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How?! How did they pull it off? |
Todd - TOTAL CHAOS. The end.
Ok, for real...I don't even know where to begin. How about this preface - The Haunted Hotel is known for its extreme, invasive touching as much as Disney is known for Mickey Mouse. Over the years on my visits to Haunted Hotel, I've had various shanks held to my throat, thrown down on a metal table to have sparks ignited in my face, slammed against countless walls, bent backwards over various railings, locked in a closet and even had my face shoved into a girl's ample bosom (ok that wasn't really a bad one) and I loved every minute of it. The level of this extreme interaction has wavered over the years but it has always been the identifying staple of this haunt.
The Covid hit.
Literally, when I thought ahead to this haunt season, the very first thing that crossed my mind was, "What's going to happen to Haunted Hotel?". The thought was, if they can't touch, should they even open? HH is built on very different foundations from other haunts. Almost all haunts focus on the holy trinity of sets, actors and effects. Haunted Hotel has all of these of course, but the experience typically gives you no time to really digest the environment. Instead of constructing beautifully morbid, frightening sets, HH relies on its dark, dank and grim interior while the unbelievable actors are the true showcase. They're a very unique troupe because it takes a certain kind of person to safely manhandle someone for entertainment purposes.
And now they can't touch.
That being said, going in, we weren't sure what to expect at all. My assumption was that we would go through, the actors would have to take atypical means to scare us such as more reliance on drop panels or really upping the ante outside where there's room to be chased. The thought of that just felt disappointing, however, upon arrival, we found the line to be possibly as long as I've ever seen it. There was hope.
So, here's what we actually experienced: Everything started off as always. We were lined up against the wall and given the introduction (without our faces being touched or caressed as usual). Off to the elevator we went to experience the same insane ride as always with the infamous acrobatic operator...and after that, I braced myself for the watered down journey through the hotel. Holy shit. I. Was. Wrong.
Words fail to explain how insanely chaotic it was. As soon as we stepped off the elevator, guys are screaming at us, an enormous cockroach prop is damn-near impaling us against a wall and music is just blaring from everywhere. I'll take a moment to make a side note that as we go through haunts, we use voice recorders to take quick memos. It's hard to remember a lot of details, especially doing multiple haunts in a single night, so it really helps when writing these reviews. My notes after stepping out of the elevator are transcribed as:
Actor: "...I'll bash your fucking face in."
Me: "Total chaos. Right out the elevator someone's screaming, a big as cockroach is coming out at you. It's total mayhem...
<LOUD music>
Me: "The guy behind the drop panel has underwear on his face!"
<cut>
<Loud music>
Me (voice distorted from blaring music in background): "In the meat room"
Actor: "You wanna die for dinner!? (?)"
Me: The butcher was behind a wall and came running out
<Loud noises>
In other words, these notes are useless. There was literally no time to make notated observations. It was a frenzy of sensory overload. Music was blasting, lights were either nearly non-existent or flashing, the actors were engulfing us from every angle - some even reappearing throughout:
Actor: Holy shit! You mother fuckers again? God Damn! How many times do I have to fucking see you today?
The actors were like rabid wild men (and wild women) slamming doors, running down halls, jumping all over furniture or walls and flailing their bodies as if they were possessed (except the hot, gothic, deadite-looking nuns who just creepily stared us down as we passed).
Once we got outside, things calmed down a bit. By contrast it was much quieter overall, though some particular segments were extremely loud. Somehow the build pathway felt once again longer than the previous year. Some parts were easy to navigate between the shipping container or pallet-constructed walls, while others were completely filled with fog forcing us to tread lightly. There were far fewer actors outside, most of which were chainsaw maniacs who as always, clearly love their job.
My only criticism would be that the experience inside and outside are very imbalanced. I'm not saying to tone down the inside one bit but if the energy levels that never cease inside could be expanded outside, it would be that much better.
I feel like this review is a lot of nothing because it's very hard to describe how effective the sheer mayhem was, even without the touching. To put it simply, I was not disappointed one bit. I wanted nothing more than to go back through again, right away. The whole experience is a blur because it was just non-stop craziness. I cant even imagine how these actors maintain this insane level of energy for hours on end, weekend after weekend.
It was the most fun I've had all year. I don't mean just haunts. I mean period. The experience was so intense, for a brief bit I was able to stop thinking about work, stop thinking about what a crappy year it has been and my mind was only there inside those dark, dirty walls. Nowhere else. Now THAT is something.
Ok, for real...I don't even know where to begin. How about this preface - The Haunted Hotel is known for its extreme, invasive touching as much as Disney is known for Mickey Mouse. Over the years on my visits to Haunted Hotel, I've had various shanks held to my throat, thrown down on a metal table to have sparks ignited in my face, slammed against countless walls, bent backwards over various railings, locked in a closet and even had my face shoved into a girl's ample bosom (ok that wasn't really a bad one) and I loved every minute of it. The level of this extreme interaction has wavered over the years but it has always been the identifying staple of this haunt.
