Carnage very well may be Columbus’s most appealing haunt for the masses. If you’re not quite into the deafening disorientation of Fear Columbus or the shock antics of Haunted Hoochie, Carnage is where you want to be for a traditional and memorable haunt. More importantly, you should be visiting Carnage because it’s a great haunt, period.
This massive building, a former bowling alley, has a large offering of impressive sets. Divided into two primary attractions with vastly different themes, it has a little bit of everything. Even the lobby offers a spacious, indoor queue line, restrooms, photo ops and the single largest and best painted blacklight mural I’ve ever seen.
Inside the first half, The Bayou, rests one of the most impressive builds in the entire haunt - the graveyard, consisting of numerous above-ground vaults, true to those found in southern Louisiana. Over the years, small details have been added to this sprawling section to cut sight lines and this year it felt darker which really enhanced the vibe. I’ve never seen a cemetery build quite like this one anywhere. The Bayou has other impressive sets as well, starting right at the beginning with the docks and continuing through a cabin where a twisted family of characters reside. The haunt offers a very balanced mix of static props, triggered animatronics and actors (both in plain sight and hidden) all of which keeps visitors on the toes, never knowing quite what to anticipate. Carnage does not skimp on detail either. There is so much “stuff” everywhere that not a single room feels plain or lacking.
The second haunt, The Entity, takes place in a hospital. The intensity of this symbiotic outbreak grows as you venture further into the haunt. All the elements you would expect in a hospital-themed haunt are here – dirty equipment, grotesque procedures, nurses that are clearly unregistered – along with so much more. Carnage showcases a mental ward with memorable patients (some even need to be restrained!) and a NICU with infants that may just make you jump.
A shoutout to the actors is highly warranted at Carnage. I can’t recall a single actor that simply jumped out yelling, “Boo!”. They all were very contributing to their area and quick witted with their banter. Some didn’t even talk – they just acted legitimately insane and did a great job at it. Their makeup and costuming was very well done too. One standout accessory I noticed was some kind of glove apparatus with syringe fingers worn by a nurse.
Carnage is one of those haunts that has enough going on that you’ll surely miss some of the details on a single walk through, but that’s also what makes it work so well. Visually, your attention can be pulled in numerous directions so that your mental preparation for the next scare is lacking. Overall, Carnage is equally as entertaining as it is scary. If the actors don’t creep you out, they’ll make you laugh. A third haunt is coming, though we don’t know quite when it will be finished. I can tell you, however, I’m very much looking forward to it! Carnage is always a great time.
This massive building, a former bowling alley, has a large offering of impressive sets. Divided into two primary attractions with vastly different themes, it has a little bit of everything. Even the lobby offers a spacious, indoor queue line, restrooms, photo ops and the single largest and best painted blacklight mural I’ve ever seen.
Inside the first half, The Bayou, rests one of the most impressive builds in the entire haunt - the graveyard, consisting of numerous above-ground vaults, true to those found in southern Louisiana. Over the years, small details have been added to this sprawling section to cut sight lines and this year it felt darker which really enhanced the vibe. I’ve never seen a cemetery build quite like this one anywhere. The Bayou has other impressive sets as well, starting right at the beginning with the docks and continuing through a cabin where a twisted family of characters reside. The haunt offers a very balanced mix of static props, triggered animatronics and actors (both in plain sight and hidden) all of which keeps visitors on the toes, never knowing quite what to anticipate. Carnage does not skimp on detail either. There is so much “stuff” everywhere that not a single room feels plain or lacking.
The second haunt, The Entity, takes place in a hospital. The intensity of this symbiotic outbreak grows as you venture further into the haunt. All the elements you would expect in a hospital-themed haunt are here – dirty equipment, grotesque procedures, nurses that are clearly unregistered – along with so much more. Carnage showcases a mental ward with memorable patients (some even need to be restrained!) and a NICU with infants that may just make you jump.
A shoutout to the actors is highly warranted at Carnage. I can’t recall a single actor that simply jumped out yelling, “Boo!”. They all were very contributing to their area and quick witted with their banter. Some didn’t even talk – they just acted legitimately insane and did a great job at it. Their makeup and costuming was very well done too. One standout accessory I noticed was some kind of glove apparatus with syringe fingers worn by a nurse.
