Todd - Sometimes it’s a challenge to review The Dent Schoolhouse because in many ways it is a next-level haunt, particularly in its build/environments, trademark characters and lore. In my opinion The Dent Schoolhouse is in a league of few and exemplifies the echelon of professional realism that other haunts aim to achieve.
The builds and environmental execution are simply put, flawless. Everything inside, even if it is brand new, looks as if it has been there for nearly a century (with the exception of a few unconventional areas – clown room). The Dent team could easily host a masterclass in haunt construction, distressing, aging and lighting. Everything looks naturally old, dirty and disheveled and from a haunt perspective, it’s simply stunning.
This year’s big update was a remodel of the Fall Festival, the pre-entry queue area to the side of the building. After group pictures are taken, the path now intertwines between various decorative booths (some new, some old), each featuring a ghoulish character or Halloween tradition with a sinister twist. Formerly, the Fall Festival had a stage with a LOT of pumpkins set as the backdrop which would light up in sync with music. This concept has been expanded this year, adding a multitude of new pumpkins, creating a whole new backdrop for the entire Fall Festival. Literally hundreds of individually unique pumpkins, stacked at least 15 feet tall, line the entire street-facing wall.
Inside, well, not much has changed. Last year brought large revisions to the first floor so I wasn’t expecting a whole lot this year. A few scenes are starting to age and become predictable. For me, the one that resonated the most is the coffin room. It’s a small area, but I’ve seen this room, unchanged enough times that it’s engrained in my memory and I know exactly how the coffins are placed, where the spiders are, where the drop panel is and when the actor will likely flip the latch. I’m actually surprised that there’s never been any armatures installed to make the coffin lids pop open a little or some such enhancement. I would also personally like to see the outside space with the school buses get repurposed as well. I mean, yeah it’s cool that they’ve got a few real school buses, but it’s enough of an area that an entire new scene could be placed there that has more eye-catching content. This all may sound extremely picky, but trying to critique this haunt’s builds can be challenging – they’re that good.
The overall execution of the haunt was well done, despite the feeling that actors may have been a little lean in count (following suit everywhere else). A few times it seemed like the room’s actor had to cover a more ground than usual. However, it didn’t feel unnatural or exaggerated. In fact, if I didn’t know this haunt so well, I may not have even noticed. I cant recall any actor that underperformed, so hats off to the cast for making the best out of a possibly demanding situation. I’d also like to give a spatula salute to the chef for his entertaining sampling of whoever he was cooking up that night. Love that tuna!
The side attraction, Queen City Slaughter Yard, had no new offerings that I could recall. It was still the “You’re going to become the next meat to be processed” theme with a handful of actors doing their best to be intimidating while wielding various butchering tools or chainsaws. I take it as an added bonus but it easily pales in comparison to the schoolhouse. It would be nice to see this outdoor area become an extension of the schoolhouse; something in-theme like a playground, outdoor activities, etc.
Overall, The Dent Schoolhouse sets the bar in many ways and it’s very impressive. I wouldn’t say this year was the best show I’ve seen them put on, but every time I go (typically ~3 times a year), I’m just fascinated at how incredible everything is. This year, the experience felt a little less dynamic than in the past but this could honestly just be because I experience it much more than the average person. Easily put, it felt more like a tour for eye candy than it did a house of scares.
The builds and environmental execution are simply put, flawless. Everything inside, even if it is brand new, looks as if it has been there for nearly a century (with the exception of a few unconventional areas – clown room). The Dent team could easily host a masterclass in haunt construction, distressing, aging and lighting. Everything looks naturally old, dirty and disheveled and from a haunt perspective, it’s simply stunning.
This year’s big update was a remodel of the Fall Festival, the pre-entry queue area to the side of the building. After group pictures are taken, the path now intertwines between various decorative booths (some new, some old), each featuring a ghoulish character or Halloween tradition with a sinister twist. Formerly, the Fall Festival had a stage with a LOT of pumpkins set as the backdrop which would light up in sync with music. This concept has been expanded this year, adding a multitude of new pumpkins, creating a whole new backdrop for the entire Fall Festival. Literally hundreds of individually unique pumpkins, stacked at least 15 feet tall, line the entire street-facing wall.
