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A Captain, crew and....clowns? Oh my. |
Todd - The USS Nightmare returned this year after taking a rest in 2020 (thanks Covid!) and it was nice to visit again. No matter which way you slice it, this is a unique haunt. It’s on a boat, and not just any boat, but a wrecked boat…and not just any wrecked boat, but a wrecked dredge boat – and a pretty gnarly one at that.
The overall experience was very similar to that of the past few years, in fact, it was almost exactly the same with the exception of one puzzle in RIP experience (which Emily and I totally bombed on). There were very little surprises in store, however, some aspects of our visit were better than in the past. For starters, I would say this year had the best intro in the elevator we’ve ever had. In addition to the narrative played over the speakers, the accompanying actor summarized the story as well with a boisterous effort while the room shook about. The actor was speaking over the recorded narrative in parts so it made part of the story hard to hear, but he definitely gets an A for effort.
This year’s captain, while perhaps not the most menacing we’ve encountered, was possibly the most entertaining. At one point he asked us how many bones are in the human body. As we stuttered various answers, he grabbed Paul, threw him in a chair and while waiving a knife in his face said, “Well why don’t we just count and find out?” In the next room, the lovely captains daughter pulled me aside and proceeded to write “Clown” on my forehead with some kind of cosmetic. Unfortunately, I forgot it was there when I went to the gas station later that night. But that’s a story for another time.
Overall, the actors were pretty good – responsive to our comments, keeping us on track, making their role in the ship clear, etc. The speakeasy bartender was excellent with his banter and the clowns….OMG…the most annoying clowns, ever (totally intended). There were a few actors who came across a little less enthusiastic, especially the staple chainsaw guy at the end. For us, he barely moved – almost to the point of standing still like a statue.
For some reason this year, I noticed more of the static decorations than I have in the past. A number of them, in my opinion, are starting to look dated and contrast against the boat’s interior. Applying props is no doubt a challenge in this haunt because it’s a real environment. Every structural component is authentic, so plastic and rubber tend to not blend in as much (let alone the unconventional spaces). I noticed a number of plastic skeletons (some made to look charred, etc.) and some animatronics that are more reminiscent of a carnival ride prop than a modern haunt’s. Of course, depending on how you look at it, it all can add to the USS Nightmare’s charm. It doesn’t poise itself to be the darkest, scariest or most intimidating haunt but viewed as a collective, the environments were a little inconsistent. Some are amazing – real, dated photographs, furniture and aged documents – all that keep the time period set…and then there’s that clown area. I still can’t find the reason it’s on his haunted ship. All of the other area’s make sense – the captains quarters, the engine room, the mess hall. Maybe there’s some nautical legend about clowns I’m unaware of but I wouldn’t be sad to see that part set adrift.
The RIP experience is still the best integrated add-on to a haunt I’ve seen (and honestly, one of the few I’ve seen). If you’re unfamiliar, as an upgrade you are provided a flashing necklace indicating your status to the staff who pull you into side rooms reserved only for upgraded patrons. These extra areas provide a range of different, interactive experiences including a short escape room – all of which are scattered throughout the boat on the haunt’s path. This, without a doubt, sets the USS Nightmare apart from other haunts with the wide variety of things it offers, though many of those are reserved for the RIP upgrade. However, all but one of these extra experiences were the same as the last two years so it may be time for a changeup.
The USS Nightmare isn’t the scariest haunt or the darkest in theme, but it’s easily the most diverse and with a walkthrough time exceeding a half hour, it’s very high in value. As I mentioned, I think it might be time for the refreshing of some areas, props and RIP interactions. Since it is one of the most popular haunts of the tri-state area, to be fair, they do have to keep the haunt appealing to the general masses, so where I would want to convert it to “Satan’s Dredge Boat From Hell’s River of Souls,” that may be just a wee bit too dark for some regular attendees. Also to be fair, there was no show last year, so coming off a hiatus certainly can put a wrench in any build plans.
I hope to see some new experiences next year because I’ll surely be coming back.
The overall experience was very similar to that of the past few years, in fact, it was almost exactly the same with the exception of one puzzle in RIP experience (which Emily and I totally bombed on). There were very little surprises in store, however, some aspects of our visit were better than in the past. For starters, I would say this year had the best intro in the elevator we’ve ever had. In addition to the narrative played over the speakers, the accompanying actor summarized the story as well with a boisterous effort while the room shook about. The actor was speaking over the recorded narrative in parts so it made part of the story hard to hear, but he definitely gets an A for effort.
