Located inside the old, historic Licking County Jail in Newark, Ohio, the Jail of Terror brought the past back to life in the most unsettling way possible. As we approached the towering, haunted, limestone structure, we couldn’t help but wonder what kinds of prisoners once called these crumbling cells home. Whatever energies lingered here seemed to have seeped into the walls and straight into the chaotic crew of tormentors now running the place!
This was no ordinary haunt. The Jail of Terror delivered a fully interactive, hands-on experience where guests could choose whether or not to be touched. We went all in, and it wasn’t long before we were grabbed, separated, locked inside cells, and even left scrambling after a stolen shoe! The actors thrived on disorientation and unpredictability, making it feel as though the inmates truly ran the place. By the end, we weren’t sure if we had escaped… or just been released on good behavior. Whatever you do, watch out for Earl!
Despite the prisoners having taken over the jail, it doesn’t seem like many took the opportunity to leave because this place is absolutely crawling with inmates! Emphasis on the crawling because one of them literally came crawling out from under the bed, causing two of our crew to leap out of the way! The high density of actors made sure we were always on the run through this haunt.
We encountered a wide variety of characters throughout that always kept us guessing whose cell we were about to walk into. From mossy zombies to a human-sized prison rat, we saw it all at Jail of Terror! All of these different types of characters brought unique interactions that helped bring these characters to life. We played Rock, Paper, Scissors a few times, even though we always ended up losing! One of our members even lost his shoe, despite offering to play their favorite game to keep it (don’t worry, the shoe was reunited with the reviewer… eventually).
As we descended deeper into the jail, the characters became even more deranged, making us question if we’d ever make it out! In the basement, many resorted to yelling and screaming. At times, several actors were yelling at us to go and to stay simultaneously, and we weren’t really sure what they wanted us to do. Adding more aggressive dialogue, character backgrounds, and more jump scares when making appearances would help grow this cast even more!
Earl was a standout character to us for his believability, as was the mossy, long-haired lady who eerily kept showing up when least expected.
The staff inside Jail of Terror were looking pretty dead… and that’s meant as a compliment. Most of the inmates fit right into their grim surroundings with orange jumpsuits, coveralls, and the occasional guard uniform or tactical vest to complete the prison vibe.
A mix of masks and makeup was used throughout. While several actors wore minimal makeup, mostly darkened features, gray faces, and grimy accents, others went all out with more intricate touches, like moss creeping from their faces and even growing into one performer’s beard. We spotted colored contacts, oozing green teeth, and one prisoner who couldn’t see us at all beneath a blindfold.
Down in the basement, the looks got even wilder, with some downright deranged masks that added a more chaotic, unhinged energy to the space. We did catch a few getups that didn’t quite fit the theme, including a large rat with uncovered hands, a patient gown, and what might’ve been a gorilla mask, but overall, the lineup worked well for the setting. A little more grime and dirt on the bare skin would help these prisoners look even more like they’ve truly been trapped in this dark dungeon for years.
Making our way to the haunt itself couldn’t have been easier. Located in downtown Newark, Ohio, we easily found the haunt with our GPS. Being downtown, there is plentiful parking, well-lit streets, and signs to navigate the area. Once you arrive, there’s no missing this beautiful Gothic building that is imposing even today. Walking up to it now, it’s easy to imagine prisoners being hauled up these steps. Luckily, the staff at Jail of Terror is more than willing to help you live out that experience! The jail staff was extremely friendly and helpful in making our way to the ticket booth and into the queue line, which we appreciated.
We would like to see a little bit more information on the website, such as an FAQ or a better explanation about not wearing our best clothes. Overall, though, we were very happy with the customer service at the jail!
Even in the heart of downtown Newark, the old Licking County Jail loomed like something out of a ghost story. Its towering limestone walls radiated a cold, unsettling presence before we ever set foot inside. Add in a few blood-red windows glowing from within and a handful of shady figures creeping around the entrance, and you can bet Team Zombillies was ready to storm the place! We’re total suckers for haunted and historic buildings, and this one practically screamed for exploration.
Our night began with an introduction from the Warden himself, an unpredictable character who seemed like the building had already claimed what little sanity he had left. Between his cryptic ramblings and the distant clanging of metal, we had a good idea of what kind of chaos awaited us beyond those heavy doors. While the theming inside was that of a jail, they do have a cool history page on their website that explains more about the building.
Once inside, the authenticity was undeniable. The real cellblocks, metal toilets, and metal bars did most of the heavy lifting, with minimal effects layered in to preserve the natural eeriness of the space. This created a distinct atmosphere, a less polished haunted house, a more genuine prison nightmare. It felt raw, confined, and hued in history. We did notice some water bottles, exposed equipment, and extra chairs that pulled us out of the immersion a bit.