Inside, well, not much has changed. Last year brought large revisions to the first floor so I wasn’t expecting a whole lot this year. A few scenes are starting to age and become predictable. For me, the one that resonated the most is the coffin room. It’s a small area, but I’ve seen this room, unchanged enough times that it’s engrained in my memory and I know exactly how the coffins are placed, where the spiders are, where the drop panel is and when the actor will likely flip the latch. I’m actually surprised that there’s never been any armatures installed to make the coffin lids pop open a little or some such enhancement. I would also personally like to see the outside space with the school buses get repurposed as well. I mean, yeah it’s cool that they’ve got a few real school buses, but it’s enough of an area that an entire new scene could be placed there that has more eye-catching content. This all may sound extremely picky, but trying to critique this haunt’s builds can be challenging – they’re that good.
The overall execution of the haunt was well done, despite the feeling that actors may have been a little lean in count (following suit everywhere else). A few times it seemed like the room’s actor had to cover a more ground than usual. However, it didn’t feel unnatural or exaggerated. In fact, if I didn’t know this haunt so well, I may not have even noticed. I cant recall any actor that underperformed, so hats off to the cast for making the best out of a possibly demanding situation. I’d also like to give a spatula salute to the chef for his entertaining sampling of whoever he was cooking up that night. Love that tuna!
The side attraction, Queen City Slaughter Yard, had no new offerings that I could recall. It was still the “You’re going to become the next meat to be processed” theme with a handful of actors doing their best to be intimidating while wielding various butchering tools or chainsaws. I take it as an added bonus but it easily pales in comparison to the schoolhouse. It would be nice to see this outdoor area become an extension of the schoolhouse; something in-theme like a playground, outdoor activities, etc.
Overall, The Dent Schoolhouse sets the bar in many ways and it’s very impressive. I wouldn’t say this year was the best show I’ve seen them put on, but every time I go (typically ~3 times a year), I’m just fascinated at how incredible everything is. This year, the experience felt a little less dynamic than in the past but this could honestly just be because I experience it much more than the average person. Easily put, it felt more like a tour for eye candy than it did a house of scares.
Paul - Every year when we're on our way back to The Dent Schoolhouse, I always wonder if it's really as good as the way I remember it. Is it really THAT good of a haunt? Are the actors really THAT good at their roles? Is it really THAT perfectly decorated? Well... Spoiler alert: YES.
I swear it seems like I say it every year, but Dent is just in another league when it comes to haunts. The quality of everything and everyone involved just isn't rivaled by most other operations. They manage to operate an attraction that's scary, fun, beautiful, creepy, entertaining, and immersive. It's a perfect blend of things for the general public, yet they still switch things up occasionally for those who want something different- For the kids, they'll ramp the scariness down for their lights on days. And for the guests who the normal haunt is too tame for... the lights out nights are 100% insane.
The Dent Schoolhouse is located on the West side of Cincinnati in an actual 1800s schoolhouse, and the building is absolutely packed with haunt excellence (hauntcellence?). The actors, sets, lighting, sounds, and props are all as good as it gets, and I think it's been progressively getting darker and scarier by the year. The attention to detail is unmatched as well- For instance; There's an area where you walk through a bunch of bodies hung from the ceiling. In most haunts you just walk through them and that's it. But here, there's actually some kind of device that they use to gently swing the bodies back and forth, even when no one has touched them to make them move. It just adds that extra little bit of creepiness that you won't find elsewhere. The whole haunt is filled with detail like that from start to finish!
One of the other parts that I think sets Dent apart from the others... The queue. It's an outdoor queue so you definitely have to dress for the weather, and it can get pretty long some nights, but it's probably one of the most entertaining queue lines around- Mostly due to their roaming actors. The whole time you're waiting, actors will be sneaking around to make unsuspecting people jump out of their shoes. Pumpkin Smasher, Charlie the Janitor, Princess Petunia, Zobo the clown, and several others will keep you on your toes the entire time, and provide more entertainment than you'd probably expect. And I'm shocked at Charlie's pipe wrench control every time I see him swing that thing!
The Dent Schoolhouse is an amazing haunt that any haunt fan needs to see at some point in their life. It's just amazing to experience, yet somehow continues to improve bit by bit every year. It's one of the best in the country and I feel fortunate to have it so close to home.
