Fright Manor Review (2022)

Most of the cast members within Fright Manor are volunteers and have worked for the haunt for an extended time. You will come face-to-face with 20-30 energetic monsters on any given night. Some of them delivered short and witty dialogue, but most used growls, screams, or snarls to catch us off-guard. The actors had some pretty cool hiding spots and used decoys exceptionally well to redirect our attention. The addition of some story-driven dialogue would help to authenticate the characters inside the attraction.

We saw a few monsters more than once during our trek, utilizing cubbies and secret passageways to hit us from multiple directions. Michael Myers was the most frightening character we were confronted with, and the doctor was the most exuberant. The chainsaw pursuits were executed well, and the maniacs wielding these power tools were highly aggressive.

We arrived at Fright Manor an hour or so before opening, so we got a glimpse of some of the costumes while there was still some light outside. These monsters sport dark clothing and jumpsuit-style outfits to match the masks and make-up that accompany them. However, the ghostly apparition that lurked in the cemetery could have used a bit more cosmetics to make her look more ghoulish, and a few actors had areas of exposed skin that could have been covered up.

The wicked witch stood out and followed our group through the hallways, laughing ominously during the entire encounter. We were hoping that a house would land on her, but shockingly, that never happened. Where’s Dorothy when you need her?

Masks seemed more prominent than make-up, and some of the denizens’ looks seemed unfinished. Applying additional layers or accessories to the wardrobes would be beneficial.

Our GPS took us to our intended location without fault. The gravel parking lot is expansive and able to accommodate large crowds. Once we parked, we were able to navigate the premises fairly easily. The sign was well-lit and took us directly to the ticket booth. Permanent restrooms are on-site, and the waiting area is uncovered. Concessions were also on-site, as well as a few photo opportunities within the queue lines. Information regarding the event was easily found on their website and Facebook page.

We spoke with a handful of employees during our visit. The staff was friendly and able to answer any questions we had. We loved hearing some of their stories from throughout the years! Lifelong friendships have been made between the staff members at Fright Manor. There was even a wedding proposal the weekend of our visit! This is what haunting is about; building memories with people who share the same love and passion.

Fright Manor has a slight disadvantage when it comes to its venue. The haunt must be broken down and rebuilt each season, as it’s located on the grounds of a neighborhood baseball complex. There’s nothing to help it stand out from the road beside the large sign illuminating the walkway. We would like to see a few queue actors roaming the grounds in the future, tormenting guests on arrival.

The haunt is strategically built between the complex’s permanent structures and walkways. The maze is mainly made of black plywood and is indoor and outdoor scenes, utilizing temporary structures such as tents to cover the attraction. The dark maze section was dimmer than we expected, and we couldn’t see our hands directly in front of our faces!

We did make a wrong turn inside the haunt, but a gentleman outside got us back into the action. For those who have followed our group throughout the season, you should know that this is a trend for us. We’re not the best at navigation.

The beginning of the haunt was milder than what we would have liked, but the pace picked up about 3 minutes in and didn’t let up until we made our escape. Fright Manor advertises itself as having three distinct haunts: The Undead, Slice and Dice, and Scream at South Hollow. The haunts are not separated by a queue and are experienced in one large continuous walkthrough. We did notice the transition between the last two haunts, but we must have missed the switch to Scream at South Hollow.

Most of the sets and props we saw during our visit were low-tech. Some of them looked homemade or unique to Fright Manor. Some lunging props, strobe effects, and an abundance of power tools made our group feel uneasy. Be sure to get a good stretch in before entering because a few obstacles will test your limits.

You’ll be required to maneuver through narrow passages, duck underneath a large airbag, crawl through a fireplace, and squeeze your way through a claustrophobia tunnel. In addition, a clown prop in the circus area will have your group running for the hills. We won’t go into specifics, but you’ll know what we are talking about when it drops in.

The music consisted of classic themes, hard rock, and obnoxious drilling and sawing noises. We did observe some music flooding into neighboring scenes, but given the compact nature of the haunt, we kind of expected it.

We were pleasantly surprised with some of the unique scares we were confronted with during our adventure through Fright Manor. Was it the scariest haunt we have ever been to? No. Was it full of over-the-top and elaborate theatrics? Also no. But they do a damn good job of using the resources they have to deliver spooky fun for the entire family.

Make no mistake, this low-budget haunt is action-packed and delivers multi-sensory attacks from beginning to end. Our group of three received equal treatment from these maniacs as they dispersed scares evenly among the team. Assaults from the cast were brief but effective, sometimes happening more than once. There was a moment when a murderous villain went from following us to somehow appearing in the next room. I hadn’t taken my psych meds that day, but I’m fairly positive that was the same person.

We were the first group to venture into these haunted halls, and by doing so, we were also the first victims of the chainsaw finale. The lunatic couldn’t get his gas-powered weapon to start and seemed a bit defeated in the process. Our group cheered him on, reset, and allowed him to rev his engine for pursuit. We understand these things happen, and we were more than happy to wait to see the full effect. We know his performance was stellar based on the flocks of innocent souls running in terror from the exit.

Our trip through Fright Manor clocked in at 14 minutes. Tickets are $25, bringing our MPD score (Minutes per dollar spent) to 0.56. Typically, this would be on the lower side, but the haunt remained jam-packed with scares throughout.

Students and Military personnel can get five dollars off admission if they show their ID. Speed passes are also available for an additional $10 and will get you into the haunt significantly faster. Kids 5 and under are free.

Fright Manor is a hidden gem and a haunt that exceeded our expectations. Classic haunts like this are few and far between nowadays and are reminiscent of the haunted attractions we used to visit as a child. There’s something about the look and feel that screams Halloween, yet we can’t quite put our finger on it.