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The Haunted Hotel's dark brutality is back! |
Todd - Louisville's infamous Haunted Hotel has undergone a radical transformation this year. Most of the inside is completely different. Despite the new rooms, this haunt's vibes are as sinister as ever. Well...except for the chicken-f*cker (nope, not going to even elaborate on that one).
After the staple elevator ride, gone is the reception desk. Now, you'll find your way through dank, basement-like halls with bleak lighting and aging cobwebs hanging about. Further in, you'll experience the world's nastiest break room, a hang out for lonely men, a very awkward exercise room and even a small chapel for those of you that need to get your Jesus on during your stay.
The outdoor portion of the haunt felt a bit longer, though I cant say for sure that it was. This has always been a challenging area for The Haunted Hotel since it tends to feel like an effort to not waste space more than a continuation of a great experience. It mostly involves weaving throughout walled-in pathways while doing your best avoiding the actors who enjoy the close quarters a little too much for your liking. There was one small room in that outside stint that was packed with fog to the point you couldn't see a foot in front of you. For the claustrophobic, this will undoubtedly be unsettling.
Some descriptors that come to mind when I think of this haunt are "Dirty", "Grimey" or even "Depraved". Each room has this appearance and projection of filth - whether it be physically or perhaps morally. That's the vibe it sets off (to me at least) and this year it was broadcast loud and clear. Why do I mention this? Because, the weird thing about The Haunted Hotel is that honestly, it doesn't carry an actual hotel theme throughout. Sure, you're always greeted be the concierge upon arrival, but more than ever, this year felt like the theme was lost pretty quickly in. Normally, I'd present this as a negative thing but the sets are styled so perfectly disheveled that just about anything could be in there and it would still fit, carrying that dark, dirty tone. In this haunt's case, it makes no difference because unlike most haunts, The Haunted Hotel's scarring charm lives within its actors.
The actors are awesome. While most do not have a role to which they have a backstory or some form of presentation lending to lore, they all work hard to get in your face and kick you out of your comfort zone. I would imagine it takes a certain kind of person to be comfortable with engaging in the level of personal contact that they offer so here's a huge shout out to these guys. To be clear, you WILL be grabbed. You WILL be touched. They WILL be in your face. They WILL be menacing. Hell, I got grinded on. For them to do this level of interaction for hours and hours each weekend is an impressive feat. The level of contact isn't outright brutal but it's back up to a level I haven't seen in the past few years. Of course, I have grand hopes of getting thrown around like a rag doll when I go there (what has become of me?), so maybe my expectations are unrealistic. To the healthy-minded person, I'm sure it's disturbing enough.
It's also important to note that there are some fantastic actors roaming among the waiting crowd outside. For example, we were escorted by Cece, a monstrously cute, pig-tail-headed girl wrapped in chains with filed, pointed teeth playing with a "frisbee." Note: The frisbree was a saw blade. A real one.
This year it just felt like everything clicked. While the new environments were refreshing, it was really the mix of laugh-out-loud moments and the wide spectrum of characters that made this visit so good and thoroughly entertaining. I'm please that among all the changes, the trademark of "vibe" of The Haunted Hotel lives on, arguably as strong as ever. I have yet to experience any haunt that replicates what The Haunted Hotel has to offer, which is why I consider it a required stop every year.
After the staple elevator ride, gone is the reception desk. Now, you'll find your way through dank, basement-like halls with bleak lighting and aging cobwebs hanging about. Further in, you'll experience the world's nastiest break room, a hang out for lonely men, a very awkward exercise room and even a small chapel for those of you that need to get your Jesus on during your stay.
The outdoor portion of the haunt felt a bit longer, though I cant say for sure that it was. This has always been a challenging area for The Haunted Hotel since it tends to feel like an effort to not waste space more than a continuation of a great experience. It mostly involves weaving throughout walled-in pathways while doing your best avoiding the actors who enjoy the close quarters a little too much for your liking. There was one small room in that outside stint that was packed with fog to the point you couldn't see a foot in front of you. For the claustrophobic, this will undoubtedly be unsettling.
