Features:
✓-Restrooms/Porta Potties On-Site✓-Gift Shop/Souvenirs✓-“Old-School” (Low Tech)✓-You will NOT be touched✓-Original Characters✓-Indoor Waiting Line✓-Uncovered Outdoor Waiting Line✓-All-Indoor Attraction
How Do We Get These Scores?

Our Rating System
UPDATE FOR 2022: Our former “Atmosphere” and “Theme” categories have now been combined and renamed “Immersion.” Our intent with this is to give more appropriate credit to attractions that have shown a clear focus on achieving and maintaining better customer experiences (both inside and outside the attractions) and developing creative storylines.
Each of the category scores in this review are calculated using a weighted average of several questions that we rate on a scale of 1 to 10.
The following breakdown explains what these scores typically mean. All of our Teams use this as a reference for providing accurate ratings:
10: “Peak Performance”This score is treated as if it has a chastity belt on it. “10’s” are reserved for the best of the best; those that we feel could not possibly improve on what they’re doing.
9: “Innovative and Groundbreaking”It rocked! Nearly everything seemed to go as planned and it was one of the best we’ve ever seen! These guys are leaders in the industry, and attractions like this are truly hard to come by.
8: “Solid”A high score on our scale. They had a good handle on it and, overall, they knew how to use it well. Most attractions can learn from what these guys are doing.
6 to 7: “Good”We could tell that a good effort was made. However, we’ve seen this done much better at other places, or can detect areas where significant improvements can be made. This is about the top end of what we’d call “Family Friendly.”
5: “Average / Fair”Compared to the competition, they weren’t the best, but definitely not the worst. Scares and Special Effects in this range are usually considered “Family Friendly.”
3 to 4: “Below Average”We could see that a clear attempt was made, but most other professional attractions are doing a much better job at this.
1 to 2: “Poor”It appeared that very little time, thought or effort was contributed to this aspect.
0 (Zero): “Non-Existent”No apparent effort was made to make this a significant contributor to the attraction.
Afterword:This rating system is standardized across all of The Scare Factor’s official haunt review teams. However, keep in mind there will always be minor differences between Teams, as we all have varying levels of experience. Regardless, we do our best to remain true to our core values, which is to promote all haunted attractions!Perhaps the biggest thing to remember is: sometimes the score – in and of itself – doesn’t tell the whole story about an attraction’s merits. This is why we provide detailed explanations for each category… to help you better understand how and why we chose the score/s that we did.We do our best to not let feelings or emotions rule our judgement, while also viewing the attraction through the lens of the typical haunt-goer. But, because all reviews with ratings are inherently subjective, this is nearly impossible to completely prevent. Though, when in doubt, we tend to give slightly lower scores than our original “gut feelings” to account for this, and also give the attraction more room to improve over time.We also do our best to be fair and consistent across all of the haunts that we review. We know that you’ll be looking at these scores and comparing them to other attractions, so we hope this review helps you out in that aspect.Do you have some feedback about our review system? Contact Us Here to let us know what you think!
Hide This
Final Score: 6.97
How Did We Get This Score?

Final Scores:
(15% of Final Score) Cast: 6.25
(15% of Final Score) Costuming: 6.03
(10% of Final Score) Customer Service: 9.59
(10% of Final Score) Atmosphere: 8.48
(15% of Final Score) Special Effects: 7.6
(5% of Final Score) Theme: 7.95
(15% of Final Score) Scare Factor: 5.98
(5% of Final Score) Entertainment & Value: 6.38
Hide This
Summary:
Many folks may think that the heart of Gatlinburg is a collaboration of stores, bars, restaurants and family activities that are littered along the main stretch. But, we’re here to inform you that a spooky mansion awaits, hidden within the outskirts of the surrounding woods. This estate is the Mysterious Mansion of Gatlinburg and, to date, it’s the best year-round haunted house that our review team has stepped foot in!
For those who absolutely love haunted houses, or if you just have a passion for Halloween, this is a must-see! When we set eyes on this place, it reminded us of the classic, spooky, haunted mansions similar to what you’d see on Scooby Doo! Only this one is not a cartoon, it’s real and it’s waiting for you!
Cast: 6.25
How Did We Get This Score?

Cast Scores (15% of Final Score):
(20% of Cast Score) Did it seem like there were enough actors?: 6.5
(30% of Cast Score) How creative, believable and convincing were the actors?: 6.75
(20% of Cast Score) How interactive were the actors (verbally and physically)?: 9
(15% of Cast Score) How creatively & appropriately did they use dialogue?: 6.5
(15% of Cast Score) Was there a good variety of characters?: 1
Hide This
The thing to remember about year-round haunted houses is that there usually aren’t many monsters on-hand during the non-Halloween months. We know for sure that we encountered one actor during our visit but it’s possible that there were two or even more that we didn’t see. Regardless, the masked actor that we saw most of the time deserves some kudos! It was obvious that they were extremely familiar with every crack and crevice of the Mansion because they were all over our group! As soon as we thought we had gotten rid of them, there they would be again right on our heels and sometimes even above us! As many times as we came across this aggressor, they were able to hold it together, staying in character the entire time.
Despite this actor’s attempt at keeping us on our toes, we feel like there may have been some missed interaction opportunities, mainly due to there not being anyone else available to show the different scares to us. Luckily, we had been paired with a group of 4 others and one of them claimed to be a past employee of the Mansion. At times, he showed us some well-hidden effects that we would have totally missed if it wasn’t for him.
Costuming: 6.03
How Did We Get This Score?

