Hundred Acres Manor is opening its doors once again for another thrilling season of scares and fears. Thanks to this year’s changes, the manor has returned to being a heart-pounding haunted attraction. Guests can explore five entirely different themed areas.
Set on the plague-ridden streets of London, “The Host” places you in constant danger as Jack the Ripper stalks and hunts you.
South Valley Hospital sets a terrifying scene, with unhinged doctors and crazed patients wandering freely -each fixated on making you their next victim.
Vodou: The Spell invites you into a mystical world influenced by the vibrant atmosphere of New Orleans Mardi Gras. After being trapped by a mysterious curse, you must explore the secrets of the bayou and break the spell to escape before time runs out.
Folklore plunges you into a chilling snowstorm that engulfs the land. As icy winds howl, beasts hide behind shadowy mountains, stalking your every move. Your mission is to outwit these looming dangers and reach safety before they catch you.
The final theme for this attraction is Hallows Eve, which features a Halloween party. During the event, you’ll be greeted by both original and classic characters.
Although there are no new themes at this attraction this year, Hundred Acres Manor ensured that plenty of updates were made, both within the attractions themselves and to the exterior of their midway area.
We were genuinely surprised by how well all the cast members performed this year, especially considering it was only their second weekend open. Inside The Host, we were impressed by how authentic the cast members’ accents sounded, as we were supposed to be on the streets of London. Additionally, we encountered some pig performers inside the Brine Slaughterhouse who squealed and oinked at us. This attraction is set in a slaughterhouse on London’s streets. Later, other cast members did a convincing job of making us believe the plague was spreading and that we needed to escape.
Our most memorable moment in this attraction was during the last street scene set in London. The cast members were our favorites within the attraction. As we walked into the streets, a cast member welcomed us warmly, but the mood shifted after we encountered the others in the scene. They tried to convince one member of our group to cut off the others’ head because they were supposedly infected, warning that if we didn’t, we would infect the whole town and Jack the Ripper would come for everyone.
When we arrived at South Valley Hospital, a doctor greeted us with a warning that we’d be stuck inside forever. Once we checked in, we quickly regretted our decision – the patients had already taken over, and the doctors were missing. Although there weren’t as many cast members as we would have liked, the ones inside exceeded our expectations and were extremely interactive.
After a terrifying stay, our next challenge was escaping Vodou. The cast members did a great job of immersing us in a setting that felt like the heart of New Orleans. Their performances throughout the attraction were both interactive and convincing, making the experience very enjoyable. We especially appreciated the boat cast member, whose interaction made her performance especially memorable – she even begged us to get off her boat too!
While exploring, we found a freezing hiker outside his cabin who warned us not to enter the National Forest of Folklore. Shortly after, we met a few more freezing hikers before encountering a terrifying yeti, forcing us to flee and hope we’d survive to confirm the legends were true. This section felt understaffed as we only encountered a few other cast members. We would have enjoyed seeing more cast members to enhance the experience.
We finally made it to the fun Halloween party on Hallows’ Eve. We were greeted by the host, who asked why we were late. We thought we were early, since we seemed to be the only ones there. As we walked through the house, we encountered a few memorable characters. We met a vampire who we accidentally awakened by being too loud – she wanted our blood. Next, we saw a victim being attacked by spiders. Lastly, we encountered a hungry zombie growling at us for our flesh.
Hundred Acres Manor consistently excels at the detail in their costumes, makeup, and masks throughout the entire attraction. As we walked through the London section, we noticed many of the outfits appeared authentic and reminiscent of what someone might have worn during the 1600s plague. Only two masks were featured in this segment, both pig masks, which stood out for their realism and high-quality execution.
Inside South Valley Hospital, there was an emphasis on makeup over masks, which worked well because the effects were convincing. The cast featured realistic wounds and blood on their faces. Most wore lab coats, some pristine, others stained with blood for added effect.
In the Vodou section, we observed a creative blend of masks and makeup. The costuming was thoughtfully executed, with most outfits fitting the scene. For instance, a cast member on the boat seemed to wear a white blouse, effectively conveying a pirate vibe. Which made sense since we felt like we were in a boat.
At Folklore, you’ll encounter hikers whose faces look frozen from the heavy makeup they’ve applied, perfectly complementing their costumes and the overall theme. One memorable sight was a full-body yeti costume that was both incredibly realistic and impressively crafted.
Lastly, when you enter Hallows Eve, you’ll feel as if you’re at a classic Halloween party thanks to the costumes and atmosphere. In this area, most cast members were wearing detailed makeup, and we spotted an array of original, old-school Halloween costumes that enhanced the party experience.
