This attraction was reviewed by Team Zombillies, Team Cleaverland, and Team Enchanted Seance on September 20, 2024.Are the stories true? Did an old janitor go rogue, murdering children and hiding their bodies in the basement of an old schoolhouse in Cincinnati, Ohio? We were about to enter the Dent Schoolhouse to find out for ourselves!
With a talent for spreading Halloween spirit, delivering scary entertainment, and rolling out plenty of new changes – the Dent Schoolhouse is a must-see this season! It’s a standout every year, but you definitely need to head back to school this time!
With our orange pumpkin in hand and several other offerings for the queue actors, we stood before the red-lit brick building, wondering what horrors awaited us inside. There’s nothing like a crisp, cool, fall-fun night while fleeing from frenzied fiends with chainsaws!
These actors were not the tentative thespians struggling to get through your local grade school’s spring play. Some words we would use to describe them are confident, engaging, enthusiastic, interactive, and high-impact. It seemed there was usually at least one actor per area, more than we have seen elsewhere early this season.
A brisk pace of action meant most interactions stayed brief. Fans of leisurely chatting up talkative monsters should temper their expectations here. The biggest exception to the keep-it-brief ethos was the crazed Dr. Dent, who went on an extended, ecstatic rant that we could hear continuing after we left the area.
Most everyone in the cast brought something of substance to the terror table, though, whether they popped in for a quick yell/growl/scare, shot off a one-liner, gave a worried warning about avoiding Charlie, or made their presence felt physically. Thankfully, there wasn’t much of the tired ‘wanna play a game’ dialogue.
Lots of victims appeared throughout and acted suitably distressed, especially the shrieking and leg-kicking prey being hauled up through the roof by a giant python, the unfortunate torn-in-half torso who pleaded for aid, and the bloody mess of a soul who was about to get incorporated into some kind of hideous human flesh terrine.
We saw all sorts of characters exhibiting varied behaviors. Charlie swung his super-sized spanner with authority and precision. It seemed like we would get smacked in the noggin, but it barely missed each time. A particularly mean cheerleader had screaming strength to spare. A couple of real-or-not? prop imitators had us guessing until the second they sprung their trap. The padded cell inmate serenaded us with a disturbing demeanor and sock puppet, and a bat creature pouncing off a high perch insisted we leave our skulls for its decorating enjoyment. All were memorable in their own way. Then, the crowning touch, a student who made “choccy pudding in his pants” insisted we taste it!
How complete, unique, detailed were the costumes, accessories? – (35% of score)
Were the masks, makeup creative, detailed, realistic? – (30% of score)
How appropriate were the costumes for the respective scenes, themes? – (20% of score)
How believable-, detailed-looking were the queue actors? (See Note if N/A) – (15% of score)
One would think that Dent Schoolhouse offers a class on costuming to its ghouls and goblins based on how well they’re executing looks left and right! Costuming is a major priority for the actors at Dent, and it really shows. We knew they meant business from the moment we stepped foot on the school grounds. Queue actors such as Pumpkin Smasher and Charlie had detailed, multi-layered costumes that featured full-head silicone masks.
Dent has a unique amalgamation of school characters and classic horror characters, even some of your worst fears, that blend well throughout the haunt and are displayed appropriately in their respective scenes. All of the actors we encountered displayed realistic-looking and authentic costumes. Most of the school children and staff featured full face paint and tattered bloody clothes, sometimes donning masks that appeared to be made of a victim’s face. The variety of costumes we noticed included clowns, nuns, industrial workers, zombies, mental patients, and skeleton occultists, to mention a few. Other actors’ costumes blended in so well with the scenes that it was hard to differentiate them from props until they leaped out at us.
Some of the most detailed costumes and masks were the crypt occultists and the massive bat with a wingspan of at least 6 feet! The shocking Dr. Dent in the laboratory was also quite memorable with his featureless skin mask and full experimental lab wear. The only thing Dent could benefit from to improve the costumes’ effect would be the addition of some prosthetic dentures and more colored contacts. Aside from that, they pretty much have it nailed!
How easy was it to locate, park at, navigate the premises? – (25% of score)
Safety (Only dock points for TRULY DANGEROUS hazards!) – (30% of score)
How professional, helpful, friendly were the staff members? – (25% of score)
How easy was it to find pertinent information before arrival? – (20% of score)
The Dent Schoolhouse was relatively easy to find. Our GPS took us directly to its location. A few parking lots offered parking for $10, and free parking was located about a block away at the hospital. The parking areas were well-lit and close to Dent. The website and social media gave us all the information we needed before our trip.
