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This year was probably the perfect theme... |
Todd - Literally, A Haunted House at Culbertson Mansion is consistently one of the richest haunts we visit when it comes to story and theme. Each year, a whole new tale is told and the haunt is reconfigured to support it. This year’s theme hit home, taking after it’s namesake as an actual old haunted mansion up for sale. Guests are welcomed as prospective buyers taking a tour of the property.
Before entering this mock home (which as always, was built inside the true mansion’s old carriage house), guests were greeted by ever-witty Lucy-Phurr who went over the house rules and welcomed many photo ops while waiting in line. The haunt began outside, navigating the foggy path to the entrance through a decrepit gravesite. A caretaker scorned Paul for stepping on roses left at a tombstone we passed, accusing him of not respecting the dead…not a good start.
As we entered the haunt, we were greeted by the supposed realtor, who explained that the 160 year-old home had caught fire twice in the past, killing everyone inside. Oh, and there is just a minor bug problem as well. The bugs were the least of our worries. Numerous tortured souls resided inside, each adding spooky lore set within the time period.
There were a number of standout moments, including a séance scene where a man with a calm demeanor channeled the trapped spirits in the house, only to unexpectedly be inhabited by an unwelcome spirit that started to violently thrash his body about. Upstairs, in what appeared to be some form of an apothecary, we were given a brief history lesson regarding the bubonic plague from a plague doctor. She asked us if we knew what the “Ring Around The Rosie” song was about (the plague? Wow…you learn something every day). After explaining the posies were used to cover up the smell of festering plague on victims, we were told we were beginning to smell a little off and encouraged to move on. Also keeping up with history of the time period, there was a room where one person sits and then learns that the camera they are facing is using to photograph the dead. Of course, I was the one that sat down…guess that’s what I get for trying to take a break.
Both this scene and the plague scene were nice tie-ins to last year’s event in the actual mansion. Instead of doing a 2020 haunt (thanks, Covid) a macabre tour was offered inside Culbertson Mansion which depicted many situational scenes from the early 1800s – the occult, death photography, the plague, etc. Since this year’s haunt was in the same vein, it was fitting that these subjects were included.
The haunt then flowed post-death, through a small chapel funeral, a creepy girl eating the remains of an autopsy and then to the energetic mortician (suspiciously very enthusiastic and entertaining) who offered one lucky person an expedited exit. Emily was the luck recipient of the famous coffin ride while the rest of us stood in the black box. If you’ve every visited this haunt in the past, you know that this box spins around to face the other side of the room where you meet up with the coffin rider. This year, they spun that box FAST like a ghetto-carnival ride, and we seriously had to hang out or the centripetal force could have thrown us out. After a dizzy and disorienting finale, we found our was to the exit, greeted by the staple chainsaw guy waiting in the shadows.
The execution of everything was extremely well done, as we’ve come to expect from the Culbertson crew. It’s not the flashiest haunt but a lot of hand-crafted creativity goes into making this building morph into the theme of the year. Year after year, this troupe continues to have great actors that have some serious energy and are on their toes to fully interact with the guests. Rather than using loud backing tracks to stimulate your senses, Culbertson takes a lo-fi approach and uses the quiet to add to its eerie appeal. The lighting is dim, which fit perfectly with this year’s dilapidated interior. Think about it – when’s the last time you were in an adequately lit, creepy house?
Literally, A Haunted House at Culbertson Mansion was LITERALLY that this year and it worked tremendously. This haunt hasn’t been without it’s off years, but this year they nailed it, modeling it after it’s real-life big brother, right across the lawn.
Before entering this mock home (which as always, was built inside the true mansion’s old carriage house), guests were greeted by ever-witty Lucy-Phurr who went over the house rules and welcomed many photo ops while waiting in line. The haunt began outside, navigating the foggy path to the entrance through a decrepit gravesite. A caretaker scorned Paul for stepping on roses left at a tombstone we passed, accusing him of not respecting the dead…not a good start.
As we entered the haunt, we were greeted by the supposed realtor, who explained that the 160 year-old home had caught fire twice in the past, killing everyone inside. Oh, and there is just a minor bug problem as well. The bugs were the least of our worries. Numerous tortured souls resided inside, each adding spooky lore set within the time period.