After our sentence was served, the haunt quite literally spat us back out into the night near the original entrance. For those still feeling brave (or needing a souvenir to prove they survived), a small gift shop awaited with the ticket booth inside. While this may be easy to miss once you leave (a gift shop sign reminder would be great), we think it’s really cool that visitors can go inside the jail, where there’s a bit more creepy decor and swag.
As we touched on above, this haunt is light on animatronics and props. This minimalist approach to set design works in Jail’s favor and lets the real elements of the prison shine. I mean, who needs a lot of props when actors can offer snacks out of a real, well-used prison toilet? There were quite a few realistic bodies, dangling chains, parts of cells leaned over that we had to navigate beneath, a few interesting metal-barred doorways we squeezed through, and a thrashing animatronic.
The dark, narrow halls of the haunt really made it feel oppressive and claustrophobic; a feeling that was heightened by real iron bars and concrete surrounding us. Red lighting throughout created a nightmare-like quality that only got more intense the farther we descended into the Jail.
Sound effects could’ve been used more throughout the haunt in addition to the droning sound, horns, screams, and bangs from the inmates, such as a warning klaxon signaling a prison break or some announcement that prisoners should return to their cells to heighten that real prison feeling. There was also a chainsaw prop being used, but it was barely heard. A cool touch that we appreciated was the fly sounds buzzing as we approached the finale, which made us nervous to turn that corner!
21. How scary was it? (35% of score): 6.63
22. How well did they provide scares to everyone in the group? (15% of score): 8
23. How predictable were the scares? (25% of score): 7.75
24. How well did they provide a wide variety (types) of scares? (10% of score): 7.5
25. How strong was the ending / finale? (15% of score): 4.75
There’s something about this old jail that felt hungry, like it wanted to swallow us whole. Even before the first actor appeared, the heavy air and echoing corridors made it clear we were in for an unnerving time. The scares here leaned toward an old-school style, coming almost entirely from the actors themselves rather than high-tech tricks.
We chose to brave the full touch option, and that decision paid off with several intense moments. At one point, we were herded into a cramped cell, and just as we started exchanging nervous glances, a hidden inmate lunged out from beneath a bunk, grabbing a teammate’s legs! From there, things only escalated. Actors locked us in cells, lunged from corners, threatened us, tried to remove our shoes, and stalked us with silent, predatory stares that made our skin crawl.
The cast targeted everyone in our group evenly and did a solid job keeping us on edge. Still, we’d love to see a greater variety of scares in the future. A few more sudden loud noises, creative hiding spots, or misdirection-based startles could elevate the experience even more. Many of the inmates were visible before the action began, and some defaulted to screaming, yelling, or growling when a more menacing approach, or clever distraction, could’ve packed a bigger punch. We get that it’s a jail, so it will be loud at times, but continuously yelling, “Stay!” “Go away.” “Get Out” down in the basement was more confusing than scary.
One of the most effective scares was when someone came at us with a buzzing tattoo gun! As soon as we heard that, we weren’t sticking around for any kind of ink! Also, there were a few masks in the basement that just had a scary look to them… those helped keep us on edge, too!
The finale, featuring a pile of eerie, lifeless body parts and a watchful stare, carried strong imagery but didn’t quite deliver that final jolt we hoped for. A little more buildup or an unexpected twist could really turn that ending into the knockout this haunt deserves. There are stairs immediately following the last scene, so guests can’t be left running out, but something with more bang for one last major startle or double-tap would be awesome to see!
Luckily for the customers wanting to serve a sentence here, you don’t have to wait for a judge and trial (or even commit any crimes!) $24.99 for the standard ticket will get you in, $39.99 for the fast pass, or $59.99 for front of the line if you’ve got places to be. All of these tickets will grant you access to the haunt, which takes about 15 minutes to walk through. This brings their MPD (minutes of entertainment received per dollar spent) to 0.60. While this is well below average, your sentence may vary depending on how long the inmates want to keep you! And, your ticket grants you access to some entertaining cast and one heck of a haunted building! It’s hard to go wrong at the general admission price!
While you’re waiting in line, you’ll be grilled by The Warden (we advise not starting your sentence by making him mad). You can also enjoy some music with the background of screams and prison doors slamming shut.
Those who want to take a deeper look at the historic jail can book a private paranormal investigation there!
As they say, “morning, noon, or night – you just never know what might be lurking around this ominous location,” and they’re absolutely right!
46 S. 3rd Street, Newark, Ohio 43055
