Team Uncovering Poe was summoned to Hershey, Pennsylvania, to investigate a series of eerie disturbances, and what we discovered was beyond our wildest nightmares. Zombies roamed freely, rings of fire blazed around us, toxic wastelands were in our sights ahead, and grotesque freakshow characters sent chills down our spines. Our journey began at Twisted Carnevil. Here, reality warped into a hypnotic spectacle that left us questioning our senses. From there, we delved deeper into Auntie Mortem’s Abattoir, where dark family secrets were laid bare, and danger lurked in every corner. But the terror didn’t stop there. At The Descent: Catacombs of Decay, we entered a rare bookstore only to be drawn into the haunting tunnels below, fighting to escape a fate sealed by ancient forces. At the Estate of Evil, a seemingly charming mansion beckoned us to explore its 13 rooms, but its dark history came to life with every step we took. Finally, we braved the Haunted Coal Mine: Curse of the Tommyknockers, where hidden horrors waited to strike from the shadows. Each attraction offered a unique and terrifying experience, daring us to push our limits and face the unknown. Prepare yourself – this is not just a haunted attraction; it’s an unforgettable journey into pure fear.
Dark Nights at Hershey Park returned for their third year, featuring five haunted attractions and three immersive scare zones. Fan favorites like The Haunted Coal Mine: Curse of the Tommyknockers, The Descent: Catacombs of Decay, Twisted Carnevil, and Auntie Mortem’s Abattoir are back to deliver heart-pounding scares. All new this year is The Estate of Evil, a seemingly charming mansion that’s dark history came to life with every step we took.
From adrenaline-pumping coasters to spooky haunted houses, Hersheypark has something for every kind of Halloween lover. Whether you’re in it for the terror or just want to enjoy some seasonal treats, the park has you covered.
The cast truly brought the experience to life, with the midways bustling with just the right number of actors to keep guests on their toes without feeling overwhelmed. While Twisted Carnevil had a more sparse presence, The Descent, Aunt Mortems, The Estate of Evil, and The Haunted Coal Mine thrived with well-placed performers who ensured a steady flow of scares and entertainment.
The actors were not only creative and believable, particularly the outstanding cast of Aunt Mortems, who engaged the crowd brilliantly in the decontamination room and café, but they also maintained their characters with impressive enthusiasm. Dialogue was used effectively, creating an engaging narrative that captivated guests, and actors were eliciting responses and reactions from the audience. Featuring a diverse array of characters—from shadowy observers to energetic jump-scare artists—each performer contributed a distinct flair that enriched the haunts’ ambiance, clearly demonstrating that every actor had a role that extended beyond mere scares. Ultimately, the cast’s creative presence and inventive performances transformed the attractions into unforgettable experiences.
How complete, unique, detailed were the costumes, accessories? – (35% of score)
Were the masks, makeup creative, detailed, realistic? – (30% of score)
How appropriate were the costumes for the respective scenes, themes? – (20% of score)
How believable-, detailed-looking were the queue actors? (See Note if N/A) – (15% of score)
The costumes of the cast were detailed and unique, contributing significantly to the overall atmosphere of the attraction. The Beekeeper, in particular, stood out as a fantastic surprise, showcasing the creativity and craftsmanship involved. There were no noticeable missing makeup or accessories that detracted from the characters, and every costume appeared thoughtfully designed, avoiding the pitfalls of generic outfits. The quality was evident, with well-fitted garments that enhanced the realism of each character and distressing, adding to the gritty ambiance.
Makeup and masks were skillfully applied, enhancing the characters’ identities, although the zombies in the midway could have been elevated by more intricate detailing. Overall, the actors looked like they belonged in their scenes, with costumes that were not only suitable but contributed to a cohesive narrative, making them feel like authentic, living embodiments of their roles. Every detail was meticulously considered, ensuring that the cast’s appearances were both believable and engaging.
How easy was it to locate, park at, navigate the premises? – (25% of score)
Safety (Only dock points for TRULY DANGEROUS hazards!) – (30% of score)
How professional, helpful, friendly were the staff members? – (25% of score)
How easy was it to find pertinent information before arrival? – (20% of score)
Navigating was a breeze, from locating Hershey Park to finding a parking spot in their spacious lot. Clear signage made it easy to identify the entrance, and the ticket booth was clearly marked for those purchasing on-site tickets. Each attraction had clearly marked queue lines, making it simple to find your way around, and the Hershey Park mobile app was a helpful guide to all the Dark Night attractions, ensuring that guests could easily discover everything offered without needing to ask for directions. If a mobile app isn’t your thing, they also had maps posted all over the park with the same information.
The only downside came when we were next in line to enter an attraction; the employee gestured for us to go through without providing any instructions. As we began to walk toward the entrance, another employee stopped us and instructed us to wait, which left us feeling confused due to the lack of communication. Despite this minor hiccup, the overall customer service aspects greatly contributed to a seamless and enjoyable experience.
How well did the pre-haunt areas ("vibe") prepare you for the attraction/s? – (25% of score)
How obvious, creative, believable was the storyline? (See Note if N/A) – (20% of score)
Were you completely, consistently immersed inside the attraction/s? – (40% of score)
How well did the "vibe" flow after, between the attraction/s? – (15% of score)
The pre-haunt atmosphere left much to be desired, lacking the sense of being at a haunted attraction; while there were specific scare zones acting as midways, the rest of the park felt quite ordinary, and the queue lines were left plain. The Estate of Evil did feature some eerie lamp posts outside its entrance, adding a hint of foreboding, but overall, there was little buildup to create a spooky vibe, as guests were simply instructed on the rules before entering, making the waiting lines feel more tedious than exciting. However, once inside, the storylines within the attractions were obvious, creative, and believable.
