No more doctors! The Asylum in Evansville, Indiana, has been overtaken by a cult. The patients, off their meds, reached new heights of madness. As The Asylum declares, “All Hail the Goat Man, Keeper of chaos and bringer of the bleat. His horns pierce the veil, his eyes see all. Submit… or be sacrificed!” Sacrifice wasn’t an option this year. Our team was forever marked by the insanity inside!
When a manager said it would be a tight night for the cast, we were surprised. Every room and hallway was packed as the wild cast filled all 17,000 square feet of the haunted house.
Upon entering the reception area, we were met by our intro guide, Basil, his assistant, and a patient who seemed to be enjoying himself by climbing on the reception desk. They made it very clear that we were in for a rough time. Throughout our walk-through, we encountered numerous patients, “not-cult” members, a spider lady, and even The Goat Man himself.
Some cast members were more interactive than others; one walked right past us. Most played their part with unbelievable accuracy, from stalking, contorting, and screaming to crying and spazzing out. The team delivered diverse acting and scaring techniques, a tough feat that The Asylum continues to achieve.
The Facebook pictures don’t do the costumes justice – and those photos are already terrifying. The makeup and costumes are some of Team Brady Pack’s favorites in our exploration of haunted houses. Their haunting and unique designs make cast members memorable, especially with colored contacts.
Costumes range from ripped nurse gowns and bloodied hospital attire to broken straightjackets and the towering Goat Man, whose blood-written sigils and unforgettable mask perfectly fit the scene of the asylum-turned-cult. The Spider lady was another standout with a unique take on a human form of a spider. Dressed in a black costume with a white face, black contacts, and black spots on her face. Nora would be terrified to say the least.
In short, the costumes were downright insane.
We found everything we needed on The Asylum’s Facebook page and website: ticket prices, dates, times, storyline, and location. The only thing missing online was the psychotic patients and the Goat Man inside.
Getting there was easy enough. We entered the address into the GPS, and the additional signage helped us reach the location. Once on-site, traffic directors guided us to parking, and the rest is literal history.
Aside from a few dark spots and the Goat Man’s pursuit, there were no major safety hazards. Even the foam room felt safe and not slippery, making the walkthrough physically reassuring.
The staff at The Asylum were all nice and accommodating. Despite keeping secrets about what was inside, our experience was welcoming and friendly!
Walking up to The Asylum, it was made clear that we were at a haunted house. Vendors, games, and a giant warehouse dressed like an insane asylum, sounds of screams on the inside, and lots of anxious guests waiting to be admitted.
Once inside, we watched a video outlining the rules, then entered the reception area for more information about the story we were about to experience. Basil threw down his clipboard and declared, “No more doctors.” He explained the doctors had left, a cult now worshiped the Goat Man, and the patients were off their meds. Though we did encounter someone who may have been a doctor and interacted with some nurses, which contrasted slightly with Basil’s announcement, overall, the feeling was clear: chaos reigned, the patients were unmedicated, and awe-inspiring cult members and the Goat Man had taken over, just as promised.
We were almost completely immersed throughout our visit to The Asylum, and they even added a little to the finale, making the flow after the attraction even better than last year!
The sounds of the night varied from screams, the longest and most terrifying growl from a cast member we had experienced, bangs, cries, eerie silence, and more. Walking from room to room, it was clear that the space was dressed as an insane asylum with a twist; some tarps were placed over certain items, sticking true to the Cult takeover theme of the night.
The library was a standout room that we walked through, books lining shelves, and a glass case holding who knows what. One room that we walked through was filled with foam, and a patient who presented with a fear of bubbles was present. That was an interesting effect, and the cast helped keep the illusion of a crazy house.
Other rooms that presented stellar effects were the spider room, which gave off a middle-of-the-web vibe, the garden, which had head-to-toe trees, leaves, and vines brushing up against your skin, and the hallway, which served as a good segway to the conclusion of the night.
21. How scary was it? (35% of score): 8.75
22. How well did they provide scares to everyone in the group? (15% of score): 9.4
23. How predictable were the scares? (25% of score): 8.4
24. How well did they provide a wide variety (types) of scares? (10% of score): 7.2
25. How strong was the ending / finale? (15% of score): 8.25
If a psychotic break isn’t scary, I’m not sure what is. Having 10-15 people at once gave us an urgent, “we need to get out of here” feeling. The sense of chaos was contagious and immersive.
With patients lying in all corners and most rooms, the cast, scenery, props, and special effects came at us from all angles. We were targeted equally. Although it was somewhat predictable when we would be scared, the type of scare was always very unpredictable. The Asylum featured actors coming from the ceilings and walking on the walls above us. We walked through a sideways room after encountering the spider lady and the spider section of the haunt. The chapel included The Goat Man, a cultist, and a psychotic patient. It felt like they were communicating through ESP, telling us that surrendering would be easier if we just gave up our souls. We’re stubborn, so that didn’t work, but we still feel The Goat Man’s tugging even now.
The finale involved a typical yet not-so-typical chainsaw. We walked through a small covered outdoor maze and then encountered the chainsaw. The maze made it difficult for the chainsaw wielder to chase us, leaving Morgan with the fear zoomies instead of a straight run this time.
Overall, The Asylum was a nerve-wracking but memorable experience that will stay with us.
Until next year!
Games, fire-breathing dancers, a lively DJ, a tarot reader, a shoot-the-monster game, a food truck, and a tea vendor brought extra excitement to The Asylum this October. This lineup delivered plenty to do while waiting or winding down from the wildness inside. Our walk-through lasted 15 minutes, which is longer than last year, and with tickets at $25, the Minute-Per-Dollar (MPD) value is .6. While below our preferred 1 MPD, the lively entertainment, especially the fire-breather and dancers, set an energetic tone and kept the night engaging. It is important to note that The Tarot reader requested donations, and the games, food, and vendors did require extra cash as well.
Evansville, Indiana’s The Asylum initiated us into their cult, and all we had to do was sacrifice our souls. To be honest, we didn’t have a choice in the matter. We can’t wait to see what the future holds; so far, the level of insanity they bring reaches new doses every year!
1545 N 7th Ave, Evansville, Indiana 47710