This year’s captain, while perhaps not the most menacing we’ve encountered, was possibly the most entertaining. At one point he asked us how many bones are in the human body. As we stuttered various answers, he grabbed Paul, threw him in a chair and while waiving a knife in his face said, “Well why don’t we just count and find out?” In the next room, the lovely captains daughter pulled me aside and proceeded to write “Clown” on my forehead with some kind of cosmetic. Unfortunately, I forgot it was there when I went to the gas station later that night. But that’s a story for another time.
Overall, the actors were pretty good – responsive to our comments, keeping us on track, making their role in the ship clear, etc. The speakeasy bartender was excellent with his banter and the clowns….OMG…the most annoying clowns, ever (totally intended). There were a few actors who came across a little less enthusiastic, especially the staple chainsaw guy at the end. For us, he barely moved – almost to the point of standing still like a statue.
For some reason this year, I noticed more of the static decorations than I have in the past. A number of them, in my opinion, are starting to look dated and contrast against the boat’s interior. Applying props is no doubt a challenge in this haunt because it’s a real environment. Every structural component is authentic, so plastic and rubber tend to not blend in as much (let alone the unconventional spaces). I noticed a number of plastic skeletons (some made to look charred, etc.) and some animatronics that are more reminiscent of a carnival ride prop than a modern haunt’s. Of course, depending on how you look at it, it all can add to the USS Nightmare’s charm. It doesn’t poise itself to be the darkest, scariest or most intimidating haunt but viewed as a collective, the environments were a little inconsistent. Some are amazing – real, dated photographs, furniture and aged documents – all that keep the time period set…and then there’s that clown area. I still can’t find the reason it’s on his haunted ship. All of the other area’s make sense – the captains quarters, the engine room, the mess hall. Maybe there’s some nautical legend about clowns I’m unaware of but I wouldn’t be sad to see that part set adrift.
The RIP experience is still the best integrated add-on to a haunt I’ve seen (and honestly, one of the few I’ve seen). If you’re unfamiliar, as an upgrade you are provided a flashing necklace indicating your status to the staff who pull you into side rooms reserved only for upgraded patrons. These extra areas provide a range of different, interactive experiences including a short escape room – all of which are scattered throughout the boat on the haunt’s path. This, without a doubt, sets the USS Nightmare apart from other haunts with the wide variety of things it offers, though many of those are reserved for the RIP upgrade. However, all but one of these extra experiences were the same as the last two years so it may be time for a changeup.
The USS Nightmare isn’t the scariest haunt or the darkest in theme, but it’s easily the most diverse and with a walkthrough time exceeding a half hour, it’s very high in value. As I mentioned, I think it might be time for the refreshing of some areas, props and RIP interactions. Since it is one of the most popular haunts of the tri-state area, to be fair, they do have to keep the haunt appealing to the general masses, so where I would want to convert it to “Satan’s Dredge Boat From Hell’s River of Souls,” that may be just a wee bit too dark for some regular attendees. Also to be fair, there was no show last year, so coming off a hiatus certainly can put a wrench in any build plans.
I hope to see some new experiences next year because I’ll surely be coming back.
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We're gonna need a bigger boat. |
Paul - After a year away, the William S. Mitchell has returned for 2021- and the time off has really gotten to the crew of the old dredge ship.
Located inside of a retired river dredge on the Ohio river, the USS Nightmare is always one of the creepier haunt experiences we go through. You can really feel the ship's history as you walk through, and I think that helps crank up the excitement as you make your way through one of the longest haunts in the area. The amount of twists and turns all over this boat pretty much guarantee that you'll have a hard time knowing which way is out when the angry dredge team starts trying to hunt you down.
You begin your Nightmare voyage on shore, just across the river from downtown Cincinnati. You'll buy your tickets online or at the ticket booth, then proceed down the ramp to the ship. There's a photo station there, followed by a neat queue area that winds around the stern a bit. It's definitely one of the most scenic queue areas around with great views of the Cincinnati skyline.
Once you venture inside, you're greeted and given an explanation of what you're about to experience. If you upgrade to the RIP experience things become even more interactive, with the characters being able to touch you, pull you around, draw on you, and invade your personal space way more than you'd expect. You also get to go through some interactive areas that aren't included in the normal haunt (puzzles, escape rooms, etc), so it's worth the upgrade.