Once we were there, all lines were marked, and it was effortless to determine where to go… just follow the screams! They also had concessions and ATMs out front, located next to the ticket booth. If you can get past the Pumpkin Smasher and his friends, that is. You can also purchase your tickets online, giving you time to get in line. The staff was friendly, helpful, and extremely accommodating. Security was at the entrance to the property, watching all customers come in. They have a new chaperone policy now, and we watched them card several guests to ensure they were over 15 and could enter without a guardian.
Stepping inside the haunt, we were greeted by well-lit steps and a unique atmosphere. While unconventional, the narrow halls and ‘off’ floors added to the rustic and dilapidated feel of the building, piquing our curiosity and adding an element of excitement to the experience. Overall, the haunt seemed safe and easy to move through.
Once we exited the haunt, we were directed into the Monster Midway, where there were 11+ fun photo ops, the Jack O’Lantern Showcase, a merchandise booth, and much more. And don’t forget the donuts sold on the midway! You must try them!
How well did the pre-haunt areas ("vibe") prepare you for the attraction/s? – (25% of score)
How obvious, creative, believable was the storyline? (See Note if N/A) – (20% of score)
Were you completely, consistently immersed inside the attraction/s? – (40% of score)
How well did the "vibe" flow after, between the attraction/s? – (15% of score)
The Dent Schoolhouse is one of the most immersive haunts we have the pleasure of experiencing each season! The moment we laid eyes on that red-bathed, brick building, our inner schoolkid on field trip day kicked in! Let’s all get scared and see if we can find Charlie!
Upon stepping onto the property, we were almost immediately surrounded by Geister, Zobo, and Pumpkin Smasher. This was the best school ever! Why wasn’t it like this when we were kids? And there he was, that iconic, murderous janitor, eyeing us from afar, wrench in hand! The relentless queue actors paired with the iconic school, a school bus parked out front, and a large screen had our fall vibes meter pegged!
Upon stepping into the Fall Festival, we were in basic pumpkin spice bi… girl heaven! Lined with a massive wall of glowing Jack-O-Lanterns and carnival-style booths, this waiting area gave us plenty to take spooky photos with. In the past, we have seen some unexpected scares here that added to the vibe that were sadly missed during this visit. After exiting the haunt, the fall vibes and spooky decor continued into the Monster Midway.
Many are familiar with the chilling legend of Dent, where Charlie, the custodian, murdered countless children and hid their bodies in the basement. Since that dark discovery, Charlie’s body has never been found. But a trip to the schoolhouse will show you where he’s been hiding and reveal much more than the murderous janitor everyone fears! Several characters reiterated the storyline by telling us Charlie was going to find us; they warned us about him, some ratted out our location to him, and screamed about how they didn’t want to return to the basement! This story was obvious, creative, and believable.
While inside the haunt, we noticed a few elements that briefly pulled us out of the immersion. The sound of air-powered props in the library was louder than the paired sound effects, and there were a few quieter areas outside. The transitions between scenes were seamless, and they even got creative when we had to sneak through a stairwell – an area where you wouldn’t expect too many scares. There weren’t any scares on stairs, but this area flowed nicely, too.
How effective were the sound effects? – (20% of score)
How realistic were the scene designs, details? – (30% of score)
How effective, realistic were the props, animatronics? – (30% of score)
How well did they use creative, special, sensory effects? – (20% of score)
It seemed like the Dent crew had taken some advanced schooling in special effects. Fabulous sets, fine details, funky animatronics, freaky music and sounds, and fundamentally solid lighting had the place looking and sounding great!
Let’s start with the building’s bones. It’s a historic structure; the marker above the entrance door reads 1894. Everything inside looked seriously distressed, with peeling/gouging walls, exposed bricks, and wood framing. The sense of ‘old’ was palpable.
The first floor exemplified the school theme and introduced us to the phenomenal level of detail that kept up through the whole thing. We came across dirty lockers, an oppressive classroom where a student underwent corporal punishment, a display of sports trophies, and a library with shaky shelves and flickering lights, all covered in a layer of grunge and dust. We also found science labs hosting unholy experiments, a schoolmarm hanging by a noose via an excellent usage of the height in a stairwell space, and an awful art room with a corpse canvas. These school scenes opened up into some areas that pushed outside the scholastic theme once we hit the basement.
Down there, the first section featured a dungeon feel with grated cells and cuffed carcasses hanging from the ceiling. As we approached Charlie’s lair, a wall filled with missing child flyers provided a backdrop to a radio news item about Charlie.
Once we escaped Charlie’s clutches, the sets got wilder. We came across a hallway of hanging shrunken heads carved like jack-o-lanterns, skull-plastered halls leading to an altar, and a tunnel of toxic drainage pipes. The butcher area repackaged a squeeze tunnel as a kind of meat grinder/sludge sluice topped with gory body parts. The Zobo’s circus section contrasted with the dingy rest of the attraction with its garish colors, fair booths, sideshow posters, carnival props, and peppy circus music.
