Be careful of what takes root in your dreams… Some things grow into nightmares!
What happens when plants… turn to weapons? What happens when the vines start to grow, taking root in all things they come across? What if all of this is the answer to a better you? They said they could make us stronger, smarter, more human. But in the gardens of creation, even miracles can rot. Nightmare Cleveland plants the seeds of perfection deep within your skin, but sometimes, what blooms isn’t beautiful – it tries to eat you!
Welcome to Bioteck Industries, where they always work to “build better humans.” This year, there’s been a containment breach – but don’t worry, it’s all under control. Or is it? For the 2025 season, they’ve gone unleashed and brought back their optional touch pass – where guests can participate in a more hands-on, interactive experience, and we highly recommend it!
For those who are suckers for a good storyline, this haunt has one! It also has exceptional scene detail, special effects (without using a bunch of animations), and some of the strongest immersion we’ve seen in the industry, to go along with their strong cast that filled the lab very well!
Once you enter Bioteck Industries, there’s no guarantee you’ll come out human! This haunt has grown legs and fully transitioned into a monster!
**We’d like to note that for this review, we went in as a group of two and opted for the touch option
This cast came ready to work – and experiment! There was a wide variety of characters inside, each bringing their own personality, tone, and even accents to the mix. The technicians, doctors, and “test subjects” were a lively bunch who filled the majority of Bioteck with chaotic energy. They injected us (literally), grabbed, pulled, tugged, and pushed us through. Creatures lunged from hallways and holes in the walls, snatching at us with their clawed and deformed hands. They knew exactly how to make us squirm!
One thing worth highlighting is how committed this cast stayed to their roles. None of them broke character with an out-of-place smile or laugh. Their expressions were consistently furious, crazed, or disturbingly calm in a “something’s very wrong here” kind of way. They kept acting for as long as we could see them, some even followed us out of scenes! One performer twitched the entire time we were in her room, while another was utterly lost in her own delusional conversation.
Some standout performances included Dr. Langford, Dr. Suchong and his wheelchair mad dash, Professor Fink, the rule giver, and the stone-faced lab technician who stared us down while we waited for our “wheelchair chariot.” We’re pretty sure he doesn’t blink, and we weren’t about to test that theory in a staring contest!
Overall, this cast sold the story. They weren’t just actors in a haunt; they had become part of the experiment gone wrong.
The costuming inside Bioteck Industries was some of the most realistic and unnerving we’ve seen all season! Every outfit fit the scenes flawlessly, immersing us deeper into the world of failed experiments.
The droids were especially impressive – so perfectly matched that it was nearly impossible to tell which ones were real until they came charging at us! Masks and makeup were top-notch, with several performers wearing silicone creations that were downright immaculate (that cockroach, for instance – yikes!). Each creature showcased some form of physical deformity, including clawed hands, extra limbs, or skin conditions that clearly proved the experiments were “working.” We loved seeing the gradual decline in humanity, even among the staff, as we made our way through. It got to the point where we started checking our own limbs for abscesses and unwanted growths!
Makeup was exceptional throughout. We noticed darkened facial features, wet-looking blood, realistic wounds, and chests painted with shadowing that added realistic depth. The thick brown aprons, each branded with Bioteck Industries logos and worn over distressed uniforms, added a sense of utilitarian dread. We spotted name tags, glowing accessories, and even one character with a jar of glowing goo strapped to their back! Some had oxygen masks, headlamps, gas masks, or other gadgets hanging from them, which made the costumes feel lived in and functional, like they really worked in this hellish lab.
Even Dr. Fink, who greeted us at the start, had a limp that pushed his look over the edge into total believability. Props were just as on-point, brains, syringes (one even made a noise when it “injected” us!), flashlights, scissors, and lasers all added to the illusion.
This was intricate, cohesive costuming design at its finest; layered, disgusting, and eerily beautiful in all the right ways! Keep up the great work!
Nightmare Cleveland is tucked behind a strip mall, marked by a white-lettered sign facing the road and an illuminated one along the side near the main parking lot. Our GPS took us straight there, and once we saw the signs, we had no trouble. Parking was free and easy to navigate.
Before entering, guests pass through a quick security check, and every staff member we encountered was friendly and welcoming.
The facility itself was simple to navigate, with clearly marked lines and great crowd flow. They even cut a few holes through the walls for quicker passage – talk about efficiency! We didn’t notice any trip hazards or anything unsafe. The main thing to watch out for… is the monsters-uh, patients.
Finding information online beforehand was just as easy. Their website includes pricing, hours, and a handy FAQ that answers many common questions. We’d love to see an expanded “About Us” section that dives deeper into the storyline, lab theming, and key characters, especially who they are and why we should fear them!
Nightmare Cleveland continues to be one of the most immersive haunts we’ve visited! While the building itself is rather unassuming, that actually works in its favor – it gives off an “underground lab” vibe, like something hidden in plain sight. You’d never suspect what’s happening back there until you round the corner and see the entrance tucked behind the building.
Once in line, the industrial atmosphere kicks in. A parked car adds to the gritty realism, and shortly after passing through security, air raid sirens blared, warning of a containment breach. Suddenly, monsters flooded the queue, swarming guests before they even made it inside! They said this typically happens hourly, and it’s a brilliant way to tease what’s waiting within.
A roaming Dr. Fink was scribbling notes in his journal, also adding to the chaos, shouting his theories and “scientific breakthroughs” for everyone to hear. The crowd’s collective “what the hell?” faces were priceless!
