, we became one with the movie literally entering through the screen. Inside the twisted tale, we were now part of a horrific house full of demented killers and possessed victims. One very notable feature was a bedroom complete with levitating bed and nightstands with an incredible actress writhing on the bed as if it were a supernatural rodeo. These actors are not shy my any means. They’ll touch, grab and most certainly intimidate.
After escaping this hellish house through the back fence, we found ourselves in line for the next area – an abandoned factory-turned underground club. Before you go thinking it’s time for a rave, stop, and think more or something along of lines of the movie “Hostile”. Still wanna party? You are the entertainment…well, pieces of you perhaps. A few rooms in, once again, the foreshadowing is doubled up. This time you’ll find yourself in a viewing room with not one but TWO rooms you get to look forward to – the world’s most unsanitary dentist office and a general-purpose examination room. If you’re lucky, you’ll be selected for one or both procedures. These actors come complete with tools of the trade and they will get very up close and personal with them. Best of all, the visitors behind you will get to watch! Better put on a good show.
Lastly, it was once again time to visit Conley Farm. It sounds like this may be the last year to visit this insane family, made infamous by the “table scene” over the past two years. This year, without a question, the showcase of this area were the actors. It seemed like no matter where we were in this haunt, they were right there over and over. “Momma” especially made her threatening presence known multiple times. The Conley’s aren’t afraid to make personal contact. We were pushed against walls, shoved into troughs, nearly face planted into utility tubs of water and pretty much relentlessly accompanied through the whole thing. The Conley’s also may hold a record for the largest collective of both animal and human body parts and they’re a bit fixated on shoving them in your face for a tasty sample.
Nightmare on Edgewood is one of the most polished haunts we visit. Every scene is complete and seamless. It’s one of those places where brand new construction looks like it’s decades-aged and the ambient props are so plentiful that the rooms feel authentic and not vapid. The walking areas are purposely narrow to ensure there is no means to avoid the actors or triggered effects. No actors are timid. All of them will approach you without hesitancy and though the level of their physical contact ranges, it never feels like, “ok that’s going too far.” It takes a great deal to scare me anymore, but I am sure many less desensitized people will find Edgewood to be among the more frightening haunts they visit and certainly one of the most entertaining.
This haunt continues to dodge my constructive criticism. It’s executed so well on each of the facets that we score on that it’s quite challenging to find an area of improvement. If I were forced to pick, I would rate the middle area, the factory, as the weakest though Edgewood’s weakest is still superior to some other haunts’ full presentation. The only reason I even mention it is that by comparison, this area felt less chaotic and slower paced. I would push the torture angle a little more one way or another, perhaps not all through interaction but side scenes of other torturous aftermath that has taken place taken place. Pools of flesh and blood….walking over countless teeth, with audible crunching. It should be vile! Or maybe that’s just ME going too far?
Nightmare on Edgewood deserves to be on your “Must Visit” list!
There just aren't many haunts that can compare to Nightmare on Edgewood. The combination of acting, sets, interaction, and overall extreme-ness of it really is just unmatched!
We make it a point to get to Edgewood at least once a year, and I honestly worry about it a little bit each time. It's been so good for so long, I've started to worry that things will fall off, or I'll just get used to the experience and I won't like it as much. But then every year I walk in the front door and am immediately transported into the psychotic realm that is Nightmare on Edgewood and those worries end up morphing into fear and endorphins instead.
Yet again, Edgewood exceeded my expectations.
Actors: Phenomenal. Every single one of them seemed to take pride in their character and dialogue. Edgewood is a touch haunt and they're not afraid to make themselves known in that regard, but there's so much interaction with the characters that the touch just adds immersion and realism to the experience. There wasn't a single actor through the entire haunt that just popped out of a hiding place and disappeared again, and there were tons of actors who showed up multiple times in multiple places. (Hi Chip!)
Sets: How can they make this many changes from year to year?? There are three different haunt areas inside of Edgewood. Cinema 13 and The Factory are all new, and Conley Farm has had notable changes since last year. Even redoing ONE of these sets is a big undertaking and they did two of them AND a bunch of stuff in the third? It's kind of unbelievable how much they go through to make sure the Edgewood experience is fresh every year.
As for those three haunt areas- the part that stands out for me the most is how there wasn't much that stood out. By that I mean that everything seemed to be as it should. It was realistic, not cluttered, not over-done, not excessively loud, quiet, bright, or dim. As I walked through the scenes, nothing took me away from what was happening around me, and I really felt like I was walking through an old movie theater, a dingy factory, and a ratty old barn. Even the animatronic props that they use seem more effective and well-integrated than in most haunts.
Here I am typing this a few days after going through and I'm getting all amped up again from thinking about it. Nightmare on Edgewood has won our Frightmaster award for a couple of years straight, and they're sure pushing hard to keep that streak going. Well done everyone!
We make it a point to get to Edgewood at least once a year, and I honestly worry about it a little bit each time. It's been so good for so long, I've started to worry that things will fall off, or I'll just get used to the experience and I won't like it as much. But then every year I walk in the front door and am immediately transported into the psychotic realm that is Nightmare on Edgewood and those worries end up morphing into fear and endorphins instead.
Yet again, Edgewood exceeded my expectations.
