Todd - Stillwell Manor has become one of our go-to haunts each year for a reason – it’s unique. In a haunt world full of evolving technological integration, special cosmetic effects and gadgetry, it’s easy for a haunt to substitute the pure essence of haunting with more scare for the buck. Not to imply that Stillwell Manor is dated; it’s just got a tangible quality to it that many haunts artificially fabricate.
The primary attraction, Stillwell Manor, is a traditional haunt taking place in a large manor (imagine that) and its grounds. By far, it’s the longest experience which winds you through just about every environment an old mansion would offer – a study, library, kitchen, mausoleum, bedrooms, play rooms, the outdoor grounds. You name it, it’s there. Everything feels fairly authentic too, well, because it’s decorated with tons of real things – antiques, taxidermy, furniture, toys, art; it all adds to that tangible sense of realism.
Stillwell Manor’s décor is almost a character in itself. If I were to go through without any actors inside, it would still be kind of creepy. The haunt in its entirety is dim, close-quartered and fairly quiet. At very few moments can you sense the scale of the haunt that sits before you (which is even more impressive given that it’s built inside a movie theater). The countless artifacts and trinkets inside produce an energy of their own. Actors are fairly spread out (both strategically and due to 2021’s labor woes), but it’s not all bad since you’re not quite sure when someone will appear from the shadows. Some actors are intimidating while others are funny. Interactions with them is a mixed bag; some will carry dialogue while others will dismiss any talking directed at them. The more interactives ones, however, are memorable. It’s hard to describe the vibe of this haunt. It feels more real than others. Instead of being in a place that feels two-dimensional, where I consciously know the only purpose is scares, Stillwell Manor feels like the kind of haunt where I’m there to absorb the entire experience, encountering the scares along the way.
Stillwell Manor has two other attractions, both significantly smaller than the primary. The first, Forsaken, is set up as what seems to be a showcase of oddities at first. As you descend down the first few aisles (this is the area where the movie theater structure is most apparent), you quickly learn that everything you encounter is the result of a crazy doctor’s demented experiments. Eventually, after being exposed to the toxin, you’ll encounter the doctor himself who looks forward to your inevitable transformation. Portrayed with a great deal of enthusiasm, the doctor ushers you forward though a trailer where you are rescued by a gypsy. Yeah, I didn’t see that coming either. For me, Forsaken is the weakest of the three attractions. The space confinements, especially in the beginning just do not provide much room to set effective scenes. If it weren’t for the exposure room or the doctor’s interaction, Forsaken would be a bit of a flop for me. It hasn’t changed much at all in recent years, and isn’t entirely discernable from the space’s previous theme, Isabella’s Beyond.
The third attraction is Tantibus which has been there since we started coming to Stillwell Manor, though it’s gone through various revisions. Tantibus is a haunt targeting specific fears that reside in all of us. It begins in the upper floor in a makeshift medical facility where good healthcare is nowhere to be found. Bloody remnants of patients lie about, psychotic victims are kept in confinement, deranged nurses amble about and worst of all, elevator music that you will hear in your head all night long predominantly plays throughout. Soon enough, you’ll go down to the first floor via the legendary slide ending in the ball pit. Many phones and other belongings have been lost in the ball pit so secure your things! There’s a bit more to encounter like the clown area and what I refer to as the pool noodle room. Tantibus has more going for it than Forsaken and certainly the potential to expand (I cant speak to the availability of space, however). There are many other nightmarish encounters that could be included, even at the expense of some of the existing ones.
Stillwell Manor is a very original and welcoming experience. There’s nothing cookie cutter about it and it’s the kind of place that I could just stay at for hours, watching the interactions of patrons and staff. The owners are great people with a talent of bringing an idea to reality using more than just a wallet. Not all haunts need to have the Hollywood aesthetic as clearly demonstrated by Stillwell Manor.
The primary attraction, Stillwell Manor, is a traditional haunt taking place in a large manor (imagine that) and its grounds. By far, it’s the longest experience which winds you through just about every environment an old mansion would offer – a study, library, kitchen, mausoleum, bedrooms, play rooms, the outdoor grounds. You name it, it’s there. Everything feels fairly authentic too, well, because it’s decorated with tons of real things – antiques, taxidermy, furniture, toys, art; it all adds to that tangible sense of realism.