Costuming Scores (15% of Final Score):
(15% of Costuming Score) How complete / finished did the costumes appear to be?: 7
(25% of Costuming Score) How creative / detailed were the costumes?: 5.5
(20% of Costuming Score) Was their makeup creative? Detailed? Realistic?: 0
(15% of Costuming Score) How effectively did they use masks (if used)?: 6
(25% of Costuming Score) How appropriate were the costumes for their scene/s & theme/s?: 6
Hide This
We don’t want to give too much away, but we can say that the attire worn by the main antagonist of this show did fit the theme of the mansion… well, at least one of the rooms (the kitchen). The mask was effective at hiding the actor’s face, but we would have loved to see them switch it out from time to time to better match some of the other scenes. Judging from the strangers we were grouped with, the look they used was quite sufficient’ but for us avid haunt enthusiasts, a few quick-changes while darting around behind the scenes would’ve been welcomed.
Customer Service: 9.59
How Did We Get This Score?

Customer Service Scores (10% of Final Score):
(25% of CS Score) How easy was it to locate the attraction, park, and navigate the premises?: 9.25
(30% of CS Score) How safe was the attraction?: 9.25
(25% of CS Score) How professional, helpful and friendly were the staff members?: 10
(20% of CS Score) How easy was it to find their information before* arrival?: 10
Hide This
After taking a quick peek at the Mansion’s location on Google maps’ satellite view, we had no problems finding a close place to park (the lot charged $5) and getting to the Mansion. The entrance is pretty straightforward; you just go right in through the front door. A welcoming ticket window attendant greeted us and explained all the rules of the house. She was super friendly and willing to answer any questions we had.
For those who like souvenirs, there is an assortment of items that are available at the ticket booth (we didn’t notice a separate gift shop).
Atmosphere: 8.48
How Did We Get This Score?

Atmosphere Scores (10% of Final Score):
(60% of Atmosphere Score) How obvious was it that you were at a haunted house before entering?: 9.5
(40% of Atmosphere Score) How well did the atmosphere prepare you for what you experienced inside?: 7.75
Hide This
As we approached the Mansion, an ambient purple glow could be seen illuminating the nearby woods. Mystifying music could be heard as we got closer and a towering, wrought iron gate greeted us on the bridge that leads you up to the entrance. This house has nearly everything it needs on the outside to make it seem as realistic as possible. There were sinister shadows and ghostly projections peering out of the windows that, combined with the creepy surrounding trees, set the perfect mood for a’ wait for it’ mysterious mansion! (Sorry, had to do it.)
The small cemetery, random curtains blowing, ghostly carriage and realistic features of the mansion gave us a huge serving of anticipation as we stood gawking at everything. That was before we realized that, the longer we stood there, the more people walked past us and the longer we would have to wait before it was our turn.
Special Effects: 7.6
How Did We Get This Score?

Special Effects Scores (15% of Final Score):
(20% of SFX Score) How effective were the sound effects?: 9
(20% of SFX Score) How creative / original were the scenes & props?: 7
(20% of SFX Score) How well were the scenes detailed?: 8
(25% of SFX Score) How well did they achieve & maintain the suspension of disbelief?: 7
(15% of SFX Score) How effective were the SFX at providing scares / entertainment?: 7
Hide This
The Mansion relies on many old-school effects to please its visitors. Fog, dim lighting, some classic animatronics and the occasional strobe light was about as technologically advanced as it got. But, if you’re curious enough to venture onto one of the balconies that overlooks the foyer, you might get an extra treat!
Dark passageways, old furniture and fixtures, turn-of-the-century wallpaper and nice film of dust created the ideal backdrop for the mansion-themed rooms. A lot of the rooms are pretty small in comparison to most of the haunts we normally visit, but that allows them to create the illusion of added walkthrough length and pack lots of hiding spots in places you wouldn’t expect. This often left us wondering, ‘Dang, how many rooms are there?!’
The sound effects were realistic and squeezed some extra creepiness out of the scenes. At times, they were enough to make your hair stand on end all by themselves! A plethora of scents are also used throughout, which added yet another level of realism to the scenes.
Theme: 7.95
How Did We Get This Score?

Theme Scores (5% of Final Score):
(30% of Theme Score) Could you tell what the theme was?: 8
(50% of Theme Score) How well was the theme carried throughout the attraction/s?: 7.5
(20% of Theme Score) How well does their location authenticate the theme?: 9
Hide This
We all know that it isn’t uncommon for an old residence such as this one to have stories of spirits that roam its hallways. Of course, this one is no different. Locals speak rumors of a past family that was plagued by dark secrets. During your visit, it’s possible that you may come across these residents, who still haunt the Mansion’s dark corridors.
It is said to be a three story building with secret passageways, and that’s exactly what it is! There were a few things here and there that didn’t quite match the classic house as well as others, but it was very obvious that we were inside a house and that it had secrets waiting for us.
Scare Factor: 5.98
How Did We Get This Score?

