Now entering its first full season, Hell in Helen is tucked away just off the busy Main Street inside the Helen Fun Factory. From the outside, the building gives little hint of the detailed sets and scares that await inside. The location previously housed a haunt known as Haunted Helen, but over the past two years, a new owner has completely reimagined and rebuilt the attraction with a fresh vision and distinctive style.
The cast at Hell in Helen is an energetic mix of actors who bring larger-than-life characters to the haunt. Their range of skills rivals what you might see in much larger attractions. Contortionists, sliders, in-your-face aggressors, and slow, menacing stalkers all make appearances.
Early in our visit, we met Mama, who loudly demanded to know why we were trespassing. After a tense exchange, she softened (somewhat) and offered us a helping of her “meatloaf.” Later, we encountered Peaches (whose name, amusingly, appeared on one of our toe tags). Thankfully, we managed to slip away and continue deeper into the haunt, meeting an assortment of other eerie residents along the way. Expect to cross paths with witches, asylum patients, and, fittingly for Helen’s Bavarian setting, the uniformed scythe-carrying Maelstrom von Panzerfaust.
Each performer showed excellent timing and a flair for zany, unpredictable behavior. Several actors managed to genuinely startle us, and even when they didn’t, their commitment and energy kept us thoroughly entertained from start to finish.
The costuming at Hell in Helen is quite good. Every character could easily hold their own in one of the major haunts across the country. The attention to detail and character design is impressive and shows real dedication to the craft.
Mama greeted us in an airy white dress, clearly not expecting company, with her hair still up in rollers. Peaches seemed to still be experimenting with just the right look for him/her(?), blending humor and creepiness in equal measure. Demelar, the clownish slider, wore black-and-white striped leggings paired with a formal vest and frilled sleeves. Combined with demonic makeup, she made for a striking figure as she came barreling toward us. Dr. Wendell, in his blood-smeared lab coat, looked as if he had just stepped away from a particularly gruesome surgery.
Like these examples, most of the cast rely on makeup rather than masks to bring their characters to life, adding a more personal and expressive touch. The only masked character we encountered used it effectively to enhance a sense of mystery and menace.
Each costume felt perfectly matched to its environment and personality. While Hell in Helen doesn’t follow a strict storyline (yet), it’s easy to imagine a cohesive narrative emerging from the strong characters and themed scenes already in place. With this level of creativity and attention to detail, it’s clear that by next season, this haunt will truly hit its stride.
Most of the available information about Hell in Helen can be found on their Facebook page, which includes a contact phone number. Be sure to check their posts for hours of operation, as that’s where they typically share updates. A calendar with dates and hours of operation would be a helpful addition to Facebook so that patrons can confidently plan out their visit.
At the haunt itself, the ticket booth displays rules for visitors, though ticket prices are not clearly listed on-site.
Hell in Helen also offers special event nights, such as 18+ nights. Keep an eye out for their Facebook posts to catch when events occur
While navigating through the crowded tourist area along Helen’s main street, we were concerned about parking. Fortunately, Hell in Helen’s location is just far enough beyond the busiest section of town that traffic eases up, and they offer their own free parking lot. Due to city restrictions, the haunt currently cannot place a roadside sign, so visitors should look for the Helen Fun Factory signs and building. Take the second entrance on the left to reach the parking lot and haunt entrance. The haunt entry door has two large skeletons sitting on the bannisters, and the exit has two giant skeletons that you’ll see first driving up. Parking is between the entrance and exit. Restrooms are conveniently located inside the building, just before you reach the ticket booth.
Currently, there are no food or drinks available for purchase at the haunt. There are plans to add food vendors to the large area outside of the ticket booth.
Hell in Helen is what we’d call a true old-school haunt. It’s largely about actor-driven scares. While larger haunts often emphasize elaborate stories and grand spectacle, Hell keeps things simple and effective.
The exterior of the building is a rambling, weathered structure that definitely gives off abandoned entertainment complex vibes. The new owners are gradually breathing life back into the property, though when you first walk in, it still feels a bit deserted. We know they have plans to renovate the vacant areas and expand the complex with more attractions. In short, don’t be dissuaded by first impressions! The ticket booth and queue area may not look like much, but once you step inside the haunt itself, that’s where the magic begins.