I swear it seems like I say it every year, but Dent is just in another league when it comes to haunts. The quality of everything and everyone involved just isn't rivaled by most other operations. They manage to operate an attraction that's scary, fun, beautiful, creepy, entertaining, and immersive. It's a perfect blend of things for the general public, yet they still switch things up occasionally for those who want something different- For the kids, they'll ramp the scariness down for their lights on days. And for the guests who the normal haunt is too tame for... the lights out nights are 100% insane.
The Dent Schoolhouse is located on the West side of Cincinnati in an actual 1800s schoolhouse, and the building is absolutely packed with haunt excellence (hauntcellence?). The actors, sets, lighting, sounds, and props are all as good as it gets, and I think it's been progressively getting darker and scarier by the year. The attention to detail is unmatched as well- For instance; There's an area where you walk through a bunch of bodies hung from the ceiling. In most haunts you just walk through them and that's it. But here, there's actually some kind of device that they use to gently swing the bodies back and forth, even when no one has touched them to make them move. It just adds that extra little bit of creepiness that you won't find elsewhere. The whole haunt is filled with detail like that from start to finish!
One of the other parts that I think sets Dent apart from the others... The queue. It's an outdoor queue so you definitely have to dress for the weather, and it can get pretty long some nights, but it's probably one of the most entertaining queue lines around- Mostly due to their roaming actors. The whole time you're waiting, actors will be sneaking around to make unsuspecting people jump out of their shoes. Pumpkin Smasher, Charlie the Janitor, Princess Petunia, Zobo the clown, and several others will keep you on your toes the entire time, and provide more entertainment than you'd probably expect. And I'm shocked at Charlie's pipe wrench control every time I see him swing that thing!
The Dent Schoolhouse is an amazing haunt that any haunt fan needs to see at some point in their life. It's just amazing to experience, yet somehow continues to improve bit by bit every year. It's one of the best in the country and I feel fortunate to have it so close to home.
...a fantastic waiting area where you can take the best Halloween photos you'll get all season, queue actors who are not only scary, but entertaining, the extremely professional design of the haunt itself, the detailed decor, pro-level effects, and non-stop scares all the way through with theme park level animatronics, props, lighting and music, and you'll find yourself paying yearly tuition, just to experience it again. |
Teresa - The Dent Schoolhouse is rated as one of the top haunts in the country on pretty much every list that ranks haunts. Why? Well, let's start off with the backstory and location. It's located in an actual old schoolhouse, built in the 1800s, and the backstory is about a janitor, Charlie, who killed lots of kids years ago and was never caught. You can find details of this story on the internet. Now, add to that a fantastic waiting area where you can take the best Halloween photos you'll get all season, queue actors who are not only scary, but entertaining, the extremely professional design of the haunt itself, the detailed decor, pro-level effects, and non-stop scares all the way through with theme park level animatronics, props, lighting and music, and you'll find yourself paying yearly tuition, just to experience it again. I find it to be one of the most fun haunts to follow on social media because they do fun updates, videos, and you really get to know the iconic characters which you will get to see in person when you visit. They're in their 25th year and all that experience shows. Check out the website for tickets, hours, info, parking, and a fun souvenir shop. It is recommended to buy tickets online because they will sell out most nights. Some tickets are available on-site, but cash only. Waits can be long, so if you want a shorter wait, get there early or go early in the season. There are also fast passes and front-of-the-line passes for a little more money. Not a bad option to have. There's also a snack bar and a souvenir booth. Security presence is strong. And as I mentioned, the waiting area is all the Halloween you could ever want. I love the harvest festival/carnival area. You'll also get a group photo on the way in which you can pick up at the booth near the entrance and exit of the property on your way out. And watch out for the scare actors slinking through the crowds - especially Charlie! The haunt consists of the schoolhouse and behind it, The Queen City Slaughter Yard. Is your tuition all paid up? Let's go in!