There were a number of standout moments, including a séance scene where a man with a calm demeanor channeled the trapped spirits in the house, only to unexpectedly be inhabited by an unwelcome spirit that started to violently thrash his body about. Upstairs, in what appeared to be some form of an apothecary, we were given a brief history lesson regarding the bubonic plague from a plague doctor. She asked us if we knew what the “Ring Around The Rosie” song was about (the plague? Wow…you learn something every day). After explaining the posies were used to cover up the smell of festering plague on victims, we were told we were beginning to smell a little off and encouraged to move on. Also keeping up with history of the time period, there was a room where one person sits and then learns that the camera they are facing is using to photograph the dead. Of course, I was the one that sat down…guess that’s what I get for trying to take a break.
Both this scene and the plague scene were nice tie-ins to last year’s event in the actual mansion. Instead of doing a 2020 haunt (thanks, Covid) a macabre tour was offered inside Culbertson Mansion which depicted many situational scenes from the early 1800s – the occult, death photography, the plague, etc. Since this year’s haunt was in the same vein, it was fitting that these subjects were included.
The haunt then flowed post-death, through a small chapel funeral, a creepy girl eating the remains of an autopsy and then to the energetic mortician (suspiciously very enthusiastic and entertaining) who offered one lucky person an expedited exit. Emily was the luck recipient of the famous coffin ride while the rest of us stood in the black box. If you’ve every visited this haunt in the past, you know that this box spins around to face the other side of the room where you meet up with the coffin rider. This year, they spun that box FAST like a ghetto-carnival ride, and we seriously had to hang out or the centripetal force could have thrown us out. After a dizzy and disorienting finale, we found our was to the exit, greeted by the staple chainsaw guy waiting in the shadows.
The execution of everything was extremely well done, as we’ve come to expect from the Culbertson crew. It’s not the flashiest haunt but a lot of hand-crafted creativity goes into making this building morph into the theme of the year. Year after year, this troupe continues to have great actors that have some serious energy and are on their toes to fully interact with the guests. Rather than using loud backing tracks to stimulate your senses, Culbertson takes a lo-fi approach and uses the quiet to add to its eerie appeal. The lighting is dim, which fit perfectly with this year’s dilapidated interior. Think about it – when’s the last time you were in an adequately lit, creepy house?
Literally, A Haunted House at Culbertson Mansion was LITERALLY that this year and it worked tremendously. This haunt hasn’t been without it’s off years, but this year they nailed it, modeling it after it’s real-life big brother, right across the lawn.
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it's one of the creepiest scenes I've seen at any haunt. |
Paul - The haunt at the Culbertson Mansion in New Albany, IN is one of the ones I look forward to the most every year. "Literally, a Haunted House" is put on in the carriage house behind the historic Culbertson Mansion every year as fundraising event to help with the mansion's upkeep and operating expenses. They get an amazing group of actors together, they re-arrange a little bit of the haunt, re-theme it, and start sending the victims inside. They're not the biggest haunt but they'll give any haunt a run for their money.
The Culbertson haunt shouldn't be as good as it is. The budget is low, I believe the actors are volunteers, and the sets are very similar from year to year- but it doesn't feel that way. The building is creepy as hell on its own, so there aren't even that many decorations needed. And even though the theme changes every year, the decor only needs minimal change to fit it perfectly. The dialogue definitely changes though, which leads me to the actors-
I'm not sure where they recruit their actors, but they're SO GOOD! It may be a role with lots of speaking, something with a couple of lines, or in a couple of cases- zero lines at all, but they all do excellent jobs. There were two actors who really stood out to me this year: The graveyard watchman and the girl in the medical room. The watchman just does a great job of interacting with you, delivering his dialogue, and really upping the creep factor before you go in. The girl in the medical room didn't say a word. She was in a dead silent room, standing next to a hospital bed with a single dim light over it - eating parts of the body in the bed. The only thing you heard in there was the sound of her chewing, and it's one of the creepiest scenes I've seen at any haunt. No screaming, no jumping, just chewing. So great.
