Face Your Fears Hotel of Terror Review (2026)

We arrived around 10 PM and were greeted by a large bus with an illuminated sign directing us toward the entrance of the attraction. At the gate, several parking attendants guided us to our designated parking spaces in a large, well-lit field. Donations are accepted at the gate, but they are not required for entry.

Once we parked our wagon, we were greeted by signage and multiple warnings detailing not only the intensity of the haunt, but also instructions on how to obtain tickets.

This season, Face Your Fears has opted for timed ticketing while still allowing guests to purchase tickets on-site via card or cash. With this change, however, guests are no longer able to freely roam the property while waiting for their time slot and are instead required to remain in the designated queue.

There are certainly some pros and cons to this change. On the positive side, keeping everyone in one centralized queue allows the queue actors to interact more consistently and engage with guests while they wait. However, it also prevents guests from utilizing the other covered waiting areas throughout the property, as they are required to remain in the main queue. This could potentially become an issue during the colder and wetter late October dates, when having access to additional covered areas would be especially beneficial.

Going forward, we would like to see the ticketing option reverted to allow free roaming of the premises and a few more entertainment options added to the midway.

From the moment you step onto the grounds at Face Your Fears, you can feel the chaotic energy: a live current of fear pulsing through the ground beneath you. The air is filled with the roar of half a dozen chainsaws and the sound of panicked screams. Every sense you have is telling you the same thing: this is no ordinary haunted house.

The lengths Face Your Fears goes to fully immerse you in the world they’ve created seem to know no limits. Elaborately decorated, meticulously staged sets work seamlessly with actors who command each scene with an intensity that never lets up. There is so much detail packed into every corner that it would take at least five trips through to truly appreciate everything they’ve creatively woven into the experience.

Make no mistake, from beginning to end, there is virtually no time or space to catch your breath. Even for the most seasoned haunt-goer, Face Your Fears has a way of making you question whether what you’re experiencing is real. They are exceptionally skilled at blurring the line between reality and fiction, making every interaction feel genuinely dangerous.

There are a few areas of the haunt that take away from the immersion a bit, specifically the vortex tunnel. We know guests love it, and we do too, but it doesn’t exactly fit the theme of the attraction and disrupts the overall pacing. There’s a lot of real estate to work with there, and we hope in the future we will see something creative and more fitting take its place.

Face Your Fears does an amazing job of scaring the absolute crap out of its visitors, largely because its special effects are so well executed. From the expertly placed lighting and loud, overstimulating sound to the animatronics and actors who don’t hold back, they’ve created the perfect environment for striking fear into your heart. Beautifully colored lights illuminate just the right parts of each scene, drawing your eyes away from where terror might be lurking. Perfectly placed fog machines add another layer to the experience, helping dissolve any sense that what you’re seeing isn’t real.

The animatronics that Face Your Fears uses are just as wild and deranged as the real flesh-and-blood scare actors. And they aren’t tucked away or hidden out of sight; they’re right in your face. Upfront and personal is the way they like to do things at Face Your Fears. The actors like to get to know their guests up close, often using several props that don’t quite feel like they could be fake. Real chainsaws, real metal tools, and other insane weapons could, at any moment, be used to bring you to their mercy.

Whoever handles the makeup, character design, and acting classes here needs to be studied. Check their crawlspaces, check their attic, and maybe check their mental health, because the creatures inside this haunt are insane.

We look for the smallest details when it comes to these things. Are we seeing unscathed eye openings? Is the character bloody enough for the scene? Does the makeup match the energy of what they are trying to portray? This season, we saw little to no flaws. There were no two characters that looked alike, and we never encountered a character who felt out of place or unsuited for their respective scene.

One of our biggest criticisms from last season was that some of the characters felt incomplete. That was no longer the case.

Typically, a haunt will use its strongest makeup and acting characters in the queue line, while the interior cast may be less detailed because of the shorter interactions and engagements. But not here. We did not encounter a single character who felt out of place, was simply following the group to fill dead space, or seemed to be going out of their way to stand out. Every actor stayed in their designated area and made the most absolute amount of the limited time they had with our group. They absolutely blew it out of the water, and it makes you wonder if they can maintain this same level of energy all the way through Halloween night.

We were hit from multiple levels, double-tapped on multiple occasions, and separated from our group numerous times, yet the cast never once broke pace. In previous years, we had seen some characters slow the group down to “set up” a scare. While this can sometimes work, it often took us out of the moment and broke the immersion because it didn’t feel natural. This year, however, that was not the case. The scares felt much more fluid, organic, and believable.

We also saw an increase in the number of notorious characters taking shape, with this haunt continuing to build what we believe is one of the strongest collections of iconic characters in Ohio. Skinkrawl, Hilga, The Carver Brothers, The Jakyl, The Harvester, and The Carnage Concierge are just a few that come to mind.

We also noticed several characters designed specifically without utilizing the touch element, which creates a great balance for patrons who choose not to purchase the touch option. This allows the haunt to maintain its intensity without relying solely on physical interaction.

Our favorite new addition was the angel of death Haserot. Her timing and execution were incredible, and she quickly became one of the most memorable characters we encountered throughout the attraction.

If you come to Face Your Fears hoping for a pleasant and joyful experience, you might want to rethink your decisions. What awaits you in this long-forgotten and lost place are some of the most violent and terrifying demons that have escaped from the darkest parts of Hell. These vicious and bloodthirsty souls have been damned to this place, ready to unleash pure psychological terror on the unworthy.

From the outside, Face Your Fears may seem ominous and foreboding, but that does nothing to prepare you for what’s inside. The Hotel creates such a unique and interesting experience with its tight corners and proximity to the action, leaving nowhere to be hidden. An incredible soundtrack plays throughout, while loud, jarring noises assault your ears. If you aren’t completely and utterly terrified by the Hotel, the staff will make sure you’re running away screaming.

These beasts are like no other, with Hollywood-quality costumes and masks and the raw aggression to match. There is nothing to protect you from the brutal physicality of their attacks. Burning, stabbing, and dismembering are just some of the ways in which the Hotel’s staff like to play with their guests.

The energy and character that the actors bring to their roles is unparalleled. They have truly engineered one of the most terrifying experiences imaginable, one that you couldn’t even begin to rationalize. Time and time again, we ask ourselves, “What in the hell just happened?”

The finale is still strong; however, the outdoor segment of the haunt seems to overshadow it a bit with its intensity. Making a few tweaks to the execution could help elevate the conclusion and leave an even bigger lasting impression on those who make it out alive.

Our journey through this decaying hotel lasted roughly 22 minutes, with general admission priced at $22. With the additional $3 Touch Pass upgrade, that brings the total to $25 and puts the attraction at 0.88 MPD (Minutes Per Dollar Spent). While that number falls below 1, the intensity and overall experience of the attraction more than make up for it. Fast Passes are also available for $32 and will reduce waiting times significantly. VIP (Front of the Line) passes are $50 and come with the touch pass included.

New this year is an upgraded merchandise stand featuring customized T-shirts, sweaters, and other accessories showcasing some of the hotel’s most notorious monsters. This is a significant improvement from previous seasons, and the addition seemed to be well received by guests, as the merchandise stand maintained a consistent line throughout our visit.

The concession stands also offered a variety of food and drink options, giving guests plenty of choices to grab a quick bite or something to drink before or after making their way through the haunt.