Nestled deep in the wilderness and surrounded by the Appalachian Mountains, Maniac Mountain welcomes guests for another season of scares. The attraction boasts three unique experiences: The Killing Fields, a corn stalk trail featuring a striking windmill; Hell House, an eerie old home at the back of the property; and Heavy Metal, a one-of-a-kind junkyard attraction exclusive to Maniac Mountain. Each offering delivers a distinct experience, classifying Maniac Mountain as a scream park – visitors line up separately for all three attractions. We favor this approach, as it fits the venue well and scream parks like this are uncommon in this area.
The cast members here excelled at interacting with guests, making each skit feel very believable. Across each attraction, we encountered a wide range of unique characters.
As we walked through the Killing Fields, we found areas that were disappointing due to a lack of cast members. However, once inside the building, particularly the barn, there were plenty of cast members actively involved. Out in the field, wild hillbillies interacted with us for a unique experience. Inside, we encountered a cast member impressively walking on stilts and engaging with us. We also met a creepy butcher who laughed at us and followed us through the last room.
When entering Hell House, we were first greeted in the graveyard by a silent skeleton whose head followed us as we moved. Inside, cast members portrayed wild, unhinged characters, heightening the unnerving atmosphere. We met someone we believed to be the groundskeeper, who ominously said he would see us again – and he did, repeatedly interacting with us. In the basement, one cast member screamed for help from within a cage, while another menaced her. On our way out, we encountered several more actors, but the most memorable was one who questioned why we were on his property before engaging with us further.
As we walked through Heavy Metal, we met a wide range of unique characters. Memorable highlights included the rat in the tube, several clowns, a tattoo parlor scene, and the chainsaw-wielding actor at the finale. The performers throughout were particularly aggressive, demanding, and convincing. Among all the attractions, this one stood out for having the most diverse cast of characters.
The costumes throughout every attraction were impressive; we loved the creativity and unique accessories. The attention to detail, from intricately designed masks to expertly applied makeup, truly stood out to us.
Upon entering Killing Fields, we first encountered a cast member with a pig mask, which was impressively detailed. We then met a stilt-walking cast member in a full-body costume reminiscent of Groot; it was both well-crafted and highly effective. Later, inside the barn area, we saw another performer dressed as a butcher, also wearing a pig mask and wielding a meat cleaver.
At Hell House, we were greeted by someone in a full-body skeleton costume, as well as several cast members with makeup and masks. When a cast member confronted us, asking why we were on his property, he cocked his shotgun, which sounded incredibly realistic. It was a very cool experience.
In the Heavy Metal section, we observed that many cast members wore a variety of detailed masks, some of which we had not seen before, and appreciated for their uniqueness. A few clowns donned fitting costumes for their roles. Notably, we encountered a cast member wearing a rat mask, which felt especially creepy yet cool given that we were inside a tube at the time.
Throughout the midway, there were three queue actors: Rudy the clown, a silhouette, and a performer in a pumpkin head. Each featured highly detailed, well-crafted costumes. The silhouette actor wore makeup, a dress, and carried a doll. Rudy wore a mask along with a full-body jumpsuit, while the pumpkin head actor was clad in an impressive, detailed costume covering their entire body.
The GPS guided us right to the entrance of the attraction. On arrival, a brightly lit parking sign with an arrow directed us down a dirt road. Parking attendants were waiting to assist us, making the process easy and stress-free. We proceeded to the ticket booth, where we found two lines: one for people who had already bought tickets online and another for those purchasing tickets at the gate.
The girls at the ticket booth were extremely informative, providing us with all the information we needed for our experience. After passing through the front gate, you will find porta johns immediately to your right. From the midway, all three attractions are visible in the distance. If you are unsure of where to go, clear signs in the center guide you to each area, and every attraction is marked with exterior signs for easy identification.