There are little surprises all over the place and this ends up being one of my favorites every year. The queue line is a good place to wait, there are roaming actors to start building up anticipation, the entire property gets an eerie fog haze over it, and you're bound to have a great time. The Louisville area is packed full of great haunts and the Culbertson is 100% on that list. GO!!!
The Culbertson haunt shouldn't be as good as it is. The budget is low, I believe the actors are volunteers, and the sets are very similar from year to year- but it doesn't feel that way. The building is creepy as hell on its own, so there aren't even that many decorations needed. And even though the theme changes every year, the decor only needs minimal change to fit it perfectly. The dialogue definitely changes though, which leads me to the actors-
I'm not sure where they recruit their actors, but they're SO GOOD! It may be a role with lots of speaking, something with a couple of lines, or in a couple of cases- zero lines at all, but they all do excellent jobs. There were two actors who really stood out to me this year: The graveyard watchman and the girl in the medical room. The watchman just does a great job of interacting with you, delivering his dialogue, and really upping the creep factor before you go in. The girl in the medical room didn't say a word. She was in a dead silent room, standing next to a hospital bed with a single dim light over it - eating parts of the body in the bed. The only thing you heard in there was the sound of her chewing, and it's one of the creepiest scenes I've seen at any haunt. No screaming, no jumping, just chewing. So great.
There are little surprises all over the place and this ends up being one of my favorites every year. The queue line is a good place to wait, there are roaming actors to start building up anticipation, the entire property gets an eerie fog haze over it, and you're bound to have a great time. The Louisville area is packed full of great haunts and the Culbertson is 100% on that list. GO!!!
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We participated in a séance and chose one of our group to leave his soul behind to become one of the collection of sepia photographs on the wall. |
Teresa - Far from my first trip to the Culbertson Mansion's annual haunted house, it remains one of my favorites due to the old-school inventive nature of its scares and the creativity that allows for a unique experience every year. It can be tricky to find information online about this event, so please let me direct you to their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/HauntedCulbertson/. Alternatively, you can just search Literally, A Haunted House at The Culbertson Mansion. I find following the Facebook page to be the best way to keep track of this particular event. The haunt is located in the old carriage house behind the mansion in New Albany, Indiana (across the Ohio river from Louisville, KY) and has been taking place there since the mid-1980s, and it has always been a memorable experience. The haunt is used to raise money to maintain and renovate the Culbertson Mansion, which was built in the 1860s and is a sight to behold, especially at night (although there are also daytime tours of the mansion itself and its incredible decor, and seasonal events and scary story-tellings, all of which I have enjoyed)...but at night, the place comes alive! There is free parking behind the mansion and carriage house near the railroad tracks. You walk up the hill toward the mansion, and the fog rolling out of the cemetery partially obscures your view. You enter through the wrought iron gate, and it is impossible not to be awed by the Second Empire-style architecture of the main house. It is also impossible not to stare at the dark windows, wondering if that was just something moving? Someone working inside? A shadow? Maybe just your imagination. There's a covered area in the back of the house where you can purchase your tickets and get information about the house and other events happening now. Ticket prices are cheaper than most. There are also souvenirs and snacks. Once you get your tickets, you'll wander over to the covered queue where you'll wait, while creepy characters in vintage Victorian-style costumes sneak up behind you. Lucy Phurr will give you a run-down on the rules. She is likely the most glamorous devil woman you will ever see. Look her up, she's magnificent! The theme of the haunt changes every year, and this year's is Vintage Horrors. I loved this! It works so well with the setting. The line isn't usually too long, but it does take a while. This is because the experience is very theatrical and interactive, so they want to make sure your group gets the full attention of the ghastly characters inside.
