Final Scores – By Category:

Cast (20% of Final Score): 8.18

Costuming (10% of Final Score): 8.53

Customer Service (10% of Final Score): 9.55

Immersion (10% of Final Score): 8.05

Special Effects (15% of Final Score): 8.42

Scare Factor (20% of Final Score): 8.26

Entertainment & Value (15% of Final Score): 8.13

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Final Scores – By Attraction:

Attraction 1: 8.38

After a four-year intermission, we have finally returned to Haunted Hills Estate, making this the perfect pick to kick off our sixth review season, especially on the eve of the autumnal equinox.

HHE boasts three distinct attractions: The Hill Family House, a haggard, haunted hostel harboring horrific heathens; Twisted Nightmare 3-D Freak Show, a trippy twist on the traditional traveling theater; and, lastly, The Trail, a treacherous trek through thick, tainted timber wood teeming with terrifying tenants.

Did we still find Haunted Hills Estate an entertaining attraction after all this time? Keep reading to find out!

Throughout our eerie escapade, we encountered around 40 actors lurking in the three distinct attractions. Now, while we love a parade of freaky faces, sometimes quality outshines sheer numbers. We felt the actors handled their territories well, especially in The House and Twisted Nightmare. Some were clever enough to roam across multiple scenes, popping up out of the shadows, ensuring we stayed on edge. However, the trail was a bit of a ghost town in places (and not the kind you would want). Its sprawling layout left certain pockets feeling empty. That said, the actors we did meet nailed it, keeping us terrified and thoroughly entertained!

We were first introduced to Isadora Hill, the newest heir of the haunted hostel, slyly narrating her murderous rise to power with the charm of a snake oil salesman. Once inside, we met a colorful collection of spirits trapped on the estate: a poor bellhop was literally entombed in the walls; a deranged chef who had culinary plans that went beyond food; a nanny who stared blankly into an empty crib while muttering to herself (chills!); a moody gardener who stalked us for a bit before blowing us off, and one particularly relentless ghoul that shadowed us through the latter half of the house.

Allistar, the ringmaster, was a twisted blend of energy and charisma, the kind of guy who could pull you into a nightmare with just a glance. His eerie charm had us both intrigued and uneasy. Then came Cleo’s venom—breathe it in, and suddenly, you are not just walking but stumbling through your own twisted fantasies. Inside, we faced an army of clowns, from kooky to downright creepy, each nailing their role so well that we could not decide whether to laugh or flee. The bearded lady? Oh, she shattered the dream with her booming voice, and… well, let us just say her ‘presence’ was hard to ignore.

The trail capped off our adventure. Sure, the cast felt lighter, but they still delivered the goods. We crossed paths with antlered creatures sporting skull faces, a nun who had been waiting for us for centuries, a cultist eager to make us part of the ritual, and a female demon who scurried across the ground before launching herself onto a table with a banshee-worthy scream. Let us not forget the vexed victim, pleading for help like a bad dream you cannot shake.

The mix of character styles and performances made everyone feel like a fully fleshed-out persona, whether they were dead or alive. We walked away impressed—or haunted, depending on how you see it. Either way, the cast killed it, literally and figuratively!

At Haunted Hills Estate, every great character came with an equally great costume, and they fit the mold with some seriously unique looks. Right out the gate, Isadora Hill greeted us herself—the owner of the house and dripping with wealth in a red, sparkly dress that said, “I’ve got money and maybe a few skeletons in my closet.” Next, a dead hotel employee sported a gold vest and tie, paired with a black dress shirt and some sharp black-and-gold makeup. One actor, playing a child, had their entire face hidden behind a veil of hair, which was equal parts creepy and genius.

When we hit Twisted Nightmare, Allister showed up in style—rocking a purple trench coat, matching purple hat, no shirt (because why not?), and glow rings that added a little extra pop. Oh, and his skin? Slick with sweat, or was he oiled up from a Diddy Party? He had “drip”! The clowns were a mix of distorted makeup and straight-up weirdness. One had a deformed face mask and kept requesting we give them our faces; I do not think they could see well because we are not winning any beauty contests ourselves. Another clown in white was armed with a kazoo and a baton. The Freakshow topped off with a bearded lady—a guy in a dress, with large hooters, and we do not mean owls…

The trail, though? Well, it was dark and hard to see, but it had some good get ups. One dude was rocking a full-on deer mask with antlers. A nun in full habit had ghostly face paint, a girl with multicolored hair and ghoulish makeup had blood oozing from her mouth.

We spotted a line actor who can only be described as a demon bird in a full-body suit, busting some moves to the music while guests poured in. Honestly, a real vibe-setter.

Costumes, makeup, and masks were all on point throughout the show. The only thing we wished for? Maybe some themed outfits for the ticket takers—get them in on the fun and set the mood right from the start!

Getting to HHE was a breeze—just a quick tap on their address through the website, and Google Maps handled the rest. Their site’s a goldmine, too, with all the essential info, themes, and backstory you need to get in the spooky spirit.

Safety? There is nothing to raise an eyebrow at, just the usual haunted house quirks, including low ceilings, dark areas, and cramped spaces. But the trail? That is where things get spicy. Picture steep hills, uneven ground, and a trek that feels longer than your ex’s breakup text. Seriously, bring good shoes unless you want to channel your inner mountain goat. As for my out-of-shape, arthritic self? Let us just say I survived, but my knees have been negotiating a retirement ever since.