The Covid hit.
Literally, when I thought ahead to this haunt season, the very first thing that crossed my mind was, "What's going to happen to Haunted Hotel?". The thought was, if they can't touch, should they even open? HH is built on very different foundations from other haunts. Almost all haunts focus on the holy trinity of sets, actors and effects. Haunted Hotel has all of these of course, but the experience typically gives you no time to really digest the environment. Instead of constructing beautifully morbid, frightening sets, HH relies on its dark, dank and grim interior while the unbelievable actors are the true showcase. They're a very unique troupe because it takes a certain kind of person to safely manhandle someone for entertainment purposes.
And now they can't touch.
That being said, going in, we weren't sure what to expect at all. My assumption was that we would go through, the actors would have to take atypical means to scare us such as more reliance on drop panels or really upping the ante outside where there's room to be chased. The thought of that just felt disappointing, however, upon arrival, we found the line to be possibly as long as I've ever seen it. There was hope.
So, here's what we actually experienced: Everything started off as always. We were lined up against the wall and given the introduction (without our faces being touched or caressed as usual). Off to the elevator we went to experience the same insane ride as always with the infamous acrobatic operator...and after that, I braced myself for the watered down journey through the hotel. Holy shit. I. Was. Wrong.
Words fail to explain how insanely chaotic it was. As soon as we stepped off the elevator, guys are screaming at us, an enormous cockroach prop is damn-near impaling us against a wall and music is just blaring from everywhere. I'll take a moment to make a side note that as we go through haunts, we use voice recorders to take quick memos. It's hard to remember a lot of details, especially doing multiple haunts in a single night, so it really helps when writing these reviews. My notes after stepping out of the elevator are transcribed as:
Actor: "...I'll bash your fucking face in."
Me: "Total chaos. Right out the elevator someone's screaming, a big as cockroach is coming out at you. It's total mayhem...
<LOUD music>
Me: "The guy behind the drop panel has underwear on his face!"
<cut>
<Loud music>
Me (voice distorted from blaring music in background): "In the meat room"
Actor: "You wanna die for dinner!? (?)"
Me: The butcher was behind a wall and came running out
<Loud noises>
In other words, these notes are useless. There was literally no time to make notated observations. It was a frenzy of sensory overload. Music was blasting, lights were either nearly non-existent or flashing, the actors were engulfing us from every angle - some even reappearing throughout:
Actor: Holy shit! You mother fuckers again? God Damn! How many times do I have to fucking see you today?
The actors were like rabid wild men (and wild women) slamming doors, running down halls, jumping all over furniture or walls and flailing their bodies as if they were possessed (except the hot, gothic, deadite-looking nuns who just creepily stared us down as we passed).
Once we got outside, things calmed down a bit. By contrast it was much quieter overall, though some particular segments were extremely loud. Somehow the build pathway felt once again longer than the previous year. Some parts were easy to navigate between the shipping container or pallet-constructed walls, while others were completely filled with fog forcing us to tread lightly. There were far fewer actors outside, most of which were chainsaw maniacs who as always, clearly love their job.
My only criticism would be that the experience inside and outside are very imbalanced. I'm not saying to tone down the inside one bit but if the energy levels that never cease inside could be expanded outside, it would be that much better.
I feel like this review is a lot of nothing because it's very hard to describe how effective the sheer mayhem was, even without the touching. To put it simply, I was not disappointed one bit. I wanted nothing more than to go back through again, right away. The whole experience is a blur because it was just non-stop craziness. I cant even imagine how these actors maintain this insane level of energy for hours on end, weekend after weekend.
It was the most fun I've had all year. I don't mean just haunts. I mean period. The experience was so intense, for a brief bit I was able to stop thinking about work, stop thinking about what a crappy year it has been and my mind was only there inside those dark, dirty walls. Nowhere else. Now THAT is something.
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Oh, you thought Haunted Hotel needed touch to scare you??? |
Paul - Our Louisville trip this year had three haunts scheduled. During our discussions of what we were expecting, I think we were all the most worried about Haunted Hotel. With many prior visits under our belts, we know how they tend to use touch to really amp up the intensity. Having been thrown against walls, shoved onto beds, and pretty much mauled by everyone in the building on prior visits, I know I wasn't expecting to have as wild an experience due to covid eliminating touch at just about every haunt this year.
I couldn't have been more wrong.
This was one of the best Haunted Hotel visits I can remember, and I left with the biggest adrenaline high I've had from any haunt this year. From the minute Gustav started the elevator at the beginning (which is still the best elevator at any haunt), until we escaped the chainsaws at the end, there was non-stop insanity. The atmosphere was as creepy as ever, with perfect lighting, props, and music, and the actors were just as good as I can remember from any prior visits- if not better! I can honestly say that the entire time I was going through, there wasn't a single instance where I thought something could have been better with touch.