All the attractions were trip hazard-free, with the Hell House stairs being well-lit and the Killing Fields trail lined with small light-up candles for safety. The website provides comprehensive, easy-to-navigate information and is not at all confusing. Our only recommendation is to clarify on the website that the attraction is primarily outdoors, so guests can dress accordingly.
Throughout our time here we quickly noticed that there was not any story line for any attraction but, if you look on their website you can find a little monologue of each attraction. Outside of all the attractions, you could tell you were at a haunted house because you could hear the metal music in Heavy Metal. You could hear the patrons screaming throughout the attractions. The outside areas got your adrenaline going because you had no clue what you were going to be walking into.
We felt immersed inside all the attractions. However, we did notice the blower for the wind tunnel and a few speakers in Hell House, which broke the illusion a bit. We were somewhat dissatisfied, since these could easily be hidden with netting or similar materials.
After each attraction, the atmosphere was still very enjoyable. What’s nice is that after exiting each attraction, you are brought back to the midway, allowing you to enjoy even more entertainment afterward.
The attraction’s special effects were impressive, complemented by music that was always clear and played at the perfect volume in every area. Walking through the Killing Fields trail, Heavy Metal’s soundtrack filled the space, further enhancing the atmosphere. We were also impressed by the consistent quality of music in all sections. The sets throughout the attraction stood out – especially in the Heavy Metal section, where real cars and parts created an authentic junkyard feel. Outside Killing Fields, the beautifully lit windmill added a special touch to the experience.
Throughout our experience, the sensory effects were outstanding. In Killing Fields, a butcher scraped a meat cleaver on the table, producing sparks, which was especially striking. There were also several animatronic actors in this section, and we came across a wolf head. In Hell House, the laser swamp was another highlight that stood out as very cool.
Heavy Metal featured the most impressive sensory effects of the night. The experience starts with the sight and sound of a turret gun firing from a tower; it is extremely loud, but also very cool and effective. The section also includes fire barrels and several other effects that add to the atmosphere. The most intense moment came when we entered the bus; the smell was truly awful – definitely the worst we have ever encountered, and it nearly made one of us throw up. It was certainly effective.
21. How scary was it? (35% of score): 8.39
22. How well did they provide scares to everyone in the group? (15% of score): 8.53
23. How predictable were the scares? (25% of score): 8.58
24. How well did they provide a wide variety (types) of scares? (10% of score): 8.81
25. How strong was the ending / finale? (15% of score): 8.56
This attraction delivered plenty of scares. Out of the three, Hell House was the scariest and Killing Fields the least. Each cast member did a great job of startling, scaring, or even entertaining us, with moments of laughter along the way. Our interactions with the crew made the experience even more enjoyable.
Our top scares happened inside various attractions. In Killing Fields, a cast member startled us by suddenly blowing a horn. In Hell House, Corey got a major scare when a performer appeared through a window, almost kissed him, and made him jump. Heavy Metal featured a moment where an actor jumped off a car, pinned Jason up to the fence, and delivered a solid scare. The actors’ dedication shows – they clearly enjoy frightening visitors. Notably, in Hell House, one actor stationed above in a doorway managed to get us twice.
We were satisfied with the entertainment offered inside the attractions. Ticket prices are $40 on Fridays and Saturdays, $30 on Sundays, and $60 for VIP tickets. Our Minutes Per Dollar Spent (MPD) was 0.85, slightly below our preferred minimum of 1.0. However, we still consider this attraction well worth attending as they get better each year.
They have a nice merchandise booth featuring apparel and various accessories, plus a small concession area for refreshments.
During our visit, the main entertainment included photo opportunities, music, and queue actors. The standout of the night was Rudy the Clown, easily the best queue actor we have ever encountered. We are unsure if he performed here in previous years, but it was our first time meeting him. He engaged every guest, keeping everyone laughing the entire time. Maniac Mountain is fortunate to have such a funny and dedicated performer on their team.
The butcher did not catch us, but could he come after you?
1659 Teter Road, Buckhannon, West Virginia 26201