Stillwell Manor’s décor is almost a character in itself. If I were to go through without any actors inside, it would still be kind of creepy. The haunt in its entirety is dim, close-quartered and fairly quiet. At very few moments can you sense the scale of the haunt that sits before you (which is even more impressive given that it’s built inside a movie theater). The countless artifacts and trinkets inside produce an energy of their own. Actors are fairly spread out (both strategically and due to 2021’s labor woes), but it’s not all bad since you’re not quite sure when someone will appear from the shadows. Some actors are intimidating while others are funny. Interactions with them is a mixed bag; some will carry dialogue while others will dismiss any talking directed at them. The more interactives ones, however, are memorable. It’s hard to describe the vibe of this haunt. It feels more real than others. Instead of being in a place that feels two-dimensional, where I consciously know the only purpose is scares, Stillwell Manor feels like the kind of haunt where I’m there to absorb the entire experience, encountering the scares along the way.
Stillwell Manor has two other attractions, both significantly smaller than the primary. The first, Forsaken, is set up as what seems to be a showcase of oddities at first. As you descend down the first few aisles (this is the area where the movie theater structure is most apparent), you quickly learn that everything you encounter is the result of a crazy doctor’s demented experiments. Eventually, after being exposed to the toxin, you’ll encounter the doctor himself who looks forward to your inevitable transformation. Portrayed with a great deal of enthusiasm, the doctor ushers you forward though a trailer where you are rescued by a gypsy. Yeah, I didn’t see that coming either. For me, Forsaken is the weakest of the three attractions. The space confinements, especially in the beginning just do not provide much room to set effective scenes. If it weren’t for the exposure room or the doctor’s interaction, Forsaken would be a bit of a flop for me. It hasn’t changed much at all in recent years, and isn’t entirely discernable from the space’s previous theme, Isabella’s Beyond.
The third attraction is Tantibus which has been there since we started coming to Stillwell Manor, though it’s gone through various revisions. Tantibus is a haunt targeting specific fears that reside in all of us. It begins in the upper floor in a makeshift medical facility where good healthcare is nowhere to be found. Bloody remnants of patients lie about, psychotic victims are kept in confinement, deranged nurses amble about and worst of all, elevator music that you will hear in your head all night long predominantly plays throughout. Soon enough, you’ll go down to the first floor via the legendary slide ending in the ball pit. Many phones and other belongings have been lost in the ball pit so secure your things! There’s a bit more to encounter like the clown area and what I refer to as the pool noodle room. Tantibus has more going for it than Forsaken and certainly the potential to expand (I cant speak to the availability of space, however). There are many other nightmarish encounters that could be included, even at the expense of some of the existing ones.
Stillwell Manor is a very original and welcoming experience. There’s nothing cookie cutter about it and it’s the kind of place that I could just stay at for hours, watching the interactions of patrons and staff. The owners are great people with a talent of bringing an idea to reality using more than just a wallet. Not all haunts need to have the Hollywood aesthetic as clearly demonstrated by Stillwell Manor.
Paul - I love Stillwell Manor. There, I said it. I'm not sure what it is about this place, but we go every year, and I'm excited to see it every time. It's a really fun, unique haunt, the people are great, and there are always good scares.
Stillwell consists of three separate haunts under one roof. The main haunt is of course Stillwell Manor, which has a traditional haunted house theme and is the longest of the attractions. It's a super creepy build with lots of detail, and it's fairly long as well. There were a few changes to the Manor for 2021 but overall I think it was mostly the same dark and twisted voyage we've come to expect.
The second portion of the haunt is called Forsaken and is essentially a freak show type of attraction. A little bit circus-y, a little bit crazy house, a lot bit full of lunatics.
The final portion is Tantibus labs. It's a facility for studying fears, and you'll get to experience some of the patients in for research, as well as quite a few of the fears themselves.
All three portions are well done but the big show is still the Manor. It's easily 3-4x as long as the other two attractions, and the time spent fine-tuning it and making updates over the years really shows. It's a fantastic haunt with a couple of good supporting haunts in Forsaken and Tantibus Labs. The biggest issue at Stillwell this year is the same issue that a majority of haunts we've been to are facing... staffing. There are some very talented actors suiting up every night in Stillwell, the problem is finding enough of them to cover what's a fairly large attraction. There were several portions inside where it was obvious the intent was to have an actor or two there, but there wasn't one. Kind of a bummer, but that's just kind of how the world is right now.
Staffing issues aside, Stillwell remains one of my favorites to visit. I always recommend it to anyone in the area, and I always look forward to the next year. If you find yourself anywhere near Anderson Indiana on a night that Stillwell Manor happens to be open... Go visit. You won't regret it.