Scare Factor Scores (15% of Final Score):
(30% of Scare Factor Score) How scary was it?: 6.5
(15% of Scare Factor Score) How well did they provide scares to the entire group?: 7.25
(25% of Scare Factor Score) How predictable were the scares?: 6.5
(15% of Scare Factor Score) How well did they provide a wide variety of scares?: 6.75
(15% of Scare Factor Score) How strong was the ending / finale?: 2
Hide This
Flickering lights, spooky sounds, the laughs of children and the fear of not knowing where the exit is are a small dose of what this old homestead has to offer. We are avid haunt enthusiasts and have been to a lot of attractions. Were we petrified? No. Were we traumatized? No. But did we jump? Yes! Did we let out a yelp or two? Of course we did!
The house serves up frights in a very unique, but family-friendly fashion. They use a lot of jump startles and suspenseful build ups, but executed them in ways that probably won’t leave you needing a change of underwear (unless you don’t visit this type of attraction often). The limited actors enabled us to get (somewhat) accustomed to the masked menace that followed us through. But, each time he came after us, we still got a startle that combined with a nice mix of ‘Oh, it’s you again,’ and ‘This guy’s great; who’s he gonna get next?!’
Entertainment & Value: 6.38
How Did We Get This Score?

Entertainment & Value Factor Scores (15% of Final Score):
(30% of E&V Score) How satisfied were you with the entertainment received during the main attraction/s?: 8
(25% of E&V Score) How satisfied were you with the entertainment that’s available with* the ticket price, excluding the main attraction/s?: 3
(30% of E&V Score) How appropriate is/are the ticket price/s?: 6.75
(15% of E&V Score) Have they effectively used their available space?: 8
Hide This
The Mysterious Mansion is known as ‘Gatlinburg’s oldest and scariest haunted house!’ Having been in the business for almost 40 years (since 1980), they’re also a favorite that’s dearly beloved amongst haunt-enthusiasts across the country. We tested our luck at 3 different year-round haunts during our trip to Gatlinburg and we’d be lying if we said that this one wasn’t our favorite.
Tickets can be had for $15 at the door, or $1 off if you purchase online. They’ve got pretty good hours through most of the year and they’re open even longer as the Halloween season approaches.
If you’re brand-new to haunted houses or just visiting the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area, this is some of the cheapest and best bang-for-your-buck entertainment you can find. If you’ve never been to the Mysterious Manson before, it’s an absolute must-see that even the most avid haunt-goers can appreciate.
How Did We Get These Scores
Our Rating System
Each of the category scores in this review are calculated using a weighted average of several questions that we rate on a scale of 1 to 10.
The following breakdown explains what these scores typically mean. All of our Teams use this as a reference for providing accurate ratings:
10: “Peak Performance”This score is treated as if it has a chastity belt on it. “10’s” are reserved for the best of the best; those that we feel could not possibly improve on what they’re doing.
9: “Innovative and Groundbreaking”It rocked! Nearly everything seemed to go as planned and it was one of the best we’ve ever seen! These guys are leaders in the industry, and attractions like this are truly hard to come by.
8: “Solid”A high score on our scale. They had a good handle on it and, overall, they knew how to use it well. Most attractions can learn from what these guys are doing.
6 to 7: “Good”We could tell that a good effort was made. However, we’ve seen this done much better at other places, or can detect areas where significant improvements can be made. This is about the top end of what we’d call “Family Friendly.”
5: “Average / Fair”Compared to the competition, they weren’t the best, but definitely not the worst. Scares and Special Effects in this range are usually considered “Family Friendly.”
3 to 4: “Below Average”We could see that a clear attempt was made, but most other professional attractions are doing a much better job at this.
1 to 2: “Poor”It appeared that very little time, thought or effort was contributed to this aspect.
0 (Zero): “Non-Existent”No apparent effort was made to make this a significant contributor to the attraction.
Afterword:This rating system is standardized across all of The Scare Factor’s official haunt review teams. However, keep in mind there will always be minor differences between Teams, as we all have varying levels of experience. Regardless, we do our best to remain true to our core values, which is to promote all haunted attractions!Perhaps the biggest thing to remember is: sometimes the score – in and of itself – doesn’t tell the whole story about an attraction’s merits. This is why we provide detailed explanations for each category… to help you better understand how and why we chose the score/s that we did.We do our best to not let feelings or emotions rule our judgement, while also viewing the attraction through the lens of the typical haunt-goer. But, because all reviews with ratings are inherently subjective, this is nearly impossible to completely prevent. Though, when in doubt, we tend to give slightly lower scores than our original “gut feelings” to account for this, and also give the attraction more room to improve over time.We also do our best to be fair and consistent across all of the haunts that we review. We know that you’ll be looking at these scores and comparing them to other attractions, so we hope this review helps you out in that aspect.Do you have some feedback about our review system? Contact Us Here to let us know what you think!
Hide This
Promo Images:
Click to Enlarge