Actors: Phenomenal. Every single one of them seemed to take pride in their character and dialogue. Edgewood is a touch haunt and they're not afraid to make themselves known in that regard, but there's so much interaction with the characters that the touch just adds immersion and realism to the experience. There wasn't a single actor through the entire haunt that just popped out of a hiding place and disappeared again, and there were tons of actors who showed up multiple times in multiple places. (Hi Chip!)
Sets: How can they make this many changes from year to year?? There are three different haunt areas inside of Edgewood. Cinema 13 and The Factory are all new, and Conley Farm has had notable changes since last year. Even redoing ONE of these sets is a big undertaking and they did two of them AND a bunch of stuff in the third? It's kind of unbelievable how much they go through to make sure the Edgewood experience is fresh every year.
As for those three haunt areas- the part that stands out for me the most is how there wasn't much that stood out. By that I mean that everything seemed to be as it should. It was realistic, not cluttered, not over-done, not excessively loud, quiet, bright, or dim. As I walked through the scenes, nothing took me away from what was happening around me, and I really felt like I was walking through an old movie theater, a dingy factory, and a ratty old barn. Even the animatronic props that they use seem more effective and well-integrated than in most haunts.
Here I am typing this a few days after going through and I'm getting all amped up again from thinking about it. Nightmare on Edgewood has won our Frightmaster award for a couple of years straight, and they're sure pushing hard to keep that streak going. Well done everyone!
Nightmare on Edgewood takes immersion to a whole new level. This haunt recruits some of the best actors and puts on an impressive production. This full contact haunt has a bit of all the terrors you expect in a great haunt, with some unexpected additions.
My favorite part of this haunt is how the actors constantly mix up the group order. We never knew who was going to be leading us or who might end up last. Some of us went missing completely! I love the viewpoint of the slaughterhouse. Witnessing your fate before descending down to it was a different affect and a nice change from the usual line of sight blocking. Chip, with his head trauma and the flame thrower guy killed!
The attention to detail Nightmare on Edgewood puts into their work really makes this haunt one of the tops in the region. From the movie theater concession stand throughout the entire haunt, every corner is themed and thought out. They use every inch of their design to their advantage. The room of pumpkins was awesome and I am sure took a lot of time to craft.
I always look forward to Nightmare on Edgewood night on our spooky season tours and they did not disappoint.
My favorite part of this haunt is how the actors constantly mix up the group order. We never knew who was going to be leading us or who might end up last. Some of us went missing completely! I love the viewpoint of the slaughterhouse. Witnessing your fate before descending down to it was a different affect and a nice change from the usual line of sight blocking. Chip, with his head trauma and the flame thrower guy killed!
The attention to detail Nightmare on Edgewood puts into their work really makes this haunt one of the tops in the region. From the movie theater concession stand throughout the entire haunt, every corner is themed and thought out. They use every inch of their design to their advantage. The room of pumpkins was awesome and I am sure took a lot of time to craft.
I always look forward to Nightmare on Edgewood night on our spooky season tours and they did not disappoint.
From the parking lot to the gift shop, Edgewood offers an experience for anyone wanting a more interactive haunted house this season. While outside buying tickets, you can converse with a zombie creature providing warmth with his flame thrower. Inside, you can enjoy a nightclub like feel while being stalked by multiple characters and enjoying animatronic attractions while waiting for entry into the haunted house.
Once inside the haunted house, the actors are not afraid to touch you, pick you up, throw you on tables… anything short of causing actual physical harm.
Warning: you may get wet.
The only thing I was not a fan of was the peer pressure to get you to kiss inanimate objects. I can’t imagine how many lips have connected to the same set of toes on a fake body.
Despite this flaw, I found myself more disappointed when I went through a door and realized I had entered the gift shop and the haunted house was over.
From the costumes to the acting to the set design, Edgewood does not let you down.
Once inside the haunted house, the actors are not afraid to touch you, pick you up, throw you on tables… anything short of causing actual physical harm.
Warning: you may get wet.
The only thing I was not a fan of was the peer pressure to get you to kiss inanimate objects. I can’t imagine how many lips have connected to the same set of toes on a fake body.
Despite this flaw, I found myself more disappointed when I went through a door and realized I had entered the gift shop and the haunted house was over.
From the costumes to the acting to the set design, Edgewood does not let you down.
Nightmare on Edgewood offers an unparalleled haunted experience with its exceptional actors, well-crafted sets, and intense interactive elements. The haunt's ability to maintain a fresh and immersive environment year after year sets it apart, with each of its three distinct areas, Cinema 13, The Factory, and Conley Farm, impressively designed and meticulously detailed to provide a cohesive and terrifying experience. The haunt's commitment to full immersion is evident in every aspect, from the actors' intense interactions to the intricate thematic elements that make the entire experience deeply unsettling yet incredibly entertaining.
Nightmare on Edgewood continues to excel in delivering a top-tier haunt experience, leaving a lasting impression on all who visit. The haunt's homage to classic horror movies is evident from its meticulously designed marquee facade to its well-executed thematic rooms, creating a sense of nostalgia and suspense that adds to the overall immersive experience. Despite the intensity and occasional discomfort, the haunt maintains a high standard of execution, with a relentless focus on engaging visitors and creating an unforgettable journey through the twisted and horrifying realms of each themed area. Nightmare on Edgewood remains a standout haunt that seamlessly blends terror and entertainment, deserving its spot as a must-visit destination for any haunt enthusiast. |
Questions? Have a story to share? Leave it in the comments!