But the most impressive scene of the night had to be a tremendous new desecrated church set. This one had our eyes bugging out. It featured CGI-enhanced stained glass windows, a lengthy path of pews to walk around, upturned caskets, sneaky hiding spots for opportunistic actors, and a wicked-looking idol front and center, all in a simulated thunderstorm. Awesome? You bet!
Lighting and sound were handled expertly. Calliope music played in the circus, and flashing carousel bulbs illuminated the clowns and freaks in this dissonantly brighter-than-normal area. Clanking chains, dripping water, disembodied screams, and a whole host of other sound effects assaulted our ears, plus weird dissonant music. Colored lights, strobe lights, fog accented light… heck, all sorts of lighting applications enhanced the show.
An outstanding collection of animatronics included a student slamming a pencil repeatedly into his face, a trio of gymnastically balanced clowns, a backward-bending contortionist, and so many more.
Honestly, we could go on longer about the extraordinary effects experience, but instead, let us switch to the Cliffs Notes version: Dent Schoolhouse earned an A for their FX!
How scary was it? – (35% of score)
How well did they provide scares to everyone in the group? – (15% of score)
How predictable were the scares? – (25% of score)
How well did they provide a wide variety (types) of scares? – (10% of score)
How strong was the ending / finale? – (15% of score)
We often discuss the fear of being attacked from multiple directions, but it usually feels two-dimensional, with actors and props jumping out from either side. However, that’s not the case at Dent Schoolhouse! Here, the monsters lurking within the classrooms don’t just come at you from the sides – they descend from the ceiling, soar above your head, and crawl along the walls as you desperately try to escape this terrifying nightmare!
There’s no shortage of visual eye candy here – the scenery is as detailed as it gets, with ambiance and immersion that rival the best in the business. This year, Dent has shifted some of the focus from their props, letting their incredible cast take center stage and truly steal the show!
Interactions varied in length as the inhabitants of these desolate halls leaped from multiple corridors to surprise and attack our group. Some encounters were brief, while others stretched out, giving the residents multiple opportunities to strike again! While drop panels are common amongst the haunt industry, the ones here are some of the most creatively executed we’ve ever seen!
Make sure your shoe-tying skills are sharp – you’ll need them to outrun the chainsaw-wielding maniacs lurking in the schoolyard. Fail, and you’ll be chopped to pieces. But if you succeed, another challenge awaits: escaping the bubble maze. Which fate is worse – being sliced to bits or suffocating under a mountain of dish soap? The choice is yours!
Please be aware that Dent Schoolhouse experiences one of the highest customer throughputs of any haunted attraction in the region. Due to this popularity, it is often referred to as a “conga line” haunt, where visitors move through the school in large groups, often in a single-file fashion. To enhance your experience and maximize the scares, we recommend visiting during weekdays or earlier in the season when crowds are light. The fewer people in your group, the more intense the scares!
How satisfied with the entertainment provided by the MAIN attraction/s? – (50% of score)
How satisfied with OTHER entertainment INCLUDED with the ticket price? – (25% of score)
How appropriate is/are the ticket price/s? – (25% of score)
Ticket prices vary per day and date that you visit. General admission on Fridays runs $30 per person and $35 on Saturdays, online, before fees. Fast Pass admission, Front of the Line, and additional add-ons can also be purchased online. All tickets include entry to the Monster Midway, full of photo ops, the Cincinnati Haunted House Museum, and the Jack O’ Lantern Showcase. Online ticket sales are timed entry.
Our school session lasted around 21 minutes, including the maze of bubbles. With general admission at $30 per person, the MPD is 0.7, a bit below our preferred average of 1. However, the quality and sheer effectiveness of the schoolhouse, along with all the extras outside, more than made up for it!
In addition to the included amenities, Dent also offers mini escape rooms and axe throwing for an additional fee. Again, don’t forget to stop by their snack trailer; the pumpkin donuts and cider are amazing! You can also partake in Lights On or Out tours, Behind the Scenes, and Ghost Tours on select dates! We’ve done the Lights Out in the past, and if a tour through this daring schoolhouse with a single glowstick sounds fun, save the date: November 9th!
They’ve implemented a new chaperone policy this season, so check it out on their homepage before visiting.
The Dent Schoolhouse is a nationally recognized haunted attraction, and for good reason – it boasts some of the most superior set designs and scare tactics in the business! And keep an eye out for Charlie… you definitely don’t want to find yourself swinging around in that dark basement – if you know what we mean!
5963 Harrison Ave, Cincinnati, Ohio 45248