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They kinda went PG-13 on us.... |
Todd - The Haunted Hotel was 2020’s Frightmaster Award Winner – and for good reason. Despite having to remove physical contact (something that is a very big staple here) due COVID, they still put on an insane, show full of pandemonium and energy that blew us away. This year, with full contact returning, I had high hopes that the actors would be ready to release that pent up drive for hands-on. While a few certainly showed up to reach out and touch someone (…or everyone), many just stood back and delivered a sub-par experience.
I wouldn’t have suspected this from the outside when we arrived. We had barely been there 2 minutes and the masked chainsaw guy was eyeing us like he had some sort of vendetta. The guesswork was removed when he promptly yelled, “You’re fucking next!” If that doesn’t get you all warm and tingly getting ready to go inside, I don’t know what will. He also took a liking to Paul’s hat, which later turned into a mystery of its own after an adorable, mischievous girl dragging a knife on the ground seemingly took it. At the end, chainsaw guy wanted the hat and Paul thought HE had it the whole time. Knife girl didn’t have it – she said she knocked it off his head but didn’t take it. So it turned out it was on the front lawn the whole time, mystery solved.
Why do I bring this up? Well, sadly, it’s because that Scooby-Doo mystery was more engaging than half of The Haunted Hotel this year. It absolutely PAINS me to say this, but I walked away just wondering what the hell happened.
It started off great. We lined up in the front room as always, were given the opening talk with some force and off to the elevator we went. This year, we got a 2-for-1 in our elevator ride with a duo of aggressive operators commanding us with “Don’t fucking move!”, getting in our face, climbing the walls and suspending themselves above us. The more the better, as far as I’m concerned! Immediately after exiting the elevator I was damn need impaled by the giant cockroach looking puppet. There’s very little space separating it from the wall you pass, and they ram that thing right into you. It must be the most reinforced puppet in the world if they’re hitting person after person with it. Almost immediately after that I was put into a headlock and dragged to the end of the room.
And thus concluded any physical contact in the haunt. We weren’t even upstairs yet.
That’s not to say that all of the actors after this point were less energetic. Certainly some were- even if it was more for the laughs than a gross out or to scare. The problem I had was that many actors that had scenes which really could contribute to more contact and interaction didn’t take advantage of it. For starters, the guy behind the metal table making sparks with the knife – I remember when they used to pull you by the head, slam you down on that table and kick the sparks right towards your face. This guy just casually stood there, running the knife along the table as if he was preparing for some kind of fine dining service at a hibachi grill. Furthermore, in the chapel, two girls waited for us to enter, very still. Surely when the music kicked on they would go apeshit on us. But no – they just stood up but didn’t really do much of anything. I think one asked me if I wanted to play which came across more of a welcome invitation that any form of insidious threat. They acted almost as if they were timid and uncomfortable approaching us. The last girl we encountered before going downstairs and outside just wanted to sing “The Itsy Bitsy Spider.” That’s all. At The Haunted Hotel I would expect something more along the lines of, “Sing the Itsy Bitsy Spider or I’m going to cut your dick off and shove it up your Itsy Bitsy Asshole.” (Take note of that for next year.) But no, it was just a little kindergarten sing-along moment….for….some….reason.
As with past years, the outside portion of the haunt did its best working with what limited space they had. A lot of it however, is walking the length of the lot, back and forth among the shipping containers, wood walls and metal drums with little interaction. Occasionally, the chainsaw guys will appear briefly before rescinding into the shortcuts before the final attack at the end. There are a few small scenes staged throughout the outside area but many are unstaffed. I always considered the outside portion to be a recovery area from the inside. This year, there wasn’t much to recover from.
The environment of The Haunted Hotel works – it always has. It’s dark, it’s dingy, a little claustrophobic and overall unsettling. It’s loud inside (and still a little too quiet outside). But without the actors pumping that aggressive energy into it, its threatening composition becomes less intimidating quickly. Now I am speaking from many years of experience with the Hotel so I have, without a doubt, set some level of expectation in my mind. Newcomers or less desensitized patrons will surely find the show to be an overwhelming experience as presented, but again, for me, the overall experience fell very flat.
