Hillside House of Hell Review (2025)

The cast at Hillside House of hell put on an amazing show; they hardly slowed down. Every actor in Hillside has a high-strung energy to them, like a squirrel, but an undead one. In the beginning, the nurses were screaming and jumping out at us multiple times, which got everyone in our group. When we entered the library, we were greeted by a stilt walker preacher, who stopped us and told us a creepy riddle. There was one point when an actor jumped on top of filing cabinets and was following our group leader around!

The children sliding around in the kitchen and bouncing back and forth were quite unsettling. To be honest, children can be creepy on their own. Throughout the haunt, several actors made repeated appearances. Two of them, El Diablo and The Handler, followed our group with shock sticks, trying to scare us. The motel section of the attraction featured more dialogue and guest interactions, creating a slower-paced experience. The cast kept us moving in circles, going up and down and side to side.

There were a few generic lines like “Why are you here?” and “Get out of…” sprinkled throughout Hillside, where stronger dialogue would enhance the overall experience. We’d also like to note that we saw a lot of the same characters throughout all attractions. While they did great at covering the space, we’d love to see a larger variety of characters.

The climb up the hill was creepy enough, but the moment we spotted a few of Hillside’s fully costumed crazies, we almost turned right back around! These weren’t your average haunt actors; they were dripping with grime, grunge, and goo. One wild woman swung around a real rat before shoving it in her mouth, and another beastly brute stomped around with massive wolf-like feet. We still haven’t found your shoes, buddy!

The characters inside were just as complete as those outside, with layered looks and almost no bare skin showing. We passed colorful clowns, the undead, creepy children, weapon-wielding maniacs, and some truly horrendous housekeepers – and trust us, by the looks of them, they ain’t cleaning nothin’! Costumes generally matched their scenes, though we did notice a few that seemed to wander out of place here and there.

Details made all the difference: colored contacts, wigs, stringy hair, sharp teeth, aged clothing that looked authentically “lived in,” and slick, slimy effects that gave their appearances extra bite. Speaking of sharp teeth, we’re sure gingivitis runs rampant in these parts, as many of them also had black gums! We also spotted a few crosses drawn onto foreheads and airbrushed details that looked phenomenal under the lighting. Some of the blood even looked wet and freshly spilled!

Many characters had props that matched their costumes, including shock sticks, axes, books, and chainsaws. Standouts included the wolf, the gory maid crew, and, of course, the unforgettable rat lady. The motel’s receptionist also boasted a stand-out costume with a unique, hooped dress. Even the clowns had a gritty twist with their distressed t-shirts and colorful makeup. Special shout-out to the younger actors, too – they looked just as menacing as the adults, and the one sliding through in that killer mask absolutely rocked it! The only minor distraction was catching a few logos on shirts from under the layers and an oddly placed, recognizable green and red striped sweater, but otherwise, this crew looked downright deadly!

It wasn’t a particularly busy night during our visit – no long lines and no heavy crowds – but this allowed us to see how the team operates during slower times. From the moment we arrived, the parking attendants and ticket staff were polite, welcoming, and eager to help. They treated every guest as if they mattered, keeping everything organized and running smoothly even without a rush.

Inside and around the haunt, staff members were easy to find and always approachable. Security maintained a strong presence without being overbearing, and everyone we interacted with seemed genuinely happy to be there. It was evident that they take pride in their work and care about the guests’ experience. Even at the exit, the staff remained engaged, checking in with guests, answering questions, and ensuring everyone left with a smile (and perhaps a few lingering chills). This level of consistency reflects strong management and a crew that truly understands the importance of customer care.

While Hillside House of Hell excels in delivering scares and creating atmosphere, it’s their customer service that brings the entire experience together. They’ve built a friendly, professional, and passionate team, the kind of people who make you want to return year after year.

Perched atop its namesake hill, Hillside House of Hell isn’t just cleverly named; it’s a literal house of horrors. Once known as Hillside Manor when it opened in 1964 as a home for the mentally disabled, it later became Park Place. Now, its dark past bleeds through every wall, transforming this old facility into one of the eeriest haunts in Iowa.