Stillwell consists of three separate haunts under one roof. The main haunt is of course Stillwell Manor, which has a traditional haunted house theme and is the longest of the attractions. It's a super creepy build with lots of detail, and it's fairly long as well. There were a few changes to the Manor for 2021 but overall I think it was mostly the same dark and twisted voyage we've come to expect.
The second portion of the haunt is called Forsaken and is essentially a freak show type of attraction. A little bit circus-y, a little bit crazy house, a lot bit full of lunatics.
The final portion is Tantibus labs. It's a facility for studying fears, and you'll get to experience some of the patients in for research, as well as quite a few of the fears themselves.
All three portions are well done but the big show is still the Manor. It's easily 3-4x as long as the other two attractions, and the time spent fine-tuning it and making updates over the years really shows. It's a fantastic haunt with a couple of good supporting haunts in Forsaken and Tantibus Labs. The biggest issue at Stillwell this year is the same issue that a majority of haunts we've been to are facing... staffing. There are some very talented actors suiting up every night in Stillwell, the problem is finding enough of them to cover what's a fairly large attraction. There were several portions inside where it was obvious the intent was to have an actor or two there, but there wasn't one. Kind of a bummer, but that's just kind of how the world is right now.
Staffing issues aside, Stillwell remains one of my favorites to visit. I always recommend it to anyone in the area, and I always look forward to the next year. If you find yourself anywhere near Anderson Indiana on a night that Stillwell Manor happens to be open... Go visit. You won't regret it.
Teresa - Stillwell Manor is a fantastic classic haunted attraction located in Anderson, Indiana (which is just northeast of Indianapolis). There is a huge parking lot, so plenty of parking, and the queue is all covered or indoors, so no worries about rain. There's an old-fashioned ticket booth outside where you can buy tickets, but tickets are cheaper if you buy them online, plus it'll save you time when you get there. The website and social media pages have lots of information. There are also discounts for groups bigger than 10 people. Also, if you're not the patient type (meaning you don't have patience, not like a hospital patient, because you will be one of those in the course of the night), there are VIP tickets at very reasonable prices that allow you to skip the main line. Really, the prices are cheaper than most, and you get three separate haunts included in the price (Stillwell Manor, Forsaken, and Tantibus). The backstory of all 3 are on the website. It helps you understand what you're getting yourself into. The building is an old theater, which adds an interesting variety of level changes, slopes, and stairs to the experience. There are plenty of delightfully creepy scenes to look at while you wait that make great backdrops for selfies, plus wandering scare actors to entertain you when you least expect it.
When you go in, they will take 2 photos, one normal group photo, and one with your "scared" faces. They will send them to your phone so you can see them before you decide to purchase them, which I think is great. Next, you will enter Stillwell Manor, where a talking bust will explain everything you need to know, in classic Haunted Mansion style. The décor in the mansion is so authentic. It is stuffed full of items that look like they came from your great-grandparents' abandoned creepy old attic. The floors are creaky and the doors creakier. There are dark passages and you will have to duck down and crawl a couple of times. I honestly can't get over the décor; the flickering lights, fireplaces, music from an old piano, so many dolls, sepia-toned portraits, taxidermy heads, suits of armor, antique dress forms, and spider webs seem endless. You go through so many creepy rooms, encountering ghost after ghost, each with their own stories and intentions, some humorous, some terrifying. The costumes are detailed. One ghost looked like a confederate soldier. And that's just in the house. You also go through a swamp, and an eerie cemetery full of caskets, crypts, marble columns, stained glass, and into a crypt, just to find a dungeon, a morgue, and you walk in on...what is this? -pews, horrible beings in attendance, a casket, and one of the scariest characters I've seen, hosting a -oh, it's a funeral! And that's just the first attraction. Forsaken is the second one, where you'll meet freaks, carnies, mad doctors, and gypsies. Resistance is futile. Just take a deep breath and admit that you also are a freak. And look out for Big Bertha at the end. Here's a hint: when you realize you're out, turn around and you'll see her. One thing I should have mentioned earlier, there is a central area where the old concession stand was when it was a theater where you can buy refreshments and souvenirs and there are actual real restrooms, which is nice. You'll find yourself here when you exit all 3 of the haunts. The final attraction is Tantibus, which means "nightmare" in Latin. This one is a research facility doing testing on people to help them understand and cope with facing their fears. I absolutely love the upbeat elevator music in this section. It is so incongruous! If hospitals creep you out, this one won't be easy! Think insane patients trying to get out or get you, bloody emergency room scenes, gross destroyed bathrooms, and a fun slide into a funhouse-style nightmare, with mazes and clowns. Stillwell Manor isn't the most high-tech place, but the décor here is authentic and it gives you a wonderful classic haunted house experience. And the effects are deceptively good. They had to create all of this ambiance. The manor in particular is amazing. It's so creative, and the characters are fantastic and interactive. It's just so much fun!