Some descriptors that come to mind when I think of this haunt are "Dirty", "Grimey" or even "Depraved". Each room has this appearance and projection of filth - whether it be physically or perhaps morally. That's the vibe it sets off (to me at least) and this year it was broadcast loud and clear. Why do I mention this? Because, the weird thing about The Haunted Hotel is that honestly, it doesn't carry an actual hotel theme throughout. Sure, you're always greeted be the concierge upon arrival, but more than ever, this year felt like the theme was lost pretty quickly in. Normally, I'd present this as a negative thing but the sets are styled so perfectly disheveled that just about anything could be in there and it would still fit, carrying that dark, dirty tone. In this haunt's case, it makes no difference because unlike most haunts, The Haunted Hotel's scarring charm lives within its actors.
The actors are awesome. While most do not have a role to which they have a backstory or some form of presentation lending to lore, they all work hard to get in your face and kick you out of your comfort zone. I would imagine it takes a certain kind of person to be comfortable with engaging in the level of personal contact that they offer so here's a huge shout out to these guys. To be clear, you WILL be grabbed. You WILL be touched. They WILL be in your face. They WILL be menacing. Hell, I got grinded on. For them to do this level of interaction for hours and hours each weekend is an impressive feat. The level of contact isn't outright brutal but it's back up to a level I haven't seen in the past few years. Of course, I have grand hopes of getting thrown around like a rag doll when I go there (what has become of me?), so maybe my expectations are unrealistic. To the healthy-minded person, I'm sure it's disturbing enough.
It's also important to note that there are some fantastic actors roaming among the waiting crowd outside. For example, we were escorted by Cece, a monstrously cute, pig-tail-headed girl wrapped in chains with filed, pointed teeth playing with a "frisbee." Note: The frisbree was a saw blade. A real one.
This year it just felt like everything clicked. While the new environments were refreshing, it was really the mix of laugh-out-loud moments and the wide spectrum of characters that made this visit so good and thoroughly entertaining. I'm please that among all the changes, the trademark of "vibe" of The Haunted Hotel lives on, arguably as strong as ever. I have yet to experience any haunt that replicates what The Haunted Hotel has to offer, which is why I consider it a required stop every year.
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Stay for a while... Not that you have a choice. |
Paul - Welcome to the worst hotel ever. Everybody is rude and abusive, the lights barely work, the elevator is the worst I've been on, and the beds are so nasty I wouldn't sleep in one if they paid me! And no valet service?? What am I, a caveman?? It's kind of funny that the things that make for an awful hotel are the things that make it a fantastic haunt!
Haunted Hotel is located just south of downtown Louisville, KY, right between the University of Louisville and Churchill Downs. It's in a part of town where you might actually expect to find a terrible hotel, so that definitely helps the theme. This is an extreme haunt and they WILL touch you. There are no glow necklaces or wristbands to let them know whether or not you're comfortable with the contact; if you walk through the front door, someone's going to grab a hold of you.
Every visit to the hotel is an experience, but this year is especially burned into my mind. The employees were on-point, they recently remodeled a lot of the rooms, and there was all-new electrical and lighting! There were even several all-new rooms showing off some of the included amenities! They're now a greener hotel, saving electricity by switching to LEDs, and even taking that to the extreme by keeping them quite a bit darker than in years past, but still with enough light that you could see all of the details in each room. The plumbing still needs some work in the bathrooms though. Gross!
In addition to the refreshes to the building, the employees all seemed extra pumped up this year. Maybe they've been working out in the all-new on-site Jazzercise studio, or maybe they've been taking some really inappropriate online classes on guest interaction, but they were much more eager this year to help you get to where you needed to go. As a matter of fact, this group was one of the most memorable ones I've experienced there. I guess they really wanted to make sure they made an impression in case the corporate office sent out one of those guest experience surveys, or we decided to write an Expedia review! One of the cooks really loved chickens, the maintenance guys were shockingly hard at work, there was a very nice lady making sure you were taken care of in any way she could, and there was even a chapel for any religious folks. (And you'll probably want to do some praying after this stay.) Just make sure you don't go out through the rear of the building as there were a lot of people working late nights in the landscaping department. The landscapers must not be used to working without daylight because there were a few near-misses out there!
In all seriousness, Haunted Hotel is always great, but this year was even better. The actors were excellent, the changes and additions were very well-done, and we've been through many haunts that could use lessons in set design and lighting from these people. The theme of the haunt carries through almost flawlessly, and Haunted Hotel continues to be one of my most-recommended haunts. You really need to take a visit!