The Haunted Hotel has had some “off” years before so I’m hoping it’s just one of those edge cases. The haunt industry, in our experience, has been riddled with staffing issues this year so it’s entirely possible there’s a lot of green crew involved this season who aren’t quite caught up with the ferocity of the veterans. Perhaps recent events in the area have prompted the direction to ease back a bit as to not spark more confrontation. I don’t know.
All I know is that this year, The Haunted Hotel underperformed, even against its no-contact show last year. I remain hopeful though, that Hotel ’22 will come back with a vengeance.
I wouldn’t have suspected this from the outside when we arrived. We had barely been there 2 minutes and the masked chainsaw guy was eyeing us like he had some sort of vendetta. The guesswork was removed when he promptly yelled, “You’re fucking next!” If that doesn’t get you all warm and tingly getting ready to go inside, I don’t know what will. He also took a liking to Paul’s hat, which later turned into a mystery of its own after an adorable, mischievous girl dragging a knife on the ground seemingly took it. At the end, chainsaw guy wanted the hat and Paul thought HE had it the whole time. Knife girl didn’t have it – she said she knocked it off his head but didn’t take it. So it turned out it was on the front lawn the whole time, mystery solved.
Why do I bring this up? Well, sadly, it’s because that Scooby-Doo mystery was more engaging than half of The Haunted Hotel this year. It absolutely PAINS me to say this, but I walked away just wondering what the hell happened.
It started off great. We lined up in the front room as always, were given the opening talk with some force and off to the elevator we went. This year, we got a 2-for-1 in our elevator ride with a duo of aggressive operators commanding us with “Don’t fucking move!”, getting in our face, climbing the walls and suspending themselves above us. The more the better, as far as I’m concerned! Immediately after exiting the elevator I was damn need impaled by the giant cockroach looking puppet. There’s very little space separating it from the wall you pass, and they ram that thing right into you. It must be the most reinforced puppet in the world if they’re hitting person after person with it. Almost immediately after that I was put into a headlock and dragged to the end of the room.
And thus concluded any physical contact in the haunt. We weren’t even upstairs yet.
That’s not to say that all of the actors after this point were less energetic. Certainly some were- even if it was more for the laughs than a gross out or to scare. The problem I had was that many actors that had scenes which really could contribute to more contact and interaction didn’t take advantage of it. For starters, the guy behind the metal table making sparks with the knife – I remember when they used to pull you by the head, slam you down on that table and kick the sparks right towards your face. This guy just casually stood there, running the knife along the table as if he was preparing for some kind of fine dining service at a hibachi grill. Furthermore, in the chapel, two girls waited for us to enter, very still. Surely when the music kicked on they would go apeshit on us. But no – they just stood up but didn’t really do much of anything. I think one asked me if I wanted to play which came across more of a welcome invitation that any form of insidious threat. They acted almost as if they were timid and uncomfortable approaching us. The last girl we encountered before going downstairs and outside just wanted to sing “The Itsy Bitsy Spider.” That’s all. At The Haunted Hotel I would expect something more along the lines of, “Sing the Itsy Bitsy Spider or I’m going to cut your dick off and shove it up your Itsy Bitsy Asshole.” (Take note of that for next year.) But no, it was just a little kindergarten sing-along moment….for….some….reason.
As with past years, the outside portion of the haunt did its best working with what limited space they had. A lot of it however, is walking the length of the lot, back and forth among the shipping containers, wood walls and metal drums with little interaction. Occasionally, the chainsaw guys will appear briefly before rescinding into the shortcuts before the final attack at the end. There are a few small scenes staged throughout the outside area but many are unstaffed. I always considered the outside portion to be a recovery area from the inside. This year, there wasn’t much to recover from.
