Disclaimer: I love haunted houses and Halloween is my favorite holiday. Enter each haunted attraction at your own risk. I sure did.
Nashville Nightmare
1016 Madison Square, Madison
nashvillenightmare.com
Price: $20 single admission, $30 combo ticket
Scare-O-Meter: ? ? ? ?
One sentence summary: I had to call my mom after this one.
This was the first haunted attraction I visited of the Halloween season and I really should have brought an extra pair of pants with me.
Nashville Nightmare presents excellent, realistic acting and almost-too-convincing makeup – some of which I can still see when I shut my eyes.
There are two exhibits at this attraction – Horror High (yes, this is set in a high school scene) and Night Terrors. I recommend purchasing the combo ticket for maximum horror.
I still can’t shake the memory of a very large man-monster breathing on my neck from behind. It was horrifyingly awesome.
Guests will find that this tour is a classic example of what a haunted house should be – terrifying, adrenaline-pumping, monsters emerging from the floor in an all-too-real example of why you should never look under your bed.
I couldn’t have had a better, more realistic time. I probably won’t return until next season. It’s going to take me at least that long to recover.
Monster Mountain Haunted Attraction
273 McMurtry Road, Hendersonville
monstermountain.net
Price: $18 General Admission, $28 Express Admission
Scare-O-Meter: ? ? ?
One sentence summary: I’ve never ran so fast in my life.
This isn’t a testament to the haunted house as much as it is to my inability to run. But, whatever.
This is the only haunted attraction I’ve ever been to that’s mainly outdoors and the only one that’s made me think something could actually happen to me.
I kept flashing back to every horror movie I’ve seen and imagined either my pending death or being turned into a zombie and forced to live in the woods forever.
I may have made it out to be scarier than it was, but the impeccable acting and horrifying monster/zombie scenes made my daydreams seem all the more a reality.
I will definitely have to try more outdoor haunted houses; I think I’ve found my new favorite October pastime.
Slaughterhouse (presented by Full Moon)
3445 Lebanon Pike, Hermitage
fullmoonslaughterhouse.com
Price: $20 Friday-Saturday, $15 Sunday
Scare-O-Meter: ? ?
One sentence summary: It’s a decent way to spend a Friday night.
I was really looking forward to this one. From what I read online, it reminded me of the haunted house I worked at during high school.
I clung to the nostalgia factor as I spent a mere half-an-hour trudging through a series of oddly fake masks, attempted jump scares and a misplaced child-clown that I would rather befriend than be scared of.
Several times I didn’t know that something was supposed to scare me until after I passed the area.
The only bonus points Slaughterhouse earned was being an original and fun experience. I’ve never experienced anything like it. The personal interactions I had with each actor were realistic enough to catch me off guard but not too realistic to get inside my head.
Death Row
418 Harding Industrial Drive, Nashville
deathrowhauntedhouse.com
Price: $15 General Admission, $25 R.I.P. Pass
Scare-O-Meter: ?
One sentence summary: I held onto my friend the entire way through.
I would like to apologize publically to Aaron for squeezing his arm off-and-on for the 40 minutes we were trapped inside.
This haunted house is fueled by jump-scares and designed like a maze. Jump-scares are my weakness. If executed correctly, I resort to a puddle on the floor.
Aside from that, it’s a typical haunted house. Aaron and I were actually bored halfway through.
There are characters and monsters hidden behind every turn that jump toward you and whisper haunting phrases like “Wanna play?” or “Even Planned Parenthood workers wouldn’t step foot in here.”
After the first twenty minutes, we got used to actors jumping out of the walls or crawling behind us on the floor. The scariest part of the whole thing was the claustrophobia; I’m really not a fan of being pressed next to people who really need to brush their teeth.
Suffice it to say that this is another decent way to spend a Friday night. I wouldn’t go a second time, but I’m glad I went.
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