Hundred Acres Manor places great emphasis on customer service, with exceptionally friendly staff who create a welcoming atmosphere. During our visit, we interacted with many employees who not only enjoyed talking with us but also seemed to genuinely love their jobs. Parking is simple: if the manor’s lot is full, additional spots near the ice skating rink are well-marked, and a shuttle wagon transports visitors to the entrance. Safety is efficiently managed; guests are screened with metal detector wands before entry, and there are no hazards throughout the attraction.
When you’re standing in line at Hundred Acres Manor, it’s immediately clear that you’re at a haunted house. We really enjoy the atmosphere outside; the adrenaline rush and creeped-out feeling you get as you take in the stunning facade while metal music blasts. As we made our way into the manor, there wasn’t a specific storyline, but there were five different themes, and you can really tell what they were aiming for in each attraction.
Our experience inside the attraction was thoroughly immersive. Although certain parts lacked energy due to the absence of cast members, the impressive attention to detail and well-designed props made up for it. The entrance and exit of the haunted house are adjacent, conveniently leading guests straight into the excellently designed midway carnival area, which really keeps the vibe going.
Overall, the soundtracks were impressive throughout the attractions, but The Host felt noticeably lacking in this area. We particularly enjoyed the soundtracks from South Valley Hospital and Folklore, which we thought were the best of all. While we also liked the Hallows Eve soundtrack, it didn’t stand out as much as our top picks.
The sets and scenes in this attraction make for quite the adventure. We thoroughly enjoyed the newly added scenes, which complemented the return of classic themes from previous years. The way these changes were executed was impressive; the scenes look completely different from their earlier versions, which is a great improvement.
We absolutely loved all of the realistic animatronics, but in Vodou, a lot wasn’t working. They are amazing to look at, but we wish we could’ve seen them in full action. Other than those that did not work, we really enjoyed all of the other sections that had animatronics. One of our favorites was the manikin in a wheelchair rolling out in the back of a real ambulance in South Valley Hospital.
Some of the sensory effects were used very well. For example, the unpleasant smells in certain rooms and scenes added authenticity and detail to the attraction. Although the vortex tunnel wasn’t spinning, it was still effective as we passed through. The most memorable part was the boat room, where the boat moves beneath your feet, creating a realistic feeling of being on the water. While this is happening, you also need to watch out for the viper’s head that pops in, ready to take a bite at you.
21. How scary was it? (35% of score): 8
22. How well did they provide scares to everyone in the group? (15% of score): 8.63
23. How predictable were the scares? (25% of score): 9
24. How well did they provide a wide variety (types) of scares? (10% of score): 9.5
25. How strong was the ending / finale? (15% of score): 7
The cast members go out of their way to frighten, startle, or unsettle you. We appreciated how carefully the scares were set up for many of the actors, who often jumped out at us repeatedly. We especially enjoyed their creative methods, using drop doors, breakaway doors, and surprising us from unexpected hiding spots. The cast’s dedication and commitment to their roles was clear in every interaction.
We also understand that they have volunteers here, so when they volunteer, they need to be trained on how to scare each group. They did a great job with whoever volunteered that night, because every cast member intended to frighten you. The scares here were pretty unpredictable, since they kept coming at us from every direction.
While we enjoyed the finale – especially the zombie and the scent effect – we felt it could have been executed better. We were hoping for a stronger ending that had patrons running for the doors, laughing, or simply saying “wow.” Nevertheless, we did enjoy the overall experience.
We were genuinely satisfied with the attraction. General admission starts at $30, with our visit lasting 30 minutes – about $1 per minute, which is fairly typical for similar local attractions. Upgrading to a V.I.P. ticket for $45 lets you skip the admission line, while the Super V.I.P. ticket at $65 offers line-skipping privileges and a t-shirt as an added bonus. They also offer a legendary V.I.P ticket at $85. This gets you skipping the general admission line, a t-shirt or a hoodie, admission to their maze, a commemorative lanyard, and four tickets for their midway games.
Throughout the midway area, you’ll find plenty of photo opportunities. There are also a few queue line actors you can interact with and take pictures with during your stay. We really appreciated how these moments were organized and set up for guests. They also have a well-put-together merch booth. There’s also a food truck on-site. We aren’t sure if they will only have those for the season or if their concession stand will be open as well.
If you want to add on stuff, this place offers a lot. You have The Maze that’s $10, a 5-minute escape room for $10, midway games at 1 game for $5 or 5 games for $20. They also offer a scream bar that has a few different choices from Pittsburgh breweries. If you don’t want to do the haunted house, you can enjoy these activities.
We made it through the Manor alive and witnessed the unknown. Will you be able to survive and prove the tales are true?
1 100 Acres Drive, Bethel Park, Pennsylvania 15102
