Final Scores – By Category:

Cast (20% of Final Score): 7.76

Costuming (10% of Final Score): 7.33

Customer Service (10% of Final Score): 9.65

Immersion (10% of Final Score): 7.7

Special Effects (15% of Final Score): 6.63

Scare Factor (20% of Final Score): 7.35

Entertainment & Value (15% of Final Score): 7.81

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Final Scores – By Attraction:

Attraction 1: 7.66

Beware the legend of Banshee Manor! The McCraulics were notoriously the most ruthless and evil clan in all of Scotland. To punish their evil ways, the Banshee trapped them within the walls of their castle until they all went insane! This castle maze haunt is located inside Lokomotion Family Fun Park in the laser tag room and is perfect for a family or a first-time haunted goer!

Banshee Manor is a small haunt with BIG scares! The haunt storyline is spooky and interactive, but it’s not too scary for family fun. While you won’t see any blood, gore, or intense special effects as you navigate through the castle, you will see excellent acting and perfectly placed jump scares that follow a storyline and are entertaining for both the young and the young at heart! Banshee Manor is also the only Northwest Arkansas haunt that is fully handicap accessible!

If you are looking for scary good fun for all ages, this haunt is for you! Can you make it through the castle without getting trapped in the walls forever?

The cast started to interact with us immediately. One person was given a Rune Stone to hold tightly for good luck and protection before entering the castle! The total cast is approximately 10 actors who completely embody their original characters. Right as you enter the haunt, you meet the Fortune Teller, who gives a palm reading! You will also meet a Knight, Jester, Blacksmith, Prisoner, Executioner, and the Banshee. Every cast member fits their room and theme.

Overall, the actors were a little sparse, especially toward the end of the haunt. We learned that several actors were out with the flu, and other local haunt workers volunteered to help fill in. It was great to see this kind of teamwork and volunteerism for the love of scaring people.

All the actors were well dressed in good quality items that were personalized to their character and looked extremely authentic to a Medieval wardrobe! The Fortune Teller had a beautiful purple dress and all the accessories of a gypsy. The Knight had on full chain mail armor, and the Jester had on the perfect attire down to the pointed hat. The Jester was the only character that used makeup, and we would love to see more detailed makeup utilized!

No article of clothing was generic, and everything fit well. The costumes were timepiece-appropriate and fit the character’s roles exceptionally. You really feel like you have been transported back to Medieval times!

Banshee Manor is easy to locate inside Lokomotion Family Fun Park. Google Maps had no problem finding it! The building has outside lights with a sign. There is a free parking field in front of the building. The ticket booth is immediately to the right by the laser tag exit when you walk in, and you can buy tickets in person or online. Once you purchase your tickets, you will be checked into the online queue, and you can play indoor games until you receive the text that it is your turn in the haunt! The queue area is all covered outdoors with photo ops!

A noncast staff member was there to explain the rules and the story behind the Banshee Manor. The actual attraction itself was very safe. We did not encounter any uneven floors or wet slippery areas. There was no crawling or stooping, just a steady slight decline. Everyone was friendly, courteous, professional, and accommodating! They have a Facebook account as well as a website.

You are immersed in the storyline pre-haunt as they explain the backstory and immediately once you enter the haunt. The interactions with the characters help maintain immersion as you travel from room to room. There are a lot of quiet spaces. The end of the haunt is very sparse, with no actors and essentially just walking down a dark hall to the exit. We would love to see more action at the end! The outside queue photo op was great, and they posted all the haunt visitors’ pictures to their Facebook site. Groups were let in the haunt every 10 minutes, and we did not have an issue with groups catching up. We would also love a post-haunt merch opportunity in the future! Everyone loves merch!

They also had a pop-up Escape Room tent you could try after completing the haunt. For $5 per person, you had 15 minutes to save the galaxy by unlocking clues, solving puzzles, and decoding phrases. We did save the galaxy with 4 minutes to spare! We would love to see a Medieval or castle-themed pop-up room in the future as well!

This haunt is a very low-tech haunt. Banshee Manor utilizes some set designs and props. While you won’t find many special effects, you will find engaging actors that provide interaction to the entire group. You won’t see laser swamps, vortex tunnels, projection, or animatronics, they focus on the art of the old-fashioned boo hole and jump scares. This haunt occupies a laser tag room and is only up and operating for 2 weeks! There was no background audio for most scenes and some dead silence. This haunt relies on practical effects and family-friendly jump scares, and they do this frighteningly well! We would love to see more special effects, especially audio and sensory, in the future!

This haunt is family-friendly fun! It would definitely be scarier to a younger crowd, but the jump scares startle visitors of all ages! You won’t find blood, gore, or a chainsaw chase finale at this haunt, and they don’t prey on your biggest fears. However, they do take you on a short Medieval castle experience that is an easy walk through with some unpredictable scares. We like to think of Banshee Manor as a spooky, fun Halloween experience for the entire family, young and old! It’s not too scary, but it’s not short on entertainment!

We are happy with the spooky family fun entertainment this haunt provided. It took us approx. 8 minutes to complete. We did not run or even walk fast through any portion, but we felt we were in each room an adequate amount of time to interact with the cast and notice the details.

Ticket prices are regularly $15 per person with no fast pass option. You can buy tickets online or in person. This haunt is open Friday through Sunday from 10/13/23 through 10/31/23. No one under the age of 6 is permitted, and all children from 6 to 13 must be accompanied by an adult. “Chickens” can be escorted out, but there are no refunds. They do have a NO SCARE night for little ones and scaredy cats on 10/30/23.

They have a website that is easy to navigate, as well as a Facebook page. If you are looking for a less intense haunt for all ages with great jump scares, Banshee Manor is the place for you!