Built in 1916, the Crawford School still holds classes today. When we arrived, the charm of the old building inspired us to see if we could still pass school. So, we enrolled at the Crawford School of Terror, convinced it would be easy. To our surprise, it was even harder the second time around.
Crawford School of Terror is now in its 10th season of thrills and scares, and they definitely delivered this time. Inside this historic school, you’ll experience both frights and plenty of laughs. You can also grab a seat in the cafeteria or find a book in the library that you’ve never read before.
Each floor here features a distinct theme, ranging from a vintage schoolhouse to a barn and slaughterhouse, or even a blackout environment. The surprise is part of the experience – you won’t know what theme awaits you until you reach each floor.
With approximately 35 staff members, Crawford School of Terror was well-staffed, ensuring that every part of the attraction was covered. There were no slow moments or empty spaces, and the team gave an outstanding performance that was both thrilling and genuinely funny. The cast consistently had us laughing throughout our visit. We had a memorable exchange with the woman checking tickets. When we asked why she kept her door closed, she shot back, ‘Did your mom raise you in a barn? Does she always leave her door open?’
Inside the cafeteria, the cast member wanted us to stay and eat our food since it was sitting on the table untouched. We didn’t eat it because it looked pretty gross. Then, we met the cook himself – he was preparing human parts for the next students who would stay and eat their lunch. Afterwards, we met a janitor who was cleaning the bathroom. Yes, it was still very disgusting and messy.
We went to the nurse’s office, where she asked why we were there and if we needed medicine, but really, we just wanted a note to go home. Usually, the school nurse lets you lie down for a while to see if you improve, but most students just say they’re still not feeling well in hopes of leaving early. However, this time was different – she made us go straight back to class.
Inside their barn, we were greeted by an intense butcher, who urged us to try the intestines from a human body lying on a table. Afterwards, we met an elderly woman resembling Grammy. However, she became upset when we called her Grandma. She was smoking indoors, and when questioned about it, she firmly stated, “It’s my house, my rules.”
While there are plenty more interactions we could mention, every cast member provided a fun and memorable experience. Whenever we engaged with them, they always had a quick and fitting response, which really elevated our scenes. It’s the cast that truly brings Crawford School of Terror to life.
Where to begin? The costumes for Crawford were truly impressive – each was beautifully crafted and suited the scenes perfectly. The attention to detail extended to the accessories: the janitor’s mop fit his role as he cleaned the bathrooms, the cook used pots and pans during the kitchen skit, and the little girl played naturally with her dolls. Every detail helped bring the characters to life.
Throughout the attraction, we were greeted by numerous cast members sporting detailed makeup and unique costumes. Some wore masks that were not only realistic but also exceptionally well-made. Notably, the full masks were expertly tucked into their costumes, enhancing the overall effect.
All the queue actors outside were dressed very nicely and wore masks. Among them, we noticed two notable queue line actors: one played a crazy groundskeeper, energetically moving around with a weed whacker, while the other was a cast member in a suit, complete with an old man mask and dress shoes, making his costume particularly memorable.
The customer service here was very professional. Before our visit, we entered the address into our GPS and arrived at the exact location. Parking was easy to find thanks to clear signs. The staff were all exceptionally helpful and professional. Signs indicated the ticket booth, conveniently located near the porta-potties.
The entire attraction was free of tripping hazards or anything out of place. All the stairs were well-lit and easy to walk up. Additionally, their website is simple to navigate and includes a nicely written legend backstory, which we highly recommend reading.
As soon as you arrived, it was clear you were at a haunted house: the school was brightly lit, music was playing, and fog drifted around the entrance. Inside, while waiting in the queue, glowing jack-o’-lanterns lined both sides of the line, and cast members moved in and out, adding to the eerie atmosphere.
Although we weren’t given a storyline at the start, it didn’t matter since there isn’t a clear story anyway. The attraction features a distinctive schoolhouse theme for the first half, then transitions into a few other memorable themes.
From start to finish, Crawford School of Terror kept us guessing, never revealing what would happen after each scene. The attraction maintained a strong, entertaining flow, and we stayed engaged the entire time. Additionally, the absence of water bottles or bags contributed to the realism of every cast member’s scene, making everything feel believable.
On our visit, the speakers throughout the attraction were clear and loud, providing enough volume without being overpowering. What impressed us most about the Crawford School of Terror was the realism of the scenes, especially the cafeteria with its genuine elementary school-style bench chairs. Another highlight was the library, which had shelves filled with real books. Every room we entered was instantly recognizable, making the experience immersive and authentic.
The theater room now features an animatronic that launches out of a chair and hovers over you – a major upgrade from last year, when there was only an actor in the chair. Another new experience for us was the stuffed animal room, packed with over a hundred stuffed animals, which we had never seen before. The attraction’s lighting is also excellently designed throughout.
We entered the barn area and were immediately immersed in flashing lights and lively music. As we navigated through fences, cast members moved swiftly around us, which enhanced the atmosphere and made the room especially engaging. We truly loved how the space was designed.
21. How scary was it? (35% of score): 8
22. How well did they provide scares to everyone in the group? (15% of score): 9
23. How predictable were the scares? (25% of score): 9
24. How well did they provide a wide variety (types) of scares? (10% of score): 9.08
25. How strong was the ending / finale? (15% of score): 9.08
The cast members did an excellent job trying to startle and scare us. Even when they didn’t succeed, they entertained us and made us laugh. We really appreciated their dedication and the engaging interactions we had. One scare stood out as especially unique: in the freezer section, we heard a girl screaming, “Let me out!” and saw an arm flailing from above – she was actually inside the vent. We’ve never seen another haunt feature a cast member providing a scare from above, making this a memorable and original experience.
Another area that provides good scares is their blackout section. If you are afraid of the dark, then this section is not going to be fun for you. We really aren’t sure how many cast members were in here because it was basically pitch black until the cast member turned on a flashlight to scare the crap out of you. This section was very effective during our visit as well.
We had plenty of jump scares, startles, and fantastic interactions from the entire cast. The attraction’s finale is especially memorable: just as you’re heading outside, you encounter a huge skeleton with an opening mouth. An air blaster goes off at this moment, making for a really effective and fitting conclusion to the experience.
Our haunted house experience lasted around 25 minutes, though it felt much longer due to the constant activity and immersive elements. General admission costs $25, with VIP tickets at $35. This results in an MPD (Minutes Per Dollar Spent) of 1.0, which is about average for similar attractions. Given the engaging experience, we believe the price is quite reasonable and provides good value. They also offer midway tickets as well.
Before entering, you’ll find several photo opportunities and interactive queue line actors outside the attraction. After experiencing the haunted attraction, don’t forget to visit the merchandise booths, which offer a variety of cool gear. The Crawford School of Terror also features a food truck, as well as an ice cream and coffee truck on site.
Can you make it through the 3 levels of fear and terror?
125 N 7th Street, Connellsville, Pennsylvania 15425