From entrance to exit, you are immersed in a nightmare-inducing old-timey school house, worse than any school nightmares you've ever had. You go through a trophy room, classrooms, library, bathrooms, kitchen, playroom, theater, and also the depths of the building, where Charlie hid the bodies. They are all so creepy. Of course, Charlie is just the tip of the knifeberg. There are lots of actors in here. Most of the scenes make you feel like you're walking through some inescapable fever dream. A few of the actors force you to interact (which cut of human leg would you like to try?), but mostly it all moves pretty fast. Jump scares are constant, effects and sounds are creepy and startling, and some of the scenes will blow you away. It is impossible to take in and appreciate all of these details because you're too busy jumping, cringing, and trying not to scream in front of your friends. The sets are so creative and unique, they'll stick with you long after you leave. When you get out of the school, you'll head right to the Slaughter Yard. This is a less detailed and more rustic, outdoor haunt. You find yourself walking through a barn-like structure, with tight corridors and wooden walls with gaps big enough for the butchers to peer at you and taunt you as you walk through. So many pigs, chickens, rats, human carcasses, so much blood! We saw lots of chainsaws, and saws in general, maniac butchers who seem to think you're just another pig, and did I mention chainsaws? I think this is my favorite iteration of the Slaughter Yard yet. There were more specific scenes, creative taunting, and big props than I remember in the past. And more chainsaws. There really is no other experience like a great haunted house. You get to be immersed in this fantastically dark holiday world for an evening, and this doesn't happen any other time of year. Well, except for two nights in December when they do A Christmas Nightmare here. I highly recommend that, too. It is such a unique and festive experience!
From entrance to exit, you are immersed in a nightmare-inducing old-timey school house, worse than any school nightmares you've ever had. You go through a trophy room, classrooms, library, bathrooms, kitchen, playroom, theater, and also the depths of the building, where Charlie hid the bodies. They are all so creepy. Of course, Charlie is just the tip of the knifeberg. There are lots of actors in here. Most of the scenes make you feel like you're walking through some inescapable fever dream. A few of the actors force you to interact (which cut of human leg would you like to try?), but mostly it all moves pretty fast. Jump scares are constant, effects and sounds are creepy and startling, and some of the scenes will blow you away. It is impossible to take in and appreciate all of these details because you're too busy jumping, cringing, and trying not to scream in front of your friends. The sets are so creative and unique, they'll stick with you long after you leave. When you get out of the school, you'll head right to the Slaughter Yard. This is a less detailed and more rustic, outdoor haunt. You find yourself walking through a barn-like structure, with tight corridors and wooden walls with gaps big enough for the butchers to peer at you and taunt you as you walk through. So many pigs, chickens, rats, human carcasses, so much blood! We saw lots of chainsaws, and saws in general, maniac butchers who seem to think you're just another pig, and did I mention chainsaws? I think this is my favorite iteration of the Slaughter Yard yet. There were more specific scenes, creative taunting, and big props than I remember in the past. And more chainsaws. There really is no other experience like a great haunted house. You get to be immersed in this fantastically dark holiday world for an evening, and this doesn't happen any other time of year. Well, except for two nights in December when they do A Christmas Nightmare here. I highly recommend that, too. It is such a unique and festive experience!
Donna - This is the 25th year of Terror at the Dent Haunted Schoolhouse and it just keeps getting better and better every year. As you enter the queue line you’ll notice the front of the school house looks different because they are using LED lighting this year. It is much brighter - actually lighting up the sky with a blood red glow to warn all who enter of the fate of those who passed before them.
The fall festival has added more glowing pumpkins this year over 500 pumpkins greet you as well as almost 20 carnival boost each with their own weird or funny theme as you wind around the rows on your way to the School House entrance. There is a photo booth as you enter but there are also numerous “ selfie “opportunities along the way.
The interior of the school house has changed this year as well with more trap doors and jump scares and more interaction between the actors and their victims. The lunchroom “chef” was even giving free samples to taste of the body that was dismembered in front of him. There were scares coming at you from above below and from the front and in back as actors came flying over your head and crawling around on the floor as well as jumping out from dark corners. This haunt keeps you on your toes at every turn you never know what to expect and, although I thought it was a little well lit in some areas, this place keeps the suspense at a high rate. There is also an added surprise at the end that was more fun than scary that is new this year.
There is a reason why this haunt is in the top five haunts in the country year after year. They know how to take a creepy venue and add enough backstory to make it convincing and add the right balance of actors and animatronics to give even the most experienced and hard-core haunters a run for their money. The Frightmaster highly recommends the Dent haunted school house!mething for everyone and the improvements this year inside and out make it one of the best haunts in Indiana.
The fall festival has added more glowing pumpkins this year over 500 pumpkins greet you as well as almost 20 carnival boost each with their own weird or funny theme as you wind around the rows on your way to the School House entrance. There is a photo booth as you enter but there are also numerous “ selfie “opportunities along the way.