As you wind around the ship and go through dozens of different rooms and hallways, you'll encounter some of the craziest folk this side of the asylum. Some of them are people you'd probably expect to find on a ship like this, and some of them not so much. The clowns still don't feel like they belong here, but if you read the story on the website- they do a good job tying them in. There were a few small changes I noticed down on the first floor where it felt like they really tightened up some of the pathways and added in a few new props, but overall it was the same USS Nightmare I've grown to know over the last several years.
The USS Nightmare has become a bit of a Halloween-time staple in Cincinnati and it's easy to see why it's been around so long. It's perfect for making a whole evening out of when Newport on the Levee is literally a long flight of steps away, and it's a really fun addition to a night out. Year after year, it continues to bring the scares to the banks of the Ohio river.
Located inside of a retired river dredge on the Ohio river, the USS Nightmare is always one of the creepier haunt experiences we go through. You can really feel the ship's history as you walk through, and I think that helps crank up the excitement as you make your way through one of the longest haunts in the area. The amount of twists and turns all over this boat pretty much guarantee that you'll have a hard time knowing which way is out when the angry dredge team starts trying to hunt you down.
You begin your Nightmare voyage on shore, just across the river from downtown Cincinnati. You'll buy your tickets online or at the ticket booth, then proceed down the ramp to the ship. There's a photo station there, followed by a neat queue area that winds around the stern a bit. It's definitely one of the most scenic queue areas around with great views of the Cincinnati skyline.
Once you venture inside, you're greeted and given an explanation of what you're about to experience. If you upgrade to the RIP experience things become even more interactive, with the characters being able to touch you, pull you around, draw on you, and invade your personal space way more than you'd expect. You also get to go through some interactive areas that aren't included in the normal haunt (puzzles, escape rooms, etc), so it's worth the upgrade.
As you wind around the ship and go through dozens of different rooms and hallways, you'll encounter some of the craziest folk this side of the asylum. Some of them are people you'd probably expect to find on a ship like this, and some of them not so much. The clowns still don't feel like they belong here, but if you read the story on the website- they do a good job tying them in. There were a few small changes I noticed down on the first floor where it felt like they really tightened up some of the pathways and added in a few new props, but overall it was the same USS Nightmare I've grown to know over the last several years.
The USS Nightmare has become a bit of a Halloween-time staple in Cincinnati and it's easy to see why it's been around so long. It's perfect for making a whole evening out of when Newport on the Levee is literally a long flight of steps away, and it's a really fun addition to a night out. Year after year, it continues to bring the scares to the banks of the Ohio river.
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The ambiance here is incredible...unparalleled...awe-inspiring...let's just say you have to experience it to understand. |
Teresa - The USS Nightmare is unlike any other haunt I've ever been to. You can't help but get excited just approaching it, moored on the banks of Newport, Kentucky. That's right, it's on an actual old dredging vessel. You really should go on the website and read and watch some of the videos talking about the macabre history of the boat. Everything you need to know is on the website. There are a number of different tickets available (including season passes), and prices depend on how busy they are, so go on a weeknight, closer to opening, or early in the season for shorter waits. Also, you get a discount for buying them online, so I'd urge you to consider that. I highly recommend the RIP tickets. These get you a blinky necklace (which comes in handy seeing in the dark) and a much more interactive experience. This means the dead crew members inside will touch you, which is far more intimidating, plus you get extra experiences, like drinking blood with vampires, or doing shots in a speakeasy. Just do it! When you get there, you'll see a ticket booth in front of the ship, and from there, they direct you to walk across the gangplank and board the ship. Some of the queue is covered, but if the line is really long, you could get rained on, so dress for the weather. Also, you may want to bring some money for your group photo, available at a souvenir table as you exit.
The ship seems pretty big from the outside, but it seems HUGE from the inside! You will go through two floors of it, including rooms for the captain and crew, offices, control rooms, kitchen, medical station, lots and lots of ramps where you can see the water below you, dark passages, and into the bowels of the ship with all kinds of old machinery. It just keeps going and going. The ambiance here is incredible...unparalleled...awe-inspiring...let's just say you have to experience it to understand. The characters are creepy and seemed to have a great time teasing and intimidating us. I can only speak to the RIP tickets, but in addition to the blood and shot-drinking I already mentioned, we were sprayed, tested to see if we were worthy crew members, forced to do push-ups, played a game of chance, had to figure out how to radio out a mayday to get help, were fed a taste of some carcass, quizzed, misled, marked, decontaminated, pulled away from our group, given tasks...it really was a full experience. Now add in crazy props and huge animatronics, so many creepy effects, the best spinning tunnel I've seen (very disorienting), a maze of clowns, and so many creepy dead crew members with some amusing and horrifying dialogue and maybe you won't want to leave! Do you want to join the crew?