One particularly unique touch was the toe tags given to guests before entering. Each tag listed your “date of death” (today!), a cause of death, usually tied to a character, like “Death by Peaches” or a darkly humorous fate such as “Death by Cruel Irony.” They even noted your postmortem preference of cremation or burial… without asking your permission, of course!
From the ticket booth, guests move into a green-lit queue area before meeting Mortimer, who sits behind his desk to recite the haunt’s rules, crack a few pun-filled jokes, and send you off toward whatever horrors wait beyond the curtain.
The sets and scenes are richly decorated and creatively designed, each telling its own mini-story…even though there’s no overarching narrative (yet). A standout detail was the spider webbing, realistic enough to make you think an army of live spiders had been hard at work. Whoever handled that effect deserves major credit for their craftsmanship.
While we can’t say we were fully immersed in a cohesive world, we were absolutely entertained by the combination of set design, lighting, and especially the energetic cast. Anyone looking for a fun, fright-filled night will definitely find it at Hell in Helen!
Hell in Helen doesn’t rely heavily on special effects. Their scares and excitement are primarily actor-driven.
A few animatronics are sprinkled throughout, including one particularly memorable feature: a wall of moving skeleton heads in the catacomb scene. It’s a subtle effect, and with the strobe lighting and glowing motion lights, we nearly missed it on our first pass, so keep an eye on those catacomb walls!
Another standout detail is an antique player piano that fills the dining room with a hauntingly beautiful, self-playing tune. It’s one of those simple but incredibly effective touches that adds a lot of atmosphere.
Hell makes good use of atmospheric sound effects. Outside scenes have chirping crickets and give visitors the impression of being outside in a country setting, where applicable.
Due to local fire marshal regulations, the haunt had to install a very sensitive smoke alarm system, which unfortunately means no fog effects for now. Even a small fog machine would trigger the alarm. Despite this limitation, the team makes excellent use of creative lighting. The scenes are illuminated with pin-spot colored LEDs, casting a dim, eerie glow that enhances the tension and mystery throughout the walkthrough.
The darkness definitely amplifies the scares, though at times we found ourselves wishing for just a bit more light to fully appreciate their impressive scenic work. Still, for what is technically their first full season, what they’ve accomplished is remarkable. With their dedicated cast, inventive use of light, and strong focus on performance, Hell in Helen delivers what haunt fans crave…a frighteningly good time!
21. How scary was it? (35% of score): 8.35
22. How well did they provide scares to everyone in the group? (15% of score): 8.05
23. How predictable were the scares? (25% of score): 8.4
24. How well did they provide a wide variety (types) of scares? (10% of score): 7.4
25. How strong was the ending / finale? (15% of score): 7
Hell in Helen knows how to get some scares! Their scenes are cleverly constructed with multiple hiding spots for actors, and the low lighting makes it possible for them to hide in plain sight. We were startled by several actors in the haunt, which is saying something, since we can usually predict where the scares are coming from!. At Hell in Helen, they kept us guessing and jumping at every turn.
In addition to well-timed jump scares, there are plenty of menacing figures who slowly emerge from the darkness, as well as a few wild, unpredictable characters who bring genuine chaos and energy to the experience.
While Hell in Helen doesn’t lean too heavily on phobia-based themes, they still incorporate a few unsettling moments: a spider-infested corridor lined with web-covered slat walls, a claustrophobic closet you must squeeze your way through, and a blackout room filled with sheet-covered ghost figures that disorient you under pulsing strobe lights.
A general admission ticket to Hell in Helen costs $22. Our walkthrough of the haunt lasted 12.5 minutes, resulting in a value of 0.57 minutes per dollar (MPD), a bit below average compared to many of the haunts we’ve visited, but for $22, it’s a very fun and frightening experience.
It’s a good idea to check the latest Facebook posts before your trip, as the haunt occasionally offers special discounts. During our visit – right in the heart of Oktoberfest season – Hell in Helen ran a 25% discount for guests wearing Lederhosen or Dirndls, which would definitely boost your overall MPD value.
If you survive the catacombs, don’t rush out too quickly. Before exiting, you’ll pass through a long red-lit hallway featuring two or three themed photo ops. Take a few moments to snap some pictures with your group before heading out of the building. There might even be a creature lurking about who’ll be happy to take a selfie with you.
115 Escowee Street, Helen, Georgia 30545