When you go in, they will take 2 photos, one normal group photo, and one with your "scared" faces. They will send them to your phone so you can see them before you decide to purchase them, which I think is great. Next, you will enter Stillwell Manor, where a talking bust will explain everything you need to know, in classic Haunted Mansion style. The décor in the mansion is so authentic. It is stuffed full of items that look like they came from your great-grandparents' abandoned creepy old attic. The floors are creaky and the doors creakier. There are dark passages and you will have to duck down and crawl a couple of times. I honestly can't get over the décor; the flickering lights, fireplaces, music from an old piano, so many dolls, sepia-toned portraits, taxidermy heads, suits of armor, antique dress forms, and spider webs seem endless. You go through so many creepy rooms, encountering ghost after ghost, each with their own stories and intentions, some humorous, some terrifying. The costumes are detailed. One ghost looked like a confederate soldier. And that's just in the house. You also go through a swamp, and an eerie cemetery full of caskets, crypts, marble columns, stained glass, and into a crypt, just to find a dungeon, a morgue, and you walk in on...what is this? -pews, horrible beings in attendance, a casket, and one of the scariest characters I've seen, hosting a -oh, it's a funeral! And that's just the first attraction. Forsaken is the second one, where you'll meet freaks, carnies, mad doctors, and gypsies. Resistance is futile. Just take a deep breath and admit that you also are a freak. And look out for Big Bertha at the end. Here's a hint: when you realize you're out, turn around and you'll see her. One thing I should have mentioned earlier, there is a central area where the old concession stand was when it was a theater where you can buy refreshments and souvenirs and there are actual real restrooms, which is nice. You'll find yourself here when you exit all 3 of the haunts. The final attraction is Tantibus, which means "nightmare" in Latin. This one is a research facility doing testing on people to help them understand and cope with facing their fears. I absolutely love the upbeat elevator music in this section. It is so incongruous! If hospitals creep you out, this one won't be easy! Think insane patients trying to get out or get you, bloody emergency room scenes, gross destroyed bathrooms, and a fun slide into a funhouse-style nightmare, with mazes and clowns. Stillwell Manor isn't the most high-tech place, but the décor here is authentic and it gives you a wonderful classic haunted house experience. And the effects are deceptively good. They had to create all of this ambiance. The manor in particular is amazing. It's so creative, and the characters are fantastic and interactive. It's just so much fun!
Donna - Stillwell Manor in Indy has something for everyone who is looking to spend a fun, scary evening. The haunt is broken down into three sections-
Stillwell Manor, Forsaken, And Tantibus. With a combined walk-thru time of approximately 1hour (not counting wait time) you will definitely get your money's worth.
I love the fact that they have converted an old movie theater complex into this amazing multilayered haunt. This year has seen the most improvements yet with the outside curb appeal and line entertainment truly one of the best.
For the individual haunts:
Stillwell Manor - This was a very long “traditional “ haunted house that was my favorite of the three. The attention to detail was key to setting the mood as you passed through each room. The lighting and quiet in the dark areas between the rooms worked perfectly to provide that eerie feeling of being watched or followed. There were just enough actors to keep you guessing if that dummy in the corner was real or not. Dark, creepy, Good use of space to make the haunt very long.
Forsaken - This what is a shorter interactive Haunt with a very convincing actor in the beginning telling you the story of the freak show gone bad. You have to breathe in “poisonous gas” before you are helped to escape before you turn into one of the doctors freakish experiments.
Tantibus - this hunt was fairly short as well but I did have a few jump scares and the actors who worked in here were extremely good and really helped to convince you that you were in danger at every turn. The best part of this haunt is the giant slide where you land in a giant ball pit! This was a lot of fun and gave it more of a carnival feeling.
As I mentioned before, Stillwell Manor has something for everyone and the improvements this year inside and out make it one of the best haunts in Indiana.
Stillwell Manor, Forsaken, And Tantibus. With a combined walk-thru time of approximately 1hour (not counting wait time) you will definitely get your money's worth.
I love the fact that they have converted an old movie theater complex into this amazing multilayered haunt. This year has seen the most improvements yet with the outside curb appeal and line entertainment truly one of the best.