Inside, we were ushered into the first room for a mission briefing about Bioteck Industries. Long story short – someone messed with the wrong plants and found out the hard way! Now it was our turn to undergo the same “improvement process.” Why did we sign up for this again? Oh, right – to stay young forever so we can keep reviewing haunted houses. Hope it’s worth it!
The proof, or should we say the pudding, is in the details… though here, it’s more like the vines. They’re everywhere, creeping and spreading through every corner of the lab. From marked floors to grotesque fear flaps between scenes, everything we saw had purpose and tied back into the theme. It truly felt like we were inside a living, breathing experiment gone wrong! The only moment that briefly broke the spell was encountering a few repetitive hallways, but even those couldn’t undo the lab’s stranglehold on our senses.
At the end of the show, customers are spit out through the broken wall into the haunt’s gift shop area, which remains decorated!
While Nightmare Cleveland is primarily an actor-driven haunt, the effects here are nothing short of amazing and super effective! Larger set pieces include a rickety elevator ride, a massive spideristic creature dangling freely in a web tunnel, and one giant, gooey, unidentifiable thing. Whatever it was, it looked like the vines’ brainchild, and it was absolutely disgusting (in the best possible way).
The sound design deserves significant praise. It was so natural that it was nearly impossible to tell what was recorded and what was real, which is exactly how it should be. Perfectly timed bursts layered over ambient background noises created a glorious tap dance on the ol’ eardrums! Oh, and that bass!
Visually, there was so much to take in that we’d need at least a week to notice it all. Mushrooms, vines, mold, and moss overtook nearly every surface, forming a landscape that was somehow horribly beautiful. What wasn’t beautiful were the mangled animal carcasses mid-transformation, twisted human remains, and unsettling spider-like creatures scattered throughout. Let’s just say… keep your eyes peeled (even though we’d like to see some of these move/squirm).
Sensory effects were dialed in with purpose. Fog, webs, and lighting pulled us deeper into each scene’s realism, and if you opt for the touch experience, someone in your group might just get an extra dose of sensory science!
We also loved how certain rooms were designed to focus your attention, like one scene where a dismembered body on the floor still clutched a glowing flashlight. Naturally, we stared, wondering what had happened… only to realize we’d fallen for a clever distraction! It just goes to show: you don’t need a ton of animatronics to be effective – just creativity and the willingness to think outside the box!
And finally, it’s worth noting that this is a 360° haunt. Everywhere we looked, the ceiling, floor, and corners were packed with detail. There weren’t many spots to pull us out of the illusion other than a few repetitive transition halls.
21. How scary was it? (35% of score): 9.25
22. How well did they provide scares to everyone in the group? (15% of score): 9.5
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): 8.75
25. How strong was the ending / finale? (15% of score): 7.75
Was it scary? Hell yes, it was scary! Everyone pouring out of the exit was drenched in sweat and gasping for air – us included!
There were only two of us on this venture, but the actors made sure neither of us got off easy. They targeted us evenly, often stalking the back of the group and keeping us constantly checking over our shoulders. We felt like we were in Jeepers Creepers – “Is he still back there?” BAM! Oh, yep… still back there! For those who opted into the touch experience, the contact between us was well-balanced. And for anyone who doesn’t want to be touched, no worries, it’s completely optional. (But honestly, we say go for it! You can always take off the glow necklace later…)
The scares were wildly unpredictable. More than once, we found ourselves wandering into unknown areas, only to be ambushed from nowhere by creatures or staff members who were clearly in on it. Their timing was impeccable, resulting in a perfect storm of jumps, screams, flails, and even a few full-on fear zoomies!
We’d love to see a little more scare variety in the future, especially from above or below, but what they did deliver was a wicked mix. We were stalked, cornered, startled from all directions – mostly the sides – and hit with sudden loud noises, intense intimidation, and plenty of chase moments. On several occasions, we were pursued by someone wielding a syringe (one had liquid inside!), grabbed at, held at “claw point,” and surprised by window bangers that made for some seriously unexpected startles. Add in gore, creepy soundscapes, and a heavy dose of sensory overload, and this place doesn’t give your nerves a moment to breathe. At one point, actors were literally hitting us from all sides! And… Dr. Suchong may slide in at any time!
While the finale felt a bit different in tone compared to the rest of the attraction, we do think it packed more punch with multiple aggressors hitting at once last season. Still, when something comes flying at you out of nowhere, you don’t need much else to send you flying out the door!
Tickets were $37.84 (including fees) online on the night of our visit, which was a Saturday in October. Our walkthrough time clocked in at 23 minutes, bringing the MPD (minutes per dollar) to 0.61.
While the price may sound a little steep for a single-attraction haunt, our experience was absolutely worth it! This year’s show was more intense, more chaotic, and flat-out stronger than last season’s, and knowing they’re just getting started makes us even more excited for what’s next.
In addition to the main haunt, there was some decor outside to take pictures of and a newly-added photo op. We also got targeted by roaming staff to help pass the wait in line.
Tickets are only available online and can sell out, so don’t wait, grab yours early! Nightmare Cleveland will also be hosting a Blackout Event on November 8th, which sounds like the perfect way to close out haunt season.
This haunt is rocking hard, and if they keep evolving at this pace, Bioteck Industries might just create something unstoppable! Which, it seems like, is what they’re aiming for in more ways than one!
7460 Brookpark Rd, Cleveland, Ohio 44114