The environment of The Haunted Hotel works – it always has. It’s dark, it’s dingy, a little claustrophobic and overall unsettling. It’s loud inside (and still a little too quiet outside). But without the actors pumping that aggressive energy into it, its threatening composition becomes less intimidating quickly. Now I am speaking from many years of experience with the Hotel so I have, without a doubt, set some level of expectation in my mind. Newcomers or less desensitized patrons will surely find the show to be an overwhelming experience as presented, but again, for me, the overall experience fell very flat.
The Haunted Hotel has had some “off” years before so I’m hoping it’s just one of those edge cases. The haunt industry, in our experience, has been riddled with staffing issues this year so it’s entirely possible there’s a lot of green crew involved this season who aren’t quite caught up with the ferocity of the veterans. Perhaps recent events in the area have prompted the direction to ease back a bit as to not spark more confrontation. I don’t know.
All I know is that this year, The Haunted Hotel underperformed, even against its no-contact show last year. I remain hopeful though, that Hotel ’22 will come back with a vengeance.
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This sure as hell isn't the Hilton. |
Paul - There's just not a haunt we visit that has the same feel as Haunted Hotel KY. It's dark, cramped, loud, vulgar, and feels a bit on the dangerous side. And that's just the outside of the building.
Before our visit last year I was worried about Hotel. As we were driving around Louisville visiting other haunts, I feared that Hotel would be a disappointment since part of what makes them so good is them being able to touch you, and they weren't touching due to covid. Somehow, even without the touch, it was one of the best visits we've had to Hotel. The actors were at the top of their games, even without being able to throw you around. So with the touch being back for 2021, I was super pumped to see what they'd deliver this year. I think I got myself a little too pumped up.
Haunted Hotel is an extreme haunt. They'll berate you, push you around, grab your face, run props into you, and generally take away your personal space to a level that's hard to convey until you experience it for yourself. The only problem with this is that the amplitude of the scare relies on the actors to crank things up to that level. The sets, audio, lighting, and props will do a huge amount to ramp up the immersion, but the actors have to do the rest. Because of that, there's a chance you may visit on a night where some key actors are missing, everyone is worn out, it's hot inside, there was just a group before you that got the actors in a foul mood, or any number of things that will totally change the experience for you. Sadly, I think we must have caught them at a bad time for our visit this year.
After a great start with the Hotel's bellman, a double-dose of insanity in the elevator, and a cockroach that you'd likely need gallons of Raid to take out, things kind of calmed down and became a little more tame. Areas that we know were all out chaos in past visits were no more than a quick hand brushing across the cheek- and it pretty much stayed that way until the chainsaw guy at the end. The Hotel itself was as creepy as always, with each room having the perfect decor, props, lighting, and audio, but our voyage through just wasn't the most exciting we've had.
I don't want to sound like I'm bashing Hotel since I do believe this was just a matter of too many actors having "off" moments at the same time, and I'm sure my self-hyping of what we were going to see definitely didn't help things. It's just tough when your team gets knocked out of contention in the first round of the playoffs when they typically win it all. Still a great team to even make it to the playoffs, just not the dominance you wanted.
That said, I still don't think you'll find a more extreme experience at a haunt in the area. Haunted Hotel just isn't like any other attraction we visit, and they embrace it (it's a really gross, sweaty, bloody embrace, but whatever). Put on your big boy or big girl pants, and see if you can make it through the Haunted Hotel.
Before our visit last year I was worried about Hotel. As we were driving around Louisville visiting other haunts, I feared that Hotel would be a disappointment since part of what makes them so good is them being able to touch you, and they weren't touching due to covid. Somehow, even without the touch, it was one of the best visits we've had to Hotel. The actors were at the top of their games, even without being able to throw you around. So with the touch being back for 2021, I was super pumped to see what they'd deliver this year. I think I got myself a little too pumped up.