The interior of the school house has changed this year as well with more trap doors and jump scares and more interaction between the actors and their victims. The lunchroom “chef” was even giving free samples to taste of the body that was dismembered in front of him. There were scares coming at you from above below and from the front and in back as actors came flying over your head and crawling around on the floor as well as jumping out from dark corners. This haunt keeps you on your toes at every turn you never know what to expect and, although I thought it was a little well lit in some areas, this place keeps the suspense at a high rate. There is also an added surprise at the end that was more fun than scary that is new this year.
There is a reason why this haunt is in the top five haunts in the country year after year. They know how to take a creepy venue and add enough backstory to make it convincing and add the right balance of actors and animatronics to give even the most experienced and hard-core haunters a run for their money. The Frightmaster highly recommends the Dent haunted school house!mething for everyone and the improvements this year inside and out make it one of the best haunts in Indiana.
Emily - Dent is so creepy. It may not be the scariest haunt I have experienced this year, but man they did an excellent job making my skin crawl. I am not sure it was the effects, props, or perfect lighting, but I was struggling to keep my pace when I just wanted to sprint out of there.
Dent is on a major road and is easy to find. They have a free parking lot, but there is a short walk from the lot to the schoolhouse. The line is outdoors and once inside the main door, you walk through a fall festival set, with cool props and punny signs. I loved the giant wall of jack o’lanterns. The scarecrow running the entry gate to the schoolhouse had a great costume.
Upon entering the haunt, we were met with levitating desks, vile teachers, and tortured students. Dent does a great job with their effects. They utilize multiple angles with their actors. There were people crawling on the ground and watching from above you. The lady that slid across the ceiling above us toward the beginning is cool. As far as mechanical effects, falling bookcases always get me. There were drop windows with animatronics and the giant Frankenstein effect was awesome. What stuck out to me the most were the hanging bodies that randomly twitch and the hanged lady in the stairwell. These coupled with the dim, but perfect, lighting is what made the haunt so creepy for me. That lady from the staircase is a permanent image in my brain. The placement and the movement of the prop were on point.
I thought the green room and the ghost ball were unique sets. Neither were particularly scary, but I really enjoyed walking through them. The foam room in the slaughterhouse was different also. It was a fun experience, because where else can you walk through that much foam? But it did soak through my pants and shoes. The slaughterhouse itself was just ok. It was bright and there weren’t many actors roaming around. The foam and the thick fog were fun, but the rest was a little boring.
I really enjoyed Dent and had a lot of fun with the experience. They have originality that is lacking in other haunts. Not often do you see bodies of children mounted to the wall or twitching in a dimly lit basement. Yikes!
Dent is on a major road and is easy to find. They have a free parking lot, but there is a short walk from the lot to the schoolhouse. The line is outdoors and once inside the main door, you walk through a fall festival set, with cool props and punny signs. I loved the giant wall of jack o’lanterns. The scarecrow running the entry gate to the schoolhouse had a great costume.
Upon entering the haunt, we were met with levitating desks, vile teachers, and tortured students. Dent does a great job with their effects. They utilize multiple angles with their actors. There were people crawling on the ground and watching from above you. The lady that slid across the ceiling above us toward the beginning is cool. As far as mechanical effects, falling bookcases always get me. There were drop windows with animatronics and the giant Frankenstein effect was awesome. What stuck out to me the most were the hanging bodies that randomly twitch and the hanged lady in the stairwell. These coupled with the dim, but perfect, lighting is what made the haunt so creepy for me. That lady from the staircase is a permanent image in my brain. The placement and the movement of the prop were on point.
I thought the green room and the ghost ball were unique sets. Neither were particularly scary, but I really enjoyed walking through them. The foam room in the slaughterhouse was different also. It was a fun experience, because where else can you walk through that much foam? But it did soak through my pants and shoes. The slaughterhouse itself was just ok. It was bright and there weren’t many actors roaming around. The foam and the thick fog were fun, but the rest was a little boring.
I really enjoyed Dent and had a lot of fun with the experience. They have originality that is lacking in other haunts. Not often do you see bodies of children mounted to the wall or twitching in a dimly lit basement. Yikes!
Questions? Have a story to share? Leave it in the comments!