Nightmare Cleveland Haunted House Review (2024)

Bioteck’s laboratories were well-staffed when we went on our tour. Their employees started off welcoming enough. Too bad that didn’t last… in short order, the rest of the ones we encountered expressed an insane desire to make us their newest test subjects! Case in point: in a scene where the greenery had come to life and plastered one of her co-workers to the wall, a sinister scientist declared that we looked like the “perfect test subjects!” The bespectacled technician in charge of animal testing was highly agitated at our appearance. “Did you touch my specimens?!” she snapped angrily. We were fairly confident there was nothing at all we wanted to touch in there. In contrast, her colleague running the Arachnid Lab was almost too delighted when we waltzed in. To the chagrin of our spider-loathing group member, he welcomed our presence and then offered to remove some “goo” from an experiment, inject us with it, then lock us in cages and see what came out of our mouths! Eww! Two more staffers, who were obviously feeling the effects of the laboratory’s work, appeared repeatedly throughout the property to scare and chase us. They wore respirators, and at least one wielded a taser stick.

We had some unfortunate run-ins with the experiments Bioteck had created. Throughout our adventure, we were menaced and attacked by staff who had been exposed to substances that had transformed them into partial monsters. Completed experiments in the form of mutants, giant insects, and fungi-people also came after us frequently. Those who could no longer communicate with words made convincing creature sounds: screeches, snorts, grunts, and growls.

A lot of encounters were brief and intended to scare, but we had our share of interactive moments, too – more so between the actors and their set pieces or each other than with us. It was pretty loud in there so we’d imagine it’s hard for actors and guests to interact a lot. We entered scenes where doctors were working on projects, or monsters would appear and attack staff members or lash out at props in their scenes, angry and confused by their new bodies and brains.

In Nightmare Cleveland, it quickly became apparent that this place was not your standard haunt – unless you regularly visit facilities packed with non-human creatures in various stages of… let’s just say, “biological enhancement.” As we ventured further into the lab, costumes became increasingly unsettling, transforming from human scientists into mutated creatures, complete with fungal growths, droids, and things we’re still trying to un-see.

The lab coats sported the official Bioteck Industries logos, and while some were more “well-worn” than others, every coat and set of scrubs had the same tell-tale symbols on them, and some had large logos on their backs. It wasn’t long before we stopped trying to figure out which droids were actors and which were props because they all blurred together in this highly detailed sci-fi dystopia!

Makeup and masks ran the horror spectrum: darkened eyes, oozing mouths (because apparently, a “better you” is just one sip away), and various stages of decay and infection were seen throughout. All masks were high-quality and well-fitted, some even silicone variants with large teeth, oversized eyes, and antennas.

As if that wasn’t enough, we also noted some accessories that helped set the looks off, including colored contacts, an oxygen mask with dangling tubes, magnifying head contraptions, gloves, and various bandages – giving off that “freshly experimented on” look. From greasy hair to large, clawed hands, this cast looked like they’d been hand-crafted in a nightmare factory – one from which we were thrilled to escape!

A few of the standout looks included the madmen with dreads, an appearing staving fellow complete with exposed ribs and a sizeable x-shaped wound on his back, and some of the unidentifiable creatures we found near the last sections with large claws.

Multiple signs assisted us in finding Nightmare Cleveland’s strip mall location. Parking was free and brightly lit, and we noticed security on hand when we arrived to keep everyone safe. Tickets could only be purchased online; there was no ticket booth on the property. General Admission started at $29.99, with a Fast Pass upgrade available for $39.99 and Immediate Access for $49.99.

Each line was clearly marked for the corresponding ticket and plenty of helpful staff were around to direct customers. The haunt’s rules and prohibited items were posted at the entrance to the queue. Nightmare exited into a room that contained their merch counter and it was easy to find the exit when it came time for us to leave. We noticed nothing inside or outside of the haunt that would pose any kind of safety hazard to customers. Their website was simple to navigate and had most of what a prospective patron would want or need to know about the attraction.

Nightmare Cleveland was hands-down one of the most immersive haunts we’ve encountered this season. The unassuming building looked like just another shopping center from the outside, but that illusion didn’t last long. The moment we neared the entrance, the atmosphere began to shift; Bioteck symbols marked everything around us, and we spotted a droid chilling in a car outside, surrounded by some unsettling growths – a small but foreboding taste of what awaited.

Once in the building, the immersion cranked up several notches. The entryway felt like we were descending into an underground lab with mysterious symbols, soldier props, and rooms that left us wondering exactly what kind of “preparation” we were about to endure. One staff member looked at us and said, “You’re not supposed to be here…” which was both unassuring and terrifying. We also couldn’t ignore the arsenal of “pew-pews” lined up on the wall in an adjoining room. Hmm… What did they need all of that arsenal for?

Before we entered, we were given bits and pieces of the storyline. We also recommend reading all signs around you as they hint at some things to expect here.

