Ozark Nightmares Haunted House, located in Lebanon, Missouri, delivers a classic, actor-driven haunt experience full of energy, creativity, and old-school charm. With a classic corn maze, creative and fun sets inspired by popular franchises, and passionate performers, it offers a fun mix of scares and atmosphere that make it a solid stop for any haunt fan. The all-year-round costume shoppe and festive midway add to the experience, making Ozark Nightmares a great place to celebrate the Halloween season. Continue reading to hear about my solo experience!
The cast offered plenty of fun surprises throughout this attraction that genuinely caught me off guard! I ended up between groups, so I missed interacting with a couple of the early actors in the corn maze featuring Michael Myers and another masked figure who stalked and whistled with the group behind me. My first real interaction came from a clown wielding a chainsaw. He asked about other haunts I’d visited, which felt a little out of character, but it distracted me just long enough for his buddy, also armed with a chainsaw, to sneak up from behind. Both got a great scare out of me! As I tried to make my escape, a woman in a dirty vintage dress crawled out from the corn stalks, snarling as she advanced towards me. She was very unsettling and had me running while the chainsaw maniacs sent her after me! The haunted house itself featured a lot of fun and engaging character interactions. Right from the start, I was greeted by the Babadook, who set the tone for the rest of the experience by sneaking up behind me as I climbed the stairs. After interrupting a cult scene, complete with wailing sounds filling the air and a woman begging me for another baby so she could be young again, I found myself in a Five Nights at Freddy’s inspired area. There, a haunted security guard and a large, imposing man appeared out of nowhere, both creepy and entertaining. I had to carefully inch past a chained nurse, and after a few more close calls, I encountered a demonic dragon woman who beckoned me into her lair and demanded my soul. I tried, but failed to give it up, much to her disappointment.
Many of the actors made excellent use of their surroundings, banging on walls, screaming or crying as guests approached, rattling cages, or chasing people from room to room. I also have to highlight a few standout queue actors! The first was a long-haired, bearded clown who toyed with guests at the entrance, which was super fun to watch and experience firsthand. I was also greeted by a sharply dressed skeletal man named Varcol(?) who claimed to have taught Rasputin everything he knows. He was an absolute treat! Overall, the actor spacing in the house was well done, though the corn maze could’ve used a few more performers throughout. I could tell some actors were really giving it their all, while others occasionally broke character, skipped over me to focus on groups behind, or didn’t have much to interact with. Still, there’s a lot of talent and potential here, and I can see them really tapping into it in the future!
There was a great variety of creative costuming throughout the attraction, featuring everything from horror icons like Michael Myers to franchise-inspired characters and unique original creations. Standout looks included the crawling girl from the corn maze, the Babadook, the ink creatures from the Bendy-inspired room, and the demonic dragon woman. I was also especially entertained by the security guard and the gentleman accompanying her.
Most of the costumes fit seamlessly within their respective scenes, though a few, such as Michael Myers in the cornfield, felt slightly out of place. I also want to highlight the makeup work, which was impressively done and added a strong finishing touch to many of the characters’ appearances.
Everyone I interacted with was incredibly kind, informative, and professional! I really enjoyed chatting with them about the haunt’s history and the other events they take part in during the spooky season. There was plenty of parking available, with clear signage pointing the way to the attraction. Information about the haunt can be found on their Facebook page, though they currently don’t have an official website. Navigating through the attraction felt relatively safe overall, just keep in mind that some actors may chase or startle you on the stairs, and the pathways inside the haunted house can get a bit narrow!
Upon arrival, I was pleasantly surprised to find myself entering a midway rather than going straight into the haunt. It gave off a fun, whimsical, creepy carnival vibe! The beginning of the attraction featured some festive lighting and Halloween décor, which then transitioned into a traditional corn maze with a few canopy-covered areas along the way. I believe these served as checkpoints or landmarks, but I’d love to see more lighting or decorations incorporated here to help maintain the immersion.
The corn maze led directly into the haunted house, which offered a much higher level of detail and atmosphere. While a few rooms and hallways felt a bit bare compared to others, the more elaborately designed spaces, like the Pizzeria and Bendy-inspired rooms, were especially engaging and immersive. There were only a couple of transition areas, which kept the scares and actor interactions coming back-to-back, though it did make some of the theme changes between rooms feel a bit abrupt. That said, the actors did an excellent job of keeping the energy up and the guests engaged, whether they were immediately ready to interact as I entered, screaming and crying as I passed through, or calling out to draw me closer.
This is a more old-school style of haunt, relying primarily on its actors to deliver the scares rather than animatronics, sensory effects, or elaborate sound design. That said, I have to give major credit to the actors for bringing the attraction to life. I also really appreciated the scene details inside the haunted house, especially the Pizzeria and Ink Machine-inspired rooms, which were my favorites of the night. They even featured life-size animatronic parts of Bonnie laid out on a nearby table, which was such a cool touch that I didn’t want to leave and kept gushing over it! The Bendy room perfectly captured the feel of the video game, with that distinct grungy yellow tone and streaks of black ink giving it a cartoonishly eerie look.
The lighting throughout the haunt was well executed; I never found myself stumbling in total darkness or feeling like a room was overly bright. The corn maze, while simple, was dimly lit in a way that worked for the setting; it was easy enough to navigate by moonlight, though guests who struggle to see in the dark might find it a bit challenging.
21. How scary was it? (35% of score): 6
22. How well did they provide scares to everyone in the group? (15% of score): 6
23. How predictable were the scares? (25% of score): 8
24. How well did they provide a wide variety (types) of scares? (10% of score): 7.7
25. How strong was the ending / finale? (15% of score): 6
My experience at Ozark Nightmares Haunted House delivered a mix of well-executed jump scares, creepy moments, and entertaining back-and-forth interactions with the characters. I did feel a bit overlooked at times since I went through solo, particularly in the corn maze, where more attention seemed to be directed toward larger groups, leaving me with only a passing glance from some actors.
The haunt relies heavily on jump scares, and if you happen to catch up with another group, a few of those scares might get spoiled. However, many actors kept the tension going by stalking or briefly chasing after guests even after the initial scare, which added a great sense of unpredictability. Both in the house and the corn maze, the actors were impressively stealthy, staying hidden and quiet until just the right moment. I found myself jumping multiple times in the house, especially when I thought a scene was over, only to hear footsteps closing in right behind me! I’m excited to see how they continue to build on these moments and ramp up the intensity in future seasons.
Ozark Nightmares Haunted House and Corn Maze took me about 20 minutes to experience solo and cost $15 for admission. This ticket also grants access to the carnival midway, which features mini games, prize wheels, and a vendor area offering food, snacks, and drinks.
I recently discovered they also have a spooky year-round store called Ozark Visions, so I made it a point to arrive early and check it out! The shop features a fun mix of merch, costumes, home decor, and spooky art pieces, definitely worth visiting both during and outside of haunt season.
This attraction has been running since at least 2011, and it’s clear they put a lot of heart into what they do, adding new elements each year to keep things fresh. If you haven’t been yet, I recommend checking them out for yourself!
22599 MO-32, Lebanon, Missouri 65536