The ship seems pretty big from the outside, but it seems HUGE from the inside! You will go through two floors of it, including rooms for the captain and crew, offices, control rooms, kitchen, medical station, lots and lots of ramps where you can see the water below you, dark passages, and into the bowels of the ship with all kinds of old machinery. It just keeps going and going. The ambiance here is incredible...unparalleled...awe-inspiring...let's just say you have to experience it to understand. The characters are creepy and seemed to have a great time teasing and intimidating us. I can only speak to the RIP tickets, but in addition to the blood and shot-drinking I already mentioned, we were sprayed, tested to see if we were worthy crew members, forced to do push-ups, played a game of chance, had to figure out how to radio out a mayday to get help, were fed a taste of some carcass, quizzed, misled, marked, decontaminated, pulled away from our group, given tasks...it really was a full experience. Now add in crazy props and huge animatronics, so many creepy effects, the best spinning tunnel I've seen (very disorienting), a maze of clowns, and so many creepy dead crew members with some amusing and horrifying dialogue and maybe you won't want to leave! Do you want to join the crew?
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Mayday! |
Emily - USS Nightmare has a great location at the Newport levee. It is easy to get to, park, and is just a great place to stop and take in the city. The ship itself looks like a pile of junk and doesn’t look that big. However, once you are inside, the place feels massive. It’s like the nightmare never ends.
We did the RIP experience, which allows actors to touch and includes a few breakout puzzles scattered though out the haunt. I really enjoyed interacting more with the characters and I love puzzles, even though I failed miserably and killed my friends. To be fair, we did this haunt on a weekday evening when there was very little crowd. The RIP experienced worked well for us, because we were the only people and were able to experience each part. On a busy evening, that might not be the case.
The atmosphere of this haunt is just amazing. Aside from the work the USS Nightmare team put into the spooky stuff, the ship alone is so creepy and made me feel fully submerged in their nightmare. There were many twists and turns and I loved climbing through the stairwells to see the water below. They also kept a lot of the original equipment, which while this doesn’t really add to a haunt, it makes the place original and authentic.
The characters were energetic from the very first greeting. With the RIP experience, we were able to engage more. The bartender was one of my favorite characters in the place. We played a game for shots and then he separated me from my group. He left his bar to follow me around, walking uncomfortably close and grabbing my shoulders as our group was misled in all directions. The clowns were entertaining and led us around for a good while before finally letting us out of strobe light hell. My only complaint would be the last set before the exit. There were several actors in there that were hanging out, looking creepy, but it felt weak for an ending bit.
We were forced to eat body parts, do pushups, and clog toilets. We had to escape the ship with a mayday call, reroute the power, and be decontaminated in a gas chamber. USS Nightmare is one of my favorite haunts this year. Of course, the RIP experience and the fact that it is in my hometown help with that, but this haunt is at the top of my list. It’s a great location, immersive, and just so much fun.
We did the RIP experience, which allows actors to touch and includes a few breakout puzzles scattered though out the haunt. I really enjoyed interacting more with the characters and I love puzzles, even though I failed miserably and killed my friends. To be fair, we did this haunt on a weekday evening when there was very little crowd. The RIP experienced worked well for us, because we were the only people and were able to experience each part. On a busy evening, that might not be the case.
The atmosphere of this haunt is just amazing. Aside from the work the USS Nightmare team put into the spooky stuff, the ship alone is so creepy and made me feel fully submerged in their nightmare. There were many twists and turns and I loved climbing through the stairwells to see the water below. They also kept a lot of the original equipment, which while this doesn’t really add to a haunt, it makes the place original and authentic.
The characters were energetic from the very first greeting. With the RIP experience, we were able to engage more. The bartender was one of my favorite characters in the place. We played a game for shots and then he separated me from my group. He left his bar to follow me around, walking uncomfortably close and grabbing my shoulders as our group was misled in all directions. The clowns were entertaining and led us around for a good while before finally letting us out of strobe light hell. My only complaint would be the last set before the exit. There were several actors in there that were hanging out, looking creepy, but it felt weak for an ending bit.
We were forced to eat body parts, do pushups, and clog toilets. We had to escape the ship with a mayday call, reroute the power, and be decontaminated in a gas chamber. USS Nightmare is one of my favorite haunts this year. Of course, the RIP experience and the fact that it is in my hometown help with that, but this haunt is at the top of my list. It’s a great location, immersive, and just so much fun.
Questions? Have a story to share? Leave it in the comments!