On a warm September night, we made our yearly visit to Haunted Hills Estate Screampark. The expansive midway offers a great view of all three attractions from afar. You’ll be both indoors and outdoors for all three attractions, so dress accordingly.
The House is likely the first one you’ll notice – it’s set in a creepy old barn, creating a classic haunted house vibe. Most of the experience is indoors, although there are a few brief moments when you’ll venture outside.
Next is Twisted Nightmare. This 3D attraction immerses you in a clown funhouse that initially feels harmless, but becomes increasingly strange and unsettling the further you go. If you have a major fear of clowns, it’s best to steer clear of this house, as its unique 3D effects make the experience even more intense compared to other attractions.
The last attraction is The Trail. Keep in mind that if it’s raining or expected to rain, the trail will be closed for the evening. To start, you walk down a steep hill and then enter the trail itself, which offers plenty of exciting features we enjoy. After you make it through, you’ll need to hike back up the hill – unless you decide to stay at the bottom, where, humorously, a sign reads, “The bus departs at midnight.”
We really appreciate that this is a scream park, meaning you don’t have to go through everything in one continuous walkthrough. You can take a break after each attraction, which is especially helpful after the trail with the large hill. Since western Pennsylvania doesn’t really have another attraction like this, being able to pause and catch your breath makes the experience more enjoyable.
Throughout the park, every cast member we met – about 40 to 50 in total- did exactly what was expected of them. They were interactive and entertaining, which made each experience more memorable. We always look forward to engaging with cast members and appreciate their creative responses.
The House featured a cast with a dynamic range of personalities, from calm to wild. Our journey began with Mrs. Hill, who captivated us with the house’s backstory and forced us to choose between wine or tea, hinting that a wrong choice meant death. We then met a chef who claimed dinner was not ready because not everyone had arrived, but we were suspicious of his cooking. The gardener outside warned us away from the cemetery for mysterious reasons, while the butcher in the basement threatened to make us his next victims. At the bar, the Lady of the house repeated the ominous drink choice, revealing the wine was the blood of a murdered man. Each of these cast members was both believable and memorable, making our experience in The House unforgettable.
Twisted Nightmares’ funhouse stood out due to its energetic clowns, who quickly became our favorites in the park for their elevated level of interaction. Upon entering, we were greeted by Giggles, who despises his brother, Gore. The attraction’s backstory was exceptionally crafted and believable: while Giggles wanted to ensure guests had a fun, memorable experience, Gore wanted to add us to his collection on the shelf. These two cast members were truly the highlights of the night. Additionally, the other clowns inside were just as energetic and convincing, ranging from laughing to angry characters.
The Trail featured a diverse cast of characters, enhancing the experience. Upon arrival, a woman warned us about the cursed ground, urging us to try making it out alive. Inside the trail, zombies lurked in the graveyard, growling and limping convincingly around us. We then encountered a woman who blessed us for protection with holy water – only to reveal it was blood, as she confessed to being the witch who cursed the land. A camper questioned who sent us, why we were there, and if we brought any food. When we admitted we did not, he sent us off to find some. Lastly, we met a distraught girl searching for her parents; after we told her we could not help, she transformed, running on all fours and growling menacingly. These cast members stood out as our favorites in the attraction.
Throughout the park, the costumes were impressive; each outfit felt both unique and thoughtfully crafted. The makeup complemented the costumes perfectly; everything looked spot on. We particularly appreciated the realistic masks on cast members, which really helped individualize each character.
Actors from the queues roamed all three attractions, allowing guests to interact with them throughout the night. Among them, a wolf character, who crawled across the grounds in a detailed costume, and a clown with a horn, stood out for their authenticity. We found the costumes and makeup in Twisted Nightmare especially memorable, loving the distressed look of every outfit there. In The House, Mrs. Hill’s green dress was a highlight – stunning and transporting us to another era. We genuinely enjoyed seeing the different styles of masks, costumes, and makeup featured in every attraction.
The property was easy to find, as our GPS led directly to the park entrance. Parking was stress-free thanks to attendants stationed outside. Before going in, we lined up at the ticket booth and then passed through a security checkpoint where staff scanned us. Safety measures seemed thorough overall.
We recommend being careful when heading down the large hill to the trail; you’re welcome to use your phone flashlight for safety. The attractions are well-lit, particularly around uneven spots or steps. The staff here are all very friendly and welcoming, which made the visit even more enjoyable.
The atmosphere in the pre-hunt areas was fantastic. The old, beautiful facade outside The House created an eerie mood. At The Trail, gazing down the hill, you could hear screams and see faint lights in the distance, fueling curiosity about what awaited. Outside Twisted Nightmares, aside from Giggles loudly engaging with guests, there was not much activity.
Each attraction presented a backstory before entry, all of which were well-crafted. Overall, we remained entertained throughout our visit.
We found the sound effects for each attraction to be excellent, as everything was easy to hear. Of all the attractions, The House stood out the most. We were especially impressed by the attention to detail throughout the interior, particularly in the kitchen and dining room scenes. The meticulous way these areas were put together really enhanced the experience.
We thoroughly enjoyed exploring Twisted Nightmare, especially admiring the highly detailed paintings decorating the walls. The inventive props throughout the attraction also impressed us, but what truly stood out were the clown animatronics emerging through the wall crevices.
We were impressed by the number of animatronics spread across the property, all functioning properly and enhancing our experience throughout the night. We also appreciated how well the lighting was designed in each attraction. Initially, we worried The Trail might be too dark, but it was actually well-lit and bright enough without being overwhelming.
21. How scary was it? (35% of score): 7.75
22. How well did they provide scares to everyone in the group? (15% of score): 7.83
23. How predictable were the scares? (25% of score): 8.42
24. How well did they provide a wide variety (types) of scares? (10% of score): 8.25
25. How strong was the ending / finale? (15% of score): 8
We found The House to be the scariest attraction in the entire park, thanks to its abundance of jump scares and the cast members’ efforts to startle guests from unexpected places. By contrast, The Trail felt less frightening due to its wide, open layout, though it still created a scary and eerie atmosphere reminiscent of being in the middle of nowhere. We also thought the finales of all three attractions were well done, and meeting Gore at the end of Twisted Nightmare was a highlight.
It took us a total of 47 minutes to navigate all three attractions. At the general admission price of $35 during our visit, this brings their minutes of entertainment received per dollar spent to 1.34, which is above average!
Entertainment was provided by a few queue line actors and several great photo opportunities. There is a live band on stage – but not too alive – and their music can be heard quietly throughout the park. Other amenities include a fire pit and a snack bar for refreshments.
The Haunt Shoppe was a fun addition, offering collectibles and apparel like shirts and hoodies. We appreciated the recent updates at Haunted Hills Estate Screampark and are looking forward to attending an off-season event soon. If you miss this season, try to check out their haunted Christmas event.
236 Rolling Hills Estate Road, Uniontown, Pennsylvania 15401