Haunted Hotel is an extreme haunt. They'll berate you, push you around, grab your face, run props into you, and generally take away your personal space to a level that's hard to convey until you experience it for yourself. The only problem with this is that the amplitude of the scare relies on the actors to crank things up to that level. The sets, audio, lighting, and props will do a huge amount to ramp up the immersion, but the actors have to do the rest. Because of that, there's a chance you may visit on a night where some key actors are missing, everyone is worn out, it's hot inside, there was just a group before you that got the actors in a foul mood, or any number of things that will totally change the experience for you. Sadly, I think we must have caught them at a bad time for our visit this year.
After a great start with the Hotel's bellman, a double-dose of insanity in the elevator, and a cockroach that you'd likely need gallons of Raid to take out, things kind of calmed down and became a little more tame. Areas that we know were all out chaos in past visits were no more than a quick hand brushing across the cheek- and it pretty much stayed that way until the chainsaw guy at the end. The Hotel itself was as creepy as always, with each room having the perfect decor, props, lighting, and audio, but our voyage through just wasn't the most exciting we've had.
I don't want to sound like I'm bashing Hotel since I do believe this was just a matter of too many actors having "off" moments at the same time, and I'm sure my self-hyping of what we were going to see definitely didn't help things. It's just tough when your team gets knocked out of contention in the first round of the playoffs when they typically win it all. Still a great team to even make it to the playoffs, just not the dominance you wanted.
That said, I still don't think you'll find a more extreme experience at a haunt in the area. Haunted Hotel just isn't like any other attraction we visit, and they embrace it (it's a really gross, sweaty, bloody embrace, but whatever). Put on your big boy or big girl pants, and see if you can make it through the Haunted Hotel.
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The rest is revolting hotel rooms, jump scares, insane characters, loud music, crazy props, and sheer heart-pounding terror. |
Teresa - The Haunted Hotel is an extreme haunted attraction located in Louisville, KY. I've been coming here since the 1990s. Of course, a lot has changed since then. It is now ranked as one of the scariest haunts in the country, for good reason. The music and sounds are loud, the actors are aggressive (and they will absolutely touch you), the costumes are disturbing, the humor can be vulgar, and the chainsaws are unrelenting. This one is a must-see for adrenaline junkies. So crazy! Check out the website for dates and tickets. Note that they are only open on Fridays and Saturdays this year. They've also really beefed up security after a couple incidents involving kids running wild early in the season. No children under 18 are allowed to be on-site without a parent or guardian. Parking is on the street or in nearby lots and the queue is outside, so dress for the weather. They are open rain or moon-shine. The line can be pretty long and it moves slow because they want to give you time to interact with the warped minds inside. Fast passes and front-of-the-line passes are available online or at the ticket office (located around the side toward the rear of the property). This is also a fun place to hang out to watch people sprint out of the exit and disappear down the street. Just don't watch so long that you lose your nerve! The queue actors are always creepy and give you a small taste of what you can expect inside. I love these guys!
When it's your turn, you go up the steps and enter through the front of the house. You are greeted by the hotel manager who sets up the backstory and begins the intimidation. Then you board the elevator. This is where it really gets insane. The rest is revolting hotel rooms, jump scares, insane characters, loud music, crazy props, and sheer heart-pounding terror. Characters touched my head and face, grabbed my arms, and tried to pull me backward to separate me from the group. There are some really cool scenes and effects. I think my favorite is still the elevator. If you've never been here, it's terrifying. And even if you think you know what to expect, think again. If you make it through the house, you'll find your way into the outdoor maze. This part is a little simpler, but it doesn't need a lot of detail. It has enough jump scares and effects to keep you on your toes. But really, you'll be so on edge the whole way through that you won't be stopping to admire the scenery. As soon as we stepped outside, we heard and smelled them. Chainsaws. These guys are so ruthless! They'll pop out and menace you, especially if you show weakness! Then they'll disappear, just to pop back out again, and again! How many of these guys are there?! They are impossible to get away from. If you can control yourself, you can laugh at your friends when they completely freak out. And remember, you paid to get scared, so enjoy it!