The actors were so good at keeping you on your toes, I almost couldn't believe it. They were fast, loud, used perfect timing, excellent costuming/make-up, and essentially hit you with it as soon as you walked into a room. I think relying on hiding places and jump scares tends to give people a break between scares, but not here. Most of the Hotel actors hit you with a scare the second you walk into a room, then don't let up until you get to the next room where another degenerate is right there waiting for you. There are very few places in the building where you get more than a few seconds to try to prepare for what might be next, so you're constantly being surprised at every corner. It's just so damn good!
I can't stress enough how good Haunted Hotel is this year. It's possible that this was my favorite visit there ever, and that's saying something considering how consistently great they've been over the years. Listen up haunt fans, this is the one to beat!
I couldn't have been more wrong.
This was one of the best Haunted Hotel visits I can remember, and I left with the biggest adrenaline high I've had from any haunt this year. From the minute Gustav started the elevator at the beginning (which is still the best elevator at any haunt), until we escaped the chainsaws at the end, there was non-stop insanity. The atmosphere was as creepy as ever, with perfect lighting, props, and music, and the actors were just as good as I can remember from any prior visits- if not better! I can honestly say that the entire time I was going through, there wasn't a single instance where I thought something could have been better with touch.
The actors were so good at keeping you on your toes, I almost couldn't believe it. They were fast, loud, used perfect timing, excellent costuming/make-up, and essentially hit you with it as soon as you walked into a room. I think relying on hiding places and jump scares tends to give people a break between scares, but not here. Most of the Hotel actors hit you with a scare the second you walk into a room, then don't let up until you get to the next room where another degenerate is right there waiting for you. There are very few places in the building where you get more than a few seconds to try to prepare for what might be next, so you're constantly being surprised at every corner. It's just so damn good!
I can't stress enough how good Haunted Hotel is this year. It's possible that this was my favorite visit there ever, and that's saying something considering how consistently great they've been over the years. Listen up haunt fans, this is the one to beat!
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It's like a never-ending jump scare. |
Teresa - The Haunted Hotel is a legendary haunted attraction in Louisville, Kentucky. It is advertised as being one of the scariest and most intense haunts in the country, and it has earned that reputation fair and square. This place is a nightmare come to life! I can't begin to tell you how insane this place is. I will admit that I was really afraid I was going to be disappointed this year because I thought it was going to be so tamed down due to COVID. It's normally one of my favorite haunts and part of the reason for that is because it is so intense. In a normal year, it is full-contact, and they really do it well. You don't have the option to opt out. If you go in, you will be caressed, pulled, carried, shoved, and basically treated like a sack of potatoes...or a sack of meat. It's a fine line to walk between using touch to be scary and menacing and making sure you don't actually injure someone. People tend to panic and act unpredictably. The monsters here do a fantastic job of taking the manhandling to the perfect level. It is absolutely terrifying! This is why I was ready to be disappointed this year. No contact? How can it possibly be even close to as scary as normal? Well, I'm here to say that they apparently don't need to touch you to give you nightmares. It was still super-intense and just an amazing adrenaline rush! And if you have always been afraid to go because of the touch aspect, this is the year for you! You can get your tickets online or on location. You have the option of general admission for $25, fast-pass for $40, or skip-the-line for $60. This place gets insanely busy, so if you go during peak hours, you may appreciate the option to upgrade. It's totally worth the wait though.
So, what makes the Haunted Hotel so good, even without the touch? For one, it has a great theme and it's carried throughout. The décor is like the worst version of a hotel that you can imagine. Everything and everyone in here is gross, off-putting, aggressive, demented, and just plain horrifying. The actors are so creepy with makeup and costumes that look like they stepped right out of a horror movie. The main reason it is so scary though, is the intensity. It starts off with a bang and it just doesn't stop. The actors are ON YOU when you enter any room. You have no time to prepare or recover. There are partitions between rooms, so you can't see what you're walking into until it is too late. Once you're in the room, your senses are overwhelmed. They use lighting and crazy music to enhance the disorienting and heart-pounding effect. The characters inside verbally menace you as well. You're just in defensive mode the whole time. It's like a never-ending jump scare. And while the inside is still my favorite part, they've really made some big improvements to the outdoor section this year. It has new décor, new scenes, new props, new lighting, new effects...it really enhanced the experience. It isn't as actor-heavy as inside the hotel, but it is more engaging than in the past. There are so many places for people or "things" to be hiding. I especially liked the use of lights and fog. And then, the smell of diesel and the rev of a chainsaw assault your senses. These guys are ruthless! You're never safe. It's always fun to hang out by the exit and watch other people sprint out and down the street in abject terror!