Haunted Hotel is located just south of downtown Louisville, KY, right between the University of Louisville and Churchill Downs. It's in a part of town where you might actually expect to find a terrible hotel, so that definitely helps the theme. This is an extreme haunt and they WILL touch you. There are no glow necklaces or wristbands to let them know whether or not you're comfortable with the contact; if you walk through the front door, someone's going to grab a hold of you.
Every visit to the hotel is an experience, but this year is especially burned into my mind. The employees were on-point, they recently remodeled a lot of the rooms, and there was all-new electrical and lighting! There were even several all-new rooms showing off some of the included amenities! They're now a greener hotel, saving electricity by switching to LEDs, and even taking that to the extreme by keeping them quite a bit darker than in years past, but still with enough light that you could see all of the details in each room. The plumbing still needs some work in the bathrooms though. Gross!
In addition to the refreshes to the building, the employees all seemed extra pumped up this year. Maybe they've been working out in the all-new on-site Jazzercise studio, or maybe they've been taking some really inappropriate online classes on guest interaction, but they were much more eager this year to help you get to where you needed to go. As a matter of fact, this group was one of the most memorable ones I've experienced there. I guess they really wanted to make sure they made an impression in case the corporate office sent out one of those guest experience surveys, or we decided to write an Expedia review! One of the cooks really loved chickens, the maintenance guys were shockingly hard at work, there was a very nice lady making sure you were taken care of in any way she could, and there was even a chapel for any religious folks. (And you'll probably want to do some praying after this stay.) Just make sure you don't go out through the rear of the building as there were a lot of people working late nights in the landscaping department. The landscapers must not be used to working without daylight because there were a few near-misses out there!
In all seriousness, Haunted Hotel is always great, but this year was even better. The actors were excellent, the changes and additions were very well-done, and we've been through many haunts that could use lessons in set design and lighting from these people. The theme of the haunt carries through almost flawlessly, and Haunted Hotel continues to be one of my most-recommended haunts. You really need to take a visit!
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It is definitely the most extreme haunt I have been to, and while that can scare some people away, the throngs of people waiting to "check in" tell you just how many people enjoy it. |
Teresa - If you are an adrenaline junkie, this is the haunt for you! Haunted Hotel has been a staple in the Louisville Haunt community for many years now. It is definitely the most extreme haunt I have been to, and while that can scare some people away, the throngs of people waiting to "check in" tell you just how many people enjoy it. The crazed lunatics will definitely touch you here. There is no ticket option for scaredy-cats. They will shove you against the wall, grab you, corner you, bear hug you, chase you, and get really up close and personal. You are warned when you buy your ticket. This isn't the longest haunt, but it may be the scariest you will ever go to, so don't let the long lines stop you. There are ticket upgrades for a fast pass that lets you wait in a shorter line, or a VIP pass that lets you skip to the front of the line. Depending on your financial circumstances and patience, these may be options. If not, pick a time that may be less busy, or just wait it out. There are some super-creepy actors wandering around outside (check out our photos), and the longer wait really gives you a chance to realize what you're in for. You'll see people who can't make it past the first room, who run back out the entrance screaming. You'll see people running out the exit, sprinting down the street being chased by chainsaw-wielding maniacs. If this doesn't scare you off, you'll be allowed inside where the hotel manager will "greet" you. This is an old, dilapidated nightmare of a hotel and it attracts a clientele that is equally nightmarish. The costumes these guys wear are fantastic - really creepy in a way that makes me think of Rob Zombie characters. They're dirty and gritty and raunchy and murderous and...well, you get my drift. Once you get past the manager, you take the elevator, which is a thrill ride for anyone who doesn't like dark, close spaces. Then, for those who have been here before, you will see some new areas for this year. The rooms are dark and dingy and you never know what's coming. I find it hard to even concentrate on a lot of details, because I'm looking out for the next demented character who is going to put me in the meat grinder (or worse). As soon as you escape one, there's another one waiting. Sparks will (literally) fly and you will see all sorts of depravity. Or you might just walk in on a guy in a shower. There's definitely an element of the absurd in here that really had us laughing. The inside portion goes by in a blur of adrenaline and then you're exiting into the outdoor portion, a sort of maze that reminds me of a structure built by homeless people (if those homeless people were from the mind of John Carpenter). There is a sewer-like area, some very disorienting fog combined with bright lights so you can't see, and characters stalking you. And chainsaws. Very aggressive chainsaws. Once again, I had so much fun, and I cannot wait to go back!