The staff, though, made it all worth it. From the ticket booth to security to the concession crew, everyone was friendly and helpful, and by the end, I thought I was part of the attraction.

HHE definitely brings the party vibes, no question about it. From the moment we hit the ticket line, we were bombarded with loud music cranking out hits from the ’80s to today. Whether you are a Belinda Carlisle fan or you are busting out your best Beyoncé, there is a little something for everyone! Is it spooky? Not really. Is it fun? Absolutely. I mean, who does not want to belt out “Heaven Is a Place on Earth” or “Single Ladies” while waiting to get terrified? Plus, the whole setup is tight—views of the attractions, a bonfire, and some killer-themed photo ops to keep the spooky vibes flowing.

Storylines? Believable. Twisted Nightmares? Easily the most creative of the bunch. We were all about the creativity there. It kept the immersion high as we wandered through each haunt, which was not hard, thanks to the excellent mix of set designs, décor, and overall aesthetics. Everything looked great, making it easy to feel like we had stumbled into another dimension.

Now, here is the kicker: while The House and Twisted Nightmare spit you out into the midway, the trail leaves you at the bottom of a hill. And climbing it? It is like you are in Rocky IV, training to take down Drago. Bring your A-game, or at least a solid pair of shoes.

Haunted Hills Estate really knew how to play with special effects, setting the stage for some seriously spooky vibes. The House nailed that “abandoned hotel” look, with dim lighting, thick fog creeping through the halls, and cobwebs at every corner. Everything looked like it had been collecting dust for centuries: old, forgotten, and just the right amount of grimy. The kitchen was a mess of dirty pans and a sink filled with guts and other charming human leftovers. Oh, and let us talk about the smell. One room hit you with musty old air, while another smacked you with the stench of decaying flesh. The locker animatronic even got our most fearless member.

The Freakshow cranked up the color with some incredible 3-D artwork. You are stepping into a circus while on a bad trip… not that we would know. The funniest part was a clown animatronic that slid into the room butt-first. This prompted hilarious commentary that we had to cut out of the final video footage.

Out on the trail, they ramped up the sound effects with barking dogs and the screech of cars crashing. Then, out of nowhere, this massive Angel of Death rose up and demanded we bow before him. I mean, when a towering angel tells you to bow, you bow. Scattered through the woods were remains of the lost and shacks that looked like they belonged to all sorts of nightmarish creatures. It was a mix of eerie sights, chilling sounds, and just the right amount of creepy to keep you on edge the whole way through.

Haunted Hills Estate delivered on the scare front, leaving none of us unshaken. Each one of us had at least one moment where we jumped out of our skin. In total, we counted around twenty-four jump scares—ranging from a dead hostel worker popping out of nowhere to random bloodcurdling screams and loud noises designed to jangle your nerves. Oh, and let us not forget the leaf blower. Nothing says “terror” like an unexpected gust of air right up the butt. For those with a phobia of snakes, good luck—plastic ones dangle menacingly from above as we walked certain parts of the trail. It was enough to make anyone a little uneasy.

What really ramps up the tension is being surrounded by characters who mutter to themselves, only to snap into madness at the drop of a hat. These creepy denizens do not just scare from a distance—they taunt, follow, and flat-out messed with us, wielding weapons like knives, axes, wrenches, and the pièce de resistance, the iconic chainsaw. Conversations are not just for character building; they use dialogue to intimidate, like the chef’s twisted monologue, which made us question whether we were the next item on the menu.

Even the walls seemed alive, moving, collapsing, and opening to reveal hands reaching out to grab us. Just when we thought we had a grip on reality, they threw another curveball our way.

Each section of the haunt had its own chilling finale. The House wraps up with a chainsaw-wielding maniac hot on our heels. The Freakshows finale pitted us face to face with the bearded lady herself. The trail’s climax provided the classic chainsaw chase, but as a little post-credit scene (because who doesn’t love those?), a creepy figure awaited us at the top of the hill, staring us down while casually holding an ax as if daring us to take one more step, which is about all we had left in us after that hill.

We clocked our Haunted Hills adventure at around 40 minutes—that is, without counting the lines or the hike up and down that notorious hill to the trail. For comparison, this is above average for most haunts we hit up. Tickets run between $26.50 and $41.80. We swung by on a Friday, and for all three attractions, it was $36.70. That lands you at about 1.11 minutes per dollar, which is pretty solid! If you hate lines, you can snag a VIP pass for $52.00. Not a big walker? We get it. You can skip the trail and stick to The House and Twisted Nightmare for $26.50, keeping your knees (and sanity) intact.

Now, if a haunt’s been scaring people silly for 21 years, they must be doing something right! Haunted Hills Estate brings the goods with a vibrant crew of creepy characters, inventive storylines, and a steady stream of jump scares. Sure, the trail had a few quiet patches, but trust us—the actors you do bump into will make sure you are never at ease. Between the killer costumes, immersive sets, and quirky special effects, we were kept on edge (and entertained) all night. Plus, they have photo ops, food trucks on most nights, a picnic spot for munching your goodies, a bonfire, and loud music to keep the spooky party alive… But beware—if the creatures do not get you, that walk just might!

If you want to see the chaos in action, check out our walkthrough video on YouTube!