When it's your turn, you go up the steps and enter through the front of the house. You are greeted by the hotel manager who sets up the backstory and begins the intimidation. Then you board the elevator. This is where it really gets insane. The rest is revolting hotel rooms, jump scares, insane characters, loud music, crazy props, and sheer heart-pounding terror. Characters touched my head and face, grabbed my arms, and tried to pull me backward to separate me from the group. There are some really cool scenes and effects. I think my favorite is still the elevator. If you've never been here, it's terrifying. And even if you think you know what to expect, think again. If you make it through the house, you'll find your way into the outdoor maze. This part is a little simpler, but it doesn't need a lot of detail. It has enough jump scares and effects to keep you on your toes. But really, you'll be so on edge the whole way through that you won't be stopping to admire the scenery. As soon as we stepped outside, we heard and smelled them. Chainsaws. These guys are so ruthless! They'll pop out and menace you, especially if you show weakness! Then they'll disappear, just to pop back out again, and again! How many of these guys are there?! They are impossible to get away from. If you can control yourself, you can laugh at your friends when they completely freak out. And remember, you paid to get scared, so enjoy it!
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Checking in? |
Emily - The number of people lining up to be tortured at Haunted Hotel is astounding. The actors are expected to be rough, raunchy, and rowdy. It’s the kind of place that explicit language and flipping the bird is perfectly acceptable.
It is street parking only, so hunting for a spot could add some extra time to your evening. The place has a couple cop cars and a ton of security circling the building. Upon entering the hotel, we heard the story of Lavinia, who is supposedly some sort of temptress of darkness running the hotel and planning to take our souls. That theme didn’t really carry through any other room though. I don’t believe there was ever any other mention or reference to this theme.
The elevator set was fantastic, which everyone pretty much expected. The two guys really set the stage for the interactive haunt assault everyone was hoping for. Unfortunately, there was much less assault than we desired. Consensus is that some of the actors seemed new and inexperienced. Everything was very tame, except the music, which was the most assaulting part. There were a few animatronics that got all up in your grill, but the actors really didn’t. One person grabbed my face, but quickly and more in passing. This haunt requires a certain type of energy from the actors that we just didn’t get on this night.
Overall, I had a good time at Haunted Hotel, but I was hoping for a little more. It was my first time, so after hyping it up for me, everyone in the group was a little extra disappointed by the lack of touch this year. With that said, the experience in the elevator showcased what the team is capable of. Exiting the elevator, I was super excited for the remaining attractions, but they just didn’t live up. I would go back to experience it again, just to see if we went on an off night.
It is street parking only, so hunting for a spot could add some extra time to your evening. The place has a couple cop cars and a ton of security circling the building. Upon entering the hotel, we heard the story of Lavinia, who is supposedly some sort of temptress of darkness running the hotel and planning to take our souls. That theme didn’t really carry through any other room though. I don’t believe there was ever any other mention or reference to this theme.
The elevator set was fantastic, which everyone pretty much expected. The two guys really set the stage for the interactive haunt assault everyone was hoping for. Unfortunately, there was much less assault than we desired. Consensus is that some of the actors seemed new and inexperienced. Everything was very tame, except the music, which was the most assaulting part. There were a few animatronics that got all up in your grill, but the actors really didn’t. One person grabbed my face, but quickly and more in passing. This haunt requires a certain type of energy from the actors that we just didn’t get on this night.
Overall, I had a good time at Haunted Hotel, but I was hoping for a little more. It was my first time, so after hyping it up for me, everyone in the group was a little extra disappointed by the lack of touch this year. With that said, the experience in the elevator showcased what the team is capable of. Exiting the elevator, I was super excited for the remaining attractions, but they just didn’t live up. I would go back to experience it again, just to see if we went on an off night.
Questions? Have a story to share? Leave it in the comments!