For the individual haunts:
Stillwell Manor - This was a very long “traditional “ haunted house that was my favorite of the three. The attention to detail was key to setting the mood as you passed through each room. The lighting and quiet in the dark areas between the rooms worked perfectly to provide that eerie feeling of being watched or followed. There were just enough actors to keep you guessing if that dummy in the corner was real or not. Dark, creepy, Good use of space to make the haunt very long.
Forsaken - This what is a shorter interactive Haunt with a very convincing actor in the beginning telling you the story of the freak show gone bad. You have to breathe in “poisonous gas” before you are helped to escape before you turn into one of the doctors freakish experiments.
Tantibus - this hunt was fairly short as well but I did have a few jump scares and the actors who worked in here were extremely good and really helped to convince you that you were in danger at every turn. The best part of this haunt is the giant slide where you land in a giant ball pit! This was a lot of fun and gave it more of a carnival feeling.
As I mentioned before, Stillwell Manor has something for everyone and the improvements this year inside and out make it one of the best haunts in Indiana.
Emily - Set in an old theater, Stillwell puts on a show that tests all types of fears. With three attractions and a great location, this haunt has rendered a terrifying place to experience the dark parts of entertainment. Finding Stillwell is simple. Look for the giant skeletons on the roof. It is centered in a large lot, with plenty of lighting to let you know you’ve arrived. The ticket booth and line are outside, which allows the full theater to be transformed into a twisted wonderland.
Entering the manor, Alfred introduced us to the horrors to come. I was a little distracted by the lack of seclusion in that area. There should be additional sound effect, as you could hear people in other parts of the haunt, talking and screaming throughout the porch setting. From there, you will be twisting and turning through makeshift corridors, engaging with the souls that linger there. Like all haunts this season, Stillwell was light on actors. The ones they did have were ok but struggled to interact a little. Unless I missed it, I don’t believe there was much of a storyline, so the sets and actors don’t really follow a certain theme, other than exploring a haunted manor.
After the manor, we went through Forsaken. Here, a cute carny with a bad case of hirsutism leads us through her freak show and straight into the doctor’s trap! Here, we were gases in attempt to turn us into freaks for their collection. Unfortunately for the doctor, we were already freaks before we entered. Anyway, the effect of the gas chamber was entertaining. We were able to engage with the actor a little bit and the energy of the group lifted during this part. After the chamber though, this attraction kind of fell off for me. Again, assuming this was due to lack of staff.
The final attraction was Tantibus, which greets you with the elevator music of nightmares. The theme of this set is researching fears and the possibility of curing for them. Naturally, humans experimenting on humans is always a disaster and Tantibus is here to remind us. They wrap it up nicely with slide to what I am assuming is supposed to be clown hell, but there was no clowning around for us.
Even with thin and inexperienced acting, Stillwell really puts work into their sets. The sets are jam packed with clutter, darkness, and death. It may not be the scariest or best executed haunt, but I still had a great time. It is worth the experience. Go and get freaky!
Entering the manor, Alfred introduced us to the horrors to come. I was a little distracted by the lack of seclusion in that area. There should be additional sound effect, as you could hear people in other parts of the haunt, talking and screaming throughout the porch setting. From there, you will be twisting and turning through makeshift corridors, engaging with the souls that linger there. Like all haunts this season, Stillwell was light on actors. The ones they did have were ok but struggled to interact a little. Unless I missed it, I don’t believe there was much of a storyline, so the sets and actors don’t really follow a certain theme, other than exploring a haunted manor.
After the manor, we went through Forsaken. Here, a cute carny with a bad case of hirsutism leads us through her freak show and straight into the doctor’s trap! Here, we were gases in attempt to turn us into freaks for their collection. Unfortunately for the doctor, we were already freaks before we entered. Anyway, the effect of the gas chamber was entertaining. We were able to engage with the actor a little bit and the energy of the group lifted during this part. After the chamber though, this attraction kind of fell off for me. Again, assuming this was due to lack of staff.
The final attraction was Tantibus, which greets you with the elevator music of nightmares. The theme of this set is researching fears and the possibility of curing for them. Naturally, humans experimenting on humans is always a disaster and Tantibus is here to remind us. They wrap it up nicely with slide to what I am assuming is supposed to be clown hell, but there was no clowning around for us.
Even with thin and inexperienced acting, Stillwell really puts work into their sets. The sets are jam packed with clutter, darkness, and death. It may not be the scariest or best executed haunt, but I still had a great time. It is worth the experience. Go and get freaky!
Questions? Have a story to share? Leave it in the comments!