Carnage is one of those haunts that has enough going on that you’ll surely miss some of the details on a single walk through, but that’s also what makes it work so well. Visually, your attention can be pulled in numerous directions so that your mental preparation for the next scare is lacking. Overall, Carnage is equally as entertaining as it is scary. If the actors don’t creep you out, they’ll make you laugh. A third haunt is coming, though we don’t know quite when it will be finished. I can tell you, however, I’m very much looking forward to it! Carnage is always a great time.
One of the entertaining parts of haunts for me is seeing what a building was before a haunt moved in. Warehouses, prisons, schools, Jails, strip malls... You name it, someone has probably made a haunt out of it. Carnage made their home on the Southeast side of Columbus inside of what used to be a bowling alley. You can still see some remnants of that, including the sweet 90s carpet, but it turns out a bowling alley makes for a great place to build a haunt. Facilities already built-in, tons of wide open space, plenty of parking, sometimes not in the nicest of neighborhoods- pretty much perfect.
Carnage moved in to this building a few years ago and promptly filled it up with a fairly huge haunt build. Two big haunts that are highly detailed, creative, and stuffed full of scares. The first portion of the haunt is The Bayou. This is my favorite portion of the haunt, and it has some of the coolest sets. The swamp is one of the better ones I've been through, complete with a nice squishy floor to really add to the authenticity. Then the graveyard really comes in strong with some amazing realism and a huge creep factor.
The second part of Carnage is The Entity. This is themed to an abandoned hospital where something is uncontrollably spreading its way through, and there's no way to escape it. While the crazy hospital is done at a number of haunts, the difference that Carnage has in theirs is the actors! This year had one of the best groups of actors we've experienced here, and that's across both The Bayou and The Entity. Super energetic, well-trained, entertaining, and interactive!
I've said for quite a while that good actors can totally transform a haunt experience. While the builds at Carnage were mostly fine-tuned for this year and I didn't notice any huge renovations or changes, the experience felt completely fresh because of the crew they have in there amping things up! Excellent jobs throughout!
Carnage is a great place to visit, and I'd absolutely recommend it to anyone in the Columbus area. It's operated well, is completely indoors, has plenty of free parking, and is an excellent haunt experience overall.
Carnage moved in to this building a few years ago and promptly filled it up with a fairly huge haunt build. Two big haunts that are highly detailed, creative, and stuffed full of scares. The first portion of the haunt is The Bayou. This is my favorite portion of the haunt, and it has some of the coolest sets. The swamp is one of the better ones I've been through, complete with a nice squishy floor to really add to the authenticity. Then the graveyard really comes in strong with some amazing realism and a huge creep factor.
The second part of Carnage is The Entity. This is themed to an abandoned hospital where something is uncontrollably spreading its way through, and there's no way to escape it. While the crazy hospital is done at a number of haunts, the difference that Carnage has in theirs is the actors! This year had one of the best groups of actors we've experienced here, and that's across both The Bayou and The Entity. Super energetic, well-trained, entertaining, and interactive!
I've said for quite a while that good actors can totally transform a haunt experience. While the builds at Carnage were mostly fine-tuned for this year and I didn't notice any huge renovations or changes, the experience felt completely fresh because of the crew they have in there amping things up! Excellent jobs throughout!
Carnage is a great place to visit, and I'd absolutely recommend it to anyone in the Columbus area. It's operated well, is completely indoors, has plenty of free parking, and is an excellent haunt experience overall.
Carnage, located in a former bowling alley in Columbus, offers a dynamic and captivating haunt experience with its two primary attractions, The Bayou and The Entity. The detailed and creatively crafted sets within both sections, including the eerie graveyard and the unsettling hospital, contribute to the immersive and authentic atmosphere. The haunt's skilled and interactive actors further enhance the overall experience, delivering a balance of scares and entertainment. While Carnage excels in providing a well-rounded haunt experience, there is an opportunity for further renovations and thematic innovations to elevate the visitor's journey. Enhancing the existing builds and incorporating fresh elements could help create a more dynamic and engaging experience for visitors, solidifying Carnage's position as a must-visit haunt in the Columbus area.
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