Nightmare on 13th Review (2024)

Although this is primarily an animatronic-based haunt, there are plenty of live people to come across–if you can tell which ones are breathing and which ones have a metal frame instead of bones. From the moment you exit your cars and make your way to the giant drawbridge entrance, you are immediately greeted by a few characters that scream and slide your direction. From tall to small, the court yard has it all!

The main haunt contains a variety of characters, where as the institute is full of nuns, nurses, and nutjobs. Some jump out and some throw things right at you. Although never actually making contact, you will definitely back up into what you hope is a railing but is warm to the touch. The clowns and ghouls creep around from tiny corner to tiny corner just waiting for the perfect moment to burst out and make you scream (or maybe even pee a little).

While sparse, the employees you do encounter are helpful and friendly to each and every person who dares to cross that bridge. Located right at the entrance is both the ticket booth and the merchandise booth. Both were well-lit and clearly marked. We recommend grabbing yourself a souvenir on the way out–you don’t want to take the chance of loosing it within the darkness while inside. Not only can you get clothing of all kinds with Nightmare 13th embroidered on them, but you can also get little creep skeleton dudes made by hand or a scary little friend to adorn your christmas tree. They are also perfectly named, are you ready for this–Horrornaments!

Because of the varying rooms within the main haunt, the immersion throughout the haunt changes as the room changes. Whether you’re in a cornfield or a swamp, the rooms are decorated top to bottom to truly make you feel as if you are part of the story taking place.

Within the institute, it is a whole different story. There is one theme and one theme only, which inspires true and total immersion. Between exam rooms and hallways, the maze that makes out the institute is never-ending and never level, lol. There are ups, downs, floor drops, and hallways so black you cannot see your hand in front of your face! In these areas, you have no choice but to right-hand-right-wall it as you slink through the darkness, hoping for a light around every corner.

The special effects at Nightmare never, ever, ever disappoint us. Like we said earlier, Nightmare is a primarily animatronic-based haunt. Therefore, each room is decked out in textures, sounds, and even temperatures. We don’t want to spoil who you may run into in the wintery wonderland they have created inside the haunt, but we didn’t have to wait until November for snow to fall on us…

The walls are part of our favorite details when it comes to the SPFX at Nightmare. One man is responsible for every single beautifully scary wall that is hand painted from top to bottom and come to life through moving parts and incredible lighting. Sometimes you feel as if the heads actually move–or at least the eyes do.

The GIANT skeleton that takes up the entire top of the drawbridge’s stone roof is magnificent. Leaning so casually on top of the brinks and cobwebs, this skeleton is sure to not only draw you in from the street, but maybe even from blocks away.

Although not as frightining in seasons past, it was still a spine-chilling adventure that we won’t soon be forgetting. Jump scares and mirror tricks are repeated through out. Just when you think you have seen them all, another person comes to life and reaches towards you with their gruesome arms. There were many environmental scares as well. With moving walls and dropping floors, you are never sure where the next step will land.

Same as the main haunt, the Institute was also a bit less scary this year. Not that it is a bad thing necessarilly, as haunts should be changing every year. Dead or alive this place is not only a nightmare while you are here but also a nightmare that will follow you into your dreams at night.