So, what makes the Haunted Hotel so good, even without the touch? For one, it has a great theme and it's carried throughout. The décor is like the worst version of a hotel that you can imagine. Everything and everyone in here is gross, off-putting, aggressive, demented, and just plain horrifying. The actors are so creepy with makeup and costumes that look like they stepped right out of a horror movie. The main reason it is so scary though, is the intensity. It starts off with a bang and it just doesn't stop. The actors are ON YOU when you enter any room. You have no time to prepare or recover. There are partitions between rooms, so you can't see what you're walking into until it is too late. Once you're in the room, your senses are overwhelmed. They use lighting and crazy music to enhance the disorienting and heart-pounding effect. The characters inside verbally menace you as well. You're just in defensive mode the whole time. It's like a never-ending jump scare. And while the inside is still my favorite part, they've really made some big improvements to the outdoor section this year. It has new décor, new scenes, new props, new lighting, new effects...it really enhanced the experience. It isn't as actor-heavy as inside the hotel, but it is more engaging than in the past. There are so many places for people or "things" to be hiding. I especially liked the use of lights and fog. And then, the smell of diesel and the rev of a chainsaw assault your senses. These guys are ruthless! You're never safe. It's always fun to hang out by the exit and watch other people sprint out and down the street in abject terror!
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...and Haunted Hotel does it again!!!! |
Gayle - I have to admit at the start of haunt season this year, I wondered if any haunts would actually open...and if they did...just how diluted would the experience be considering all the COVID restrictions. Enter Haunted Hotel. This haunt sets the bar pretty high when it comes to all things "extreme". Throughout the years, this haunt has always held a special place in my dead little heart. Haunted Hotel is THE reason I eagerly travel the 2 plus hours to Louisville, and this year was no exception...despite COVID.
Upon arrival, I was pleasantly surprised to see a HUGE crowd outside waiting to check in! This was a good sign, and reminiscent of prior years. The familiar flashing lights from the police vehicles blocking the street, the music, the energy and excitement from everyone waiting in line, the actors milling about...and of course, the sounds of screams and chainsaws filling the air, was absolutely thrilling! In this haunt reviewer's humble opinion, no other haunt has quite this level of energy, even before going inside!
I realize one of the reasons Haunted Hotel is so incredible is the fact they are, and take pride in being, an extreme "touch" haunt. So, how would that pan out with social distancing and no touching allowed? Now, I love being thrown over someone's shoulders and carried off like a ragdoll, or being locked in a small, dark closet, or cornered by three depraved masked men wielding chainsaws, and chased down the street as much as the next chick, so there was a small part of me that thought the experience wouldn't be quite as intense; then I reminded myself of where I was. From the moment we entered, Haunted Hotel was a non-stop adrenaline rush, with all the same vigor and pandemonium as before...only with no touching. From the hair-raising actors, to the macabre scenes, Haunted Hotel gave the middle finger to COVID, and it was spectacular!
Haunted Hotel has once again shown they are a force to be reckoned with! I had such a terrifyingly fun time, I didn't even realize I hadn't been man-handled once! It goes to show that even though they had social restrictions, they are still masters of their craft! If you live near Louisville...or even if you don't...Haunted Hotel is THE place to be for a lot of Halloween fun.
Upon arrival, I was pleasantly surprised to see a HUGE crowd outside waiting to check in! This was a good sign, and reminiscent of prior years. The familiar flashing lights from the police vehicles blocking the street, the music, the energy and excitement from everyone waiting in line, the actors milling about...and of course, the sounds of screams and chainsaws filling the air, was absolutely thrilling! In this haunt reviewer's humble opinion, no other haunt has quite this level of energy, even before going inside!
I realize one of the reasons Haunted Hotel is so incredible is the fact they are, and take pride in being, an extreme "touch" haunt. So, how would that pan out with social distancing and no touching allowed? Now, I love being thrown over someone's shoulders and carried off like a ragdoll, or being locked in a small, dark closet, or cornered by three depraved masked men wielding chainsaws, and chased down the street as much as the next chick, so there was a small part of me that thought the experience wouldn't be quite as intense; then I reminded myself of where I was. From the moment we entered, Haunted Hotel was a non-stop adrenaline rush, with all the same vigor and pandemonium as before...only with no touching. From the hair-raising actors, to the macabre scenes, Haunted Hotel gave the middle finger to COVID, and it was spectacular!
Haunted Hotel has once again shown they are a force to be reckoned with! I had such a terrifyingly fun time, I didn't even realize I hadn't been man-handled once! It goes to show that even though they had social restrictions, they are still masters of their craft! If you live near Louisville...or even if you don't...Haunted Hotel is THE place to be for a lot of Halloween fun.
Questions? Have a story to share? Leave it in the comments!