Criminally Insane Review (2026)

Our first visit to CI began with a clear indication that this attraction draws a crowd! Upon arriving a little after opening, a sizeable line of eager thrill-seekers made it easy to identify our destination. Parking was available along the surrounding streets, which meant some guests had a bit of a walk ahead of them, but the extra steps were certainly manageable. Once on the property, we noticed several staff members by the front of the building, although distinguishing employees from regular visitors wasn’t always easy. This occasionally made finding someone to answer questions a little challenging. Nevertheless, the strong turnout created an energetic atmosphere and gave us an early glimpse of the excitement surrounding CI. As first-time visitors, we particularly appreciated the opportunity to experience an attraction with such a longstanding presence in the local haunt community.

CI doesn’t have to work very hard to convince you that you’ve stepped into a place with a disturbing past. The drive up to the building itself already sets the tone for what’s waiting inside. We would love to see a story built around the jail, as perhaps the guests could be inmates being brought in, or perhaps just create a different theme every year or so.

 As we made our way through the attraction, the aging architecture added a whole new dimension to the atmosphere. The buildings’ confined spaces and historic character created an underlying sense of uneasiness, making it difficult to anticipate what might happen next. There is a certain psychological element that comes with exploring a former jail, particularly when darkness and uncertainty are introduced into the equation. 

Sometimes less is more, and CI knows exactly how to make its surroundings work to its advantage. With the uniqueness of the aging architecture, the subtle aroma of aged wood, as well as other elements, give CI those special ingredients that you can’t just create from scratch. Lighting was used in a very distinctive way, allowing the historic surroundings to shine while keeping certain areas concealed in darkness.

One thing we noticed was how much the jail’s layout contributed to the effectiveness of the scares. The darker sections made it difficult to distinguish an empty cell from one that might be occupied, which worked particularly well. However, there were moments when we felt a little more could have been done to take advantage of these surroundings. A few strategically placed sound effects or additional visual distractions could have helped bring certain areas to life without taking away from the authenticity  of the historic property.

The question is whether we were even in a haunted attraction. We quite honestly didn’t run into a character where we had to decide whether they fit the room or not. They used a bevy of lines that were not generic and felt accustomed to the room. No outfit looked like it was bought from your local Halloween store, and it was time well spent creating the costumes!

There was a noticeable effort to give the characters their own identities, which made their appearances feel more convincing. The inclusion of clown characters adds an interesting contrast to the historic jail environment, introducing a different kind of madness beyond the traditional prisoner theme.

CI already presents the fear of the unknown with its dark hallways and pitch-black cells, which makes the scares very unpredictable. There were a few spots where an additional distraction could’ve been placed, but overall the timing was pretty accurate from one scare to the next. Can’t go into much detail about having our entire group entertained, as there was just one brave individual roaming through the attraction, but they targeted me well!

One character that stood out to us was Skytzo the Clown, who brings an entirely different level of energy to CI. There’s something particularly unnerving about a clown who refuses to remain stationary, especially when you’re already navigating the confined surroundings of a historic jail.