Barretts Haunted Mansion Review (2026)

Once we found the parking lot just off the highway, parking was easy. Attendants guided us to an open space behind the attraction, where parking is free. From the rear lot, we weren’t sure where to go at first, but we soon found our way to the ticket area.

To reach the ticket booth, we stepped through the mouth of Barrett’s giant monster and got a mini taste of the haunt before reaching the ticket counter. This short walkthrough gave us a glimpse of what we were getting ourselves into and a chance to decide whether we could handle the full show. We had never experienced anything like this before, and we considered it bonus entertainment! But this is great for families with youngsters or first-timers who may not be sure they can handle it.

Because we visited on an off-night, not every entertainment feature was running as it would on a busier evening. Even so, several roaming actors kept us entertained and delivered scares throughout the wait. Mortimer posed for pictures, while the raccoon owner and towering stilt creature made frequent rounds through the crowd.

We also learned that, on busier nights, Barrett’s utilizes a stage area for periodic entertainment and unleashes “The Rush” every hour, sending its monsters pouring into the crowd. During our visit, a screen in the main waiting area played trivia and short horror-movie clips, while interactive signs gave us even more to explore. There was certainly no shortage of ways to pass the time!

The property was very clean, the queue lines were clearly marked, and every staff member we encountered was friendly, helpful, and happy to answer our questions.

As soon as we pulled in, we were ready to explore! Fog filled the air, a giant red mouth greeted us, and the hotel and mansion loomed in the distance. Cue our inner Halloween child! Photo ops, detailed décor, a hearse, roaming actors, and music created an entertaining yet spooky atmosphere before we entered either attraction.

Inside Burial Hill Motel, it was hard to miss where we had checked in. In fact, we were barely through the door before they informed us we would never be checking out! Signs for the sauna, numbered room doors, elevator buttons, and other familiar hotel features kept the theme alive as we explored different areas of the property. The scenes generally flowed well, and we constantly wondered where the next resident would appear.

At times, the open-air set design and gravel flooring reminded us we were inside a haunted attraction. More often than not, however, the details and actors held our attention and kept us focused on what, or who, might be waiting around the next corner.

Barrett’s Haunted Mansion was highly immersive, though its theme wasn’t actually a traditional mansion. Upon entering, we were told we were stepping into an old campground, and the first room, a bunkhouse, welcomed us to camp. Tight, fully enclosed corridors kept us trapped within the decrepit grounds and made it easy to forget the outside world.

We love a good mansion haunt, and despite the unexpected campground theme, this attraction delivered! Some scene transitions felt abrupt, but the eerie environments kept us curious about which condemned corner of camp we would enter next.

Both attractions conveniently brought us back to the central area, where we could browse the gift shop and celebrate successfully escaping one nightmare and moving on to the next!

First, there was a lot to see and take in throughout both attractions. Barrett’s Haunted Mansion and Burial Hill Motel were largely actor-driven experiences, but they mixed in several unexpected effects that caught us off guard. Even more impressive, they completely redesign both haunts every year. What an incredible feat!

Inside Burial Hill Motel, bleeding room doors, thick fog, effective lighting, and aged floral wallpaper gave the property its rundown look. We passed through a realistic luggage room piled high with suitcases, a laundry room containing real dryers, a bar with liquid-filled wine glasses, an elevator area, and many other recognizable hotel spaces that brought the theme to life.

The audio was always easy to hear, although some of the soundtracks and songs didn’t entirely match the areas we were exploring. Incorporating more realistic hotel sounds in those scenes could make the property feel even more convincing.

Barrett’s Haunted Mansion started attacking before we even entered, when a massive, bush-like animatronic suddenly came to life! Other standout effects included a moving cube shelf, a fog-filled well, and a transitional stairwell covered in slimy, UV-reactive snails. We especially appreciated that they turned what could have been an ordinary staircase into another detailed part of the show!

In the hotel, every room contained at least one actor, and some held two or three, keeping us on our toes throughout our stay. Their dialogue consistently related to the hotel, and many pulled us into lengthy interactions.

The enthusiastic front-desk attendant checked us in while ringing her bell repeatedly. Later, a character with a cloth wrapped around his head claimed he had seen our registration and that it said we weren’t leaving at all. That wasn’t creepy or anything! After startling us, the housekeeping staff began yelling about towels and our dirty feet. The housekeeper demanded we wipe them because she had just cleaned the floor, while another staff member reminded us she was only paid to clean it once. Once! Who knew proper hotel etiquette could be so terrifying, and hilarious?

The characters’ appearances suited their roles. Wounds, altered facial features, and colored contacts brought many of them to life, while the bellhops wore some of the strongest and most complete uniforms in the motel.

Our campground tour began outside with Bridget, who eerily pointed out that because there were only two of us, “No one will notice that you’re missing!” Something about the look in her completely black eyes told us she wasn’t joking…

Inside, the cast continued delivering memorable encounters. One camper suffered from a nasty bedbug problem, complete with realistic bites covering his face. A woman near the well spoke with a deeply disturbing voice, while a chainsaw-wielding character played “nose goes” with us. Unfortunately, that only saved us for about a second!

The campground’s characters featured several distinct looks. The clowns were especially unique, with spongy, crackled makeup that set them apart from the more traditional circus styles we often see. From Bridget’s blackened eyes to those revolting bedbug bites, the smaller details made the campground’s residents look like they had been trapped there far too long.

The hotel scares checked in from every direction! Some actors hid in plain sight, while others concealed themselves so well that we didn’t spot them until it was too late. Their timing was consistently strong, using screams, sudden noises, and coordinated distractions to keep us looking the wrong way. We never knew which direction the next attack would come from – we felt like our heads were on swivels the whole way through!

The finale delivered something we had never encountered before. We won’t spoil the surprise, but Ross gets credit for us falling victim to that one! Just remember: when staying at Burial Hill Motel, don’t forget to look up.

Inside the mansion, we quickly learned to trust absolutely nothing! We never knew which props would move or which decorations weren’t decorations at all. Actors hid within wall crevices, waited at the ends of hallways, lurked beneath beds, and blended into their surroundings so effectively that several remained completely invisible until they struck.

Common phobias, unexpected blasts of air, and well-disguised characters kept the scares varied. Whatever you do, don’t let these campers hear what frightens you – they may use it against you!

And can we just say how much we love a good bungee scare? Thank you, Barrett’s, for utilizing them and sending multiple characters unexpectedly and unnaturally into our path!

Online tickets were $43.50, plus fees, on the night of our visit. We spent about 14 minutes inside the two attractions, for 0.32 minutes of walkthrough time per dollar spent. This fell well below the one-minute-per-dollar average we typically prefer. However, the experience offered more than its runtime alone suggests. We also got the mini pre-haunt before we even made it to the ticket counter!

Additional queue entertainment extended the evening, while the highly interactive casts packed both attractions with scares, banter, and memorable encounters. We emerged out of breath and grinning from ear to ear! If abundant actor interaction and fast-paced scares matter more to you than length, we absolutely recommend checking into Barrett’s.

They also run a lot of different events, including their popular Bite and Fright package, which combines dinner at the neighboring Abington Ale House with admission to Barrett’s Haunted Mansion.

A food vendor was available for anyone craving something to eat or drink, while the gift shop near the ticket booth offered souvenirs. You know you want to adopt your own BHM ghost! Several photo ops also let us capture evidence of the visit… You know… In case we go missing later.

Unfortunately for us, our reservation clearly stated that we weren’t leaving at all. Apparently, Burial Hill Motel takes its late-checkout policy very seriously! If you haven’t hurried over to check in for yourself yet, shame on you!