As we approached, fog rolled from a tower of hanging bodies, the metal gates creaked open, and the glowing sign left no doubt that we’d arrived somewhere wicked. Boarded windows, a parked hearse, a giant monster looming, and a few roaming maniacs sealed the deal. Even before stepping inside, Hillside looked, and felt, haunted.

Each attraction offered its own twisted identity, complete with themed entrances and clever transitions. The Motel’s check-in scene was especially on point, complete with a flickering facade, janky elevator, and more “vacancies” than we were comfortable with. While there’s no single overarching storyline tying the haunts together, every section stuck firmly to its own theme and tone.

Immersion stayed strong from start to finish. Aside from a few blank walls, stray fans, a loud compressor, and an A/C unit here or there, the world they built didn’t break character. Every attraction pulled us deeper into the madness, and by the time we reached the Motel, it felt less like we were visiting and more like we were being forced to move in!

As soon as you walk in five feet, you get right into the scares with some animatronics. The lighting with the blues, reds, and greens in the first two rooms was fantastic! Something we really appreciated about the set design was that many rooms made us walk around objects like rows of filing cabinets and dressers, forcing us to spend more time in these areas and get closer to things.

Intricate details included peeling wallpaper, pages of books on the walls, some great drawings on the walls (one was a giant devil), and Motel had some very gory scenes of body parts ripped apart or the beds covered in bloody bodies. Hillside uses fog machines, so if you have respiratory issues, we’re just letting you know. Their use of strobes disoriented us a little bit while walking through that room.

They also utilized some very realistic props that were throwing themselves around, and at one point, we thought they might be real. Each area had its own soundtrack; it sounded like, while the pass-through area had ambient noise, the typical moaning and growling. One room had a creepy recording of a little girl, all distorted, singing, which added to that room.

Hillside House of Hell lives up to its name – this place terrified us! Sudden bangs, perfectly timed pop-outs, and a relentless sense of unease had us jumping, ducking, and second-guessing every shadow. The atmosphere alone was intimidating enough, especially in the beginning, but when scares started emerging from hidden boo holes and from above and below us, all bets were off.

From filthy bathrooms to blood-soaked crime scenes, the visuals were as unsettling as the scares themselves. The team threw in a little bit of everything, including phobias of darkness, clowns, bugs, rats, and, of course, chainsaws, to keep our nerves fried! Some characters appeared in the distance only to vanish ahead of us, leaving us waiting for their next strike.

The actors were dialed in, hitting every member of our group and even splitting us up at one point so we had to stumble around searching for one another through disgusting secret passages and occupied motel rooms. The suspense was so thick that more than once, we hesitated before stepping into the next room – never a good sign for our blood pressure, but a great one for theirs.

Just when we thought we were free, Hillside sent us hurtling back to hell via a unique finale. We won’t spoil the surprise, but trust us – it’s a killer way to end the nightmare! While effective, we do think that it could be even more impactful with louder sound effects or an added distraction.

The ticket price for Hillside is $39.99, and for those looking to skip the lines, a fast pass is available for an additional $14.99. The haunting journey itself lasts approximately 39.5 minutes, which is .99 MPD (minutes of entertainment received per dollar spent), providing an exhilarating blend of thrills and chills that makes this a fantastic value for the price!

Hillside House of Hell operates during the off-season for many different themed events, including Christmas and Fourth of July, and their season pass is totally worth the money to come back over and over again, as with each event, the haunt changes!

In addition to the haunt, as you exit Hillside, you’ll discover a gift shop filled with unique souvenirs and memorabilia. The monster museum is a must-see, showcasing a fascinating collection of creatures. Additionally, you’ll find several colorful selfie rooms, perfect for capturing fun moments with friends and family.

Step outside to enjoy the cozy atmosphere around a fire pit, where you can gather after getting the sh!t scared out of you. A movie is projected on a large screen, adding to the laid-back, festive ambiance of the night.

Hillside is not just a haunt; it’s an unforgettable experience that offers something for everyone!

Note: We entered this attraction with four people. Since it’s linear, and you must do them in order, we scored all of the haunts together.