The Twisted Carnevil started strong with a captivating mirror maze, but its sets became less immersive as we progressed; in contrast, Aunt Mortems, The Estate of Evil, and The Coal Mine excelled in their storytelling and attention to detail, fully immersing us. Aunt Mortems incorporated charming touches, like the sound of a microwave popping, while the elevator scene in The Coal Mine was particularly impressive, and The Estate of Evil stood out with its unique narrative. Changes in flooring enriched the experience. Though we did not receive any storyline introductions before entering, leaving us to piece things together on our own, we were quickly able to figure out what was being portrayed.
Throughout the attractions, we felt constantly immersed, with good line flow that allowed for a smooth experience; however, the presence of staff members in plain clothes detracted from the overall atmosphere, as their sudden interruptions, such as yelling “No Flash Photography,” broke our attention. Additionally, some transitions featured plain black fabric walls that could have been enhanced with more thematic decorations to better bridge scenes. Upon exiting, we were quickly returned to the vibrant environment of Hershey Park, which, while fun, lacked the haunting atmosphere we had just experienced, making it feel as if we were simply stepping back into a theme park. Nevertheless, included in the ticket price was access to roller coasters, creatively darkened for added excitement, along with themed food and drink options. Additional entertainment was set up near the water park entrance, and the designated midways offered fun photo opportunities and interactions.
How effective were the sound effects? – (20% of score)
How realistic were the scene designs, details? – (30% of score)
How effective, realistic were the props, animatronics? – (30% of score)
How well did they use creative, special, sensory effects? – (20% of score)
The special effects were truly immersive, enhancing every sense to create a gripping and eerie experience. From the moment we stepped inside, the sound effects were well-designed, providing an ambient soundtrack that amplified the suspense without becoming obnoxious or overwhelming. Each scene was meticulously crafted, with unique, realistic set designs like the 1920s prohibition theme and the coal mine cart, both of which transported us into their stories. The use of different flooring tied the rooms together, pulling us deeper into the atmosphere.
Props and animatronics were flawlessly integrated into the environment, while creative sensory effects showed that no detail was overlooked. Despite a few bare black walls during transitions, the intricate set designs and sensory elements made the haunt feel both original and unforgettable. Outside, the towering flame-throwing arches in the scare zones added a dramatic, lasting impression.
How scary was it? – (35% of score)
How well did they provide scares to everyone in the group? – (15% of score)
How predictable were the scares? – (25% of score)
How well did they provide a wide variety (types) of scares? – (10% of score)
How strong was the ending / finale? – (15% of score)
The scare factor at this haunt was mild, as expected for a family-friendly amusement park setting, though still effective enough to keep our group on edge. While these attractions might not be suitable for very young children, there were kids present who seemed to handle the experience just fine.
Some actors successfully got us with well-timed jump scares, and though we never felt the urge to run or defend ourselves, the element of surprise kept us engaged. Scares were well-distributed across the group, with actors strategically moving to startle both ends, ensuring everyone got their fair share. While a few scares were predictable, the team did a great job hiding many of the startles, and their use of decoys and live actors helped maintain unpredictability. Different scare tactics were employed, including jump scares, camouflage, and directional scares, with some even coming from above—like the impressive acrobat from Twisted Carnevil. The intensity varied, ranging from subtle, eerie stalking to high-energy attacks, providing a good mix of frights. Although we didn’t feel like sprinting out by the end, most of the finales were strong, keeping the overall scare experience consistently entertaining.
How satisfied with the entertainment provided by the MAIN attraction/s? – (50% of score)
How satisfied with OTHER entertainment INCLUDED with the ticket price? – (25% of score)
How appropriate is/are the ticket price/s? – (25% of score)
The entertainment provided inside the attractions was absolutely worth the ticket price. We paid $52.99 for an all-day pass to Hershey Park, which included both the regular park attractions and the Dark Nights Halloween events, making it a fantastic deal. For those who prefer just the Dark Nights experience, there’s also an After Dark Halloween ticket available for $45.99, which grants admission after 5:30 PM. With our all-day ticket, we were able to enjoy not only five haunted attractions and three lively midways, but also enjoy all the rides Hershey Park has to offer, some of which had their lights turned off or a Halloween overlay to enhance the Halloween atmosphere.
It took us about 30 minutes to go through all five haunts, which felt like a solid amount of time.
Beyond the haunts, the entertainment value was exceptional. The themed midways offered Halloween-inspired food, live performances, and plenty of photo ops, while our ticket also included access to Hershey’s Chocolate World and ZooAmerica, adding even more to the experience. Considering a standard Hershey Park ticket costs $86.95, the $52.99 price for all-day access to rides, haunts, midways, and extra activities felt like an incredible value.
The entertainment outside the haunts was equally impressive. The Avenue of the Afterlife offered side entertainers to keep the spooky energy going, and the side shows in the theaters provided even more fun. Parking was available for $25 online or $35 at the gate. Hershey Park is cashless throughout the park, except for the parking booths, which accept both cash and cards.
100 W. Hersheypark Drive, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033