Details were everywhere, from unique treatments on the plastic dividers – stamped with numbers, dirt, and debris – to the floors stamped with logos. Each step and turn felt deliberate as if we were the intruders in a forbidden lab rather than haunt-goers on a fun night out. Some hallways forced us to duck through makeshift holes and broken walls, giving the impression we’d accidentally wandered into unauthorized areas – or maybe we actually had! Every corner of this haunt had a purpose, even the large area that may have served as a line divider in the middle (with a non-costumed security guard), fully decorated to keep the theme alive. By the end, we’d become so engrossed in the setting that we almost forgot we weren’t breaking into a twisted lab.

At the exit, the haunt spit us out into a gift shop where the decor and theming continued! While we felt very immersed in the storyline, and it was pretty simple to figure out, we would love to see more hints on some “boss” characters – perhaps a doctor we need to fear running into?

Not long after we were admitted to the facility, it became crystal clear that this place wasn’t what they wanted you to believe it was… and things in here had gone horribly, horribly wrong. The level of detail throughout the attraction was incredibly immersive; even the transition hallways from scene to scene seemed like the concrete walls of a real secret laboratory. Painted logos and symbols were worn and flaking, there were stains and water damage. Posters advertised the services and creations Bioteck offered to consumers. Most rooms were filled with realistic props: test tubes (both intact and broken – uh oh!), medical devices, grotesque eggs in foliage-filled incubators, vines and greenery from plant-based experiments. Their team didn’t skimp on the gross-out factor either – tendrils resembling blood vessels grew from walls and slithered across floors, and we found several slaughtered scientists with their heads, limbs, or even half their bodies ripped off in a puddle of gore! As we progressed deeper into the facility, we found more gruesome discoveries, like the gigantic spiders and massive spider-person hanging in the Arachnid Lab’s web and cages upon cages of frightened animals awaiting testing. Rows of Bioteck’s signature robot servants- the creepy Dan-Droids- were lined up in another scene, ready to receive orders or be shipped off to consumers’ homes. We could go on, but we saw so many cool set details that it’s impossible to mention it all.

Lighting was used effectively: brighter or dimmer where necessary, and with appropriate hues of warm and cold colors matched to each area. The red light in Sector 7, easily the most intense portion of the haunt, gave that portion of the house an ominous feel. Nightmare Cleveland’s soundtrack started off with recorded announcements from the facility’s staff that continued in various spots as we went through, backed by eerie old-fashioned music. The music eventually gave way to blaring sirens in one sector, a cacophony of crying and barking dogs in Animal Testing… and occasional roars and screams from whatever horrors were waiting for us up ahead.

Bioteck Industries is a high-tech facility and we definitely noticed that during our visit. Multiple animatronic robots lurched in our faces and we had to take a rocky ride on an elevator to reach the next sector. A plume of fog simulated smoke or steam billowing down on a grisly experiment. Strobes enhanced jump scares and in one scene, illuminated the experiments frantically lashing out at the doors to their cells! (Careful – those didn’t remain locked for long!)

This facility sure did pack a punch in the scare department, hitting all the right notes for a truly terrifying experience! They expertly built suspense through unsettling sounds and strategic lighting, keeping us on edge and guessing where the next scare would come from. With monsters lunging at us from every angle – front, back, and sides – it was impossible to feel safe, and every member of our group got a solid dose of fear. We’d love to see a few more aerial scares to complete the mix, but they kept us constantly on our toes.

This haunt went above and beyond with a scare type that’s hard to nail: gore. With disturbingly detailed creatures oozing and transforming in ways that blur the line between human or animal and monstrosity, more than a few moments left our stomachs churning. Some of these monstrosities also served as effective distractions. While we wondered, “What the f$12k is that?” we’d find ourselves getting lunged at!

What sounded like puppies crying left us unnerved, and monstrous clicks and roars left us tip-toeing through the hallways. Seriously – they nailed the suspenseful sounds! Several animations had perfect timing, and we never knew which droids would attack!

The cast didn’t miss a beat, with terrifying creatures and sinister humans alike doubling back for effective “double-tap” scares, flinging limbs out from hidden spots in the walls, and coming at us with power tools! The only thing we’d like to see is more of them. Some creatures were so scary-looking; their appearance just had us backing away into corners! There were also a few phobias spread throughout, such as spiders… And as much as we hate to say this, it would be cool to see a spider-like test subject that attacks in the upcoming seasons!

The finale had a decent distraction, but we’d love a heart-pounding last scare to send us running for the exit. This haunt is packed with dread-inducing moments, gruesome visuals, and expert scare timing, making it a must for anyone looking for an intense, stomach-churning night out!

Escaping from the horrors birthed by Bioteck took us approximately 22 minutes, bringing Nightmare Cleveland’s MPD (Minutes Per Dollar) score to 0.73. That does fall a bit shy of the full minute per dollar we seek in a haunt. But the quality of the show we received absolutely blew us away. The entire facility felt frighteningly real as we explored it, like a slow burn that only became more horrific and gruesome as our tour went on. In addition to the haunted house, there were a couple of other things to enjoy, like the recordings and music while we waited in line, as well as roaming characters. There was also the option to purchase merch if you wanted to take home a souvenir.

Bioteck Industries is building better humans! Are you interested in obtaining superhuman abilities? What about becoming young and strong again? Need an android to guard your family or help out around the house? Whatever your needs may be, rest assured: they’ve got something for you. Stop by Nightmare Cleveland and allow the fine folks at Bioteck to change your life… forever.