When it is your turn, a guide leads you down the hill to the fog-enshrouded family cemetery. Please watch your step! You'll meet a couple more characters before climbing the stairs into the carriage house. Here, you'll be greeted and find out a short history of the property which is up for sale. You are interested in buying it, right? Never mind the history of fires and infestations, just have a look around! The haunt is old-school, meaning it isn't packed full of expensive animatronics and props, though there may still be a surprise or two. I find I don't miss them. The low-tech really works here and adds to the creepy feel of a Victorian haunted house. The scenes are creative, hand-crafted and detailed, and really make your skin crawl. There are plenty of jump scares, dark mazes, and nightmarish vintage rooms. I actually got so disoriented by the characters screaming at me in the dark hallways that I took a wrong turn and got us lost temporarily! We participated in a séance and chose one of our group to leave his soul behind to become one of the collection of sepia photographs on the wall. His body was to be prepped in the basement. One of our group was also put in a coffin. The actors were theatrical and sometimes morbidly humorous; I loved their vintage style. We had a fantastic time! It isn't the longest, or the flashiest, but it is so much fun. And you can't beat the ambiance! It's just a cool place to spend a dark night.
When it is your turn, a guide leads you down the hill to the fog-enshrouded family cemetery. Please watch your step! You'll meet a couple more characters before climbing the stairs into the carriage house. Here, you'll be greeted and find out a short history of the property which is up for sale. You are interested in buying it, right? Never mind the history of fires and infestations, just have a look around! The haunt is old-school, meaning it isn't packed full of expensive animatronics and props, though there may still be a surprise or two. I find I don't miss them. The low-tech really works here and adds to the creepy feel of a Victorian haunted house. The scenes are creative, hand-crafted and detailed, and really make your skin crawl. There are plenty of jump scares, dark mazes, and nightmarish vintage rooms. I actually got so disoriented by the characters screaming at me in the dark hallways that I took a wrong turn and got us lost temporarily! We participated in a séance and chose one of our group to leave his soul behind to become one of the collection of sepia photographs on the wall. His body was to be prepped in the basement. One of our group was also put in a coffin. The actors were theatrical and sometimes morbidly humorous; I loved their vintage style. We had a fantastic time! It isn't the longest, or the flashiest, but it is so much fun. And you can't beat the ambiance! It's just a cool place to spend a dark night.
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New Listing! |
Emily - To start, the Culbertson Mansion is gorgeous. Even without the eerie haunt features, the property has its own haunting feeling at night. Upon arrival, there are two separate tents, one for tickets and the second for the haunt line. In line, there were a few characters roaming, giving instructions, and doing the occasional magic trick.
To enter the building, you must first walk through the graveyard, which is monitored by a peevish grave digger. Be sure not to step on any of his friends. Once up the stairs (which are very steep) a nice fella introduces you to the property that is for sale. After you pass through the secret doorway, you are free to explore property, but beware the squatters. They are a little unstable.
I really loved how compartmentalized the place felt. It was well packed, and it felt like a fun house, with exquisite detail from ceiling to floor. There was one incredible scene that I think stuck with most of the group. In almost complete darkness and silence, we witnessed one of the squatters having a snack. It was so simple, but with the low lighting and gentle sounds of ripping flesh, I would swear that body was real. Although the haunt may have been slightly thin on actors, the people they have are amazing. Almost every set was interactive in some way. The actors gave so much energy and really fed into their character to create stellar dialog.
Culbertson is one of the most immersive no touch haunts I have experienced. Never have I discussed diseases with a plague doctor, conducted a group séance, or been solicited for postmortem photos. So, schedule a showing and let them remind you how sweet the ride to your final resting place can be.
To enter the building, you must first walk through the graveyard, which is monitored by a peevish grave digger. Be sure not to step on any of his friends. Once up the stairs (which are very steep) a nice fella introduces you to the property that is for sale. After you pass through the secret doorway, you are free to explore property, but beware the squatters. They are a little unstable.
I really loved how compartmentalized the place felt. It was well packed, and it felt like a fun house, with exquisite detail from ceiling to floor. There was one incredible scene that I think stuck with most of the group. In almost complete darkness and silence, we witnessed one of the squatters having a snack. It was so simple, but with the low lighting and gentle sounds of ripping flesh, I would swear that body was real. Although the haunt may have been slightly thin on actors, the people they have are amazing. Almost every set was interactive in some way. The actors gave so much energy and really fed into their character to create stellar dialog.
Culbertson is one of the most immersive no touch haunts I have experienced. Never have I discussed diseases with a plague doctor, conducted a group séance, or been solicited for postmortem photos. So, schedule a showing and let them remind you how sweet the ride to your final resting place can be.
Questions? Have a story to share? Leave it in the comments!