Nestled deep in the backroads of Sabina, Ohio, lies a graveyard of metal and misery – The Final Resting Place Haunted Junkyard. Here, rust never sleeps and neither do the restless souls that haunt these twisted heaps of steel. What was once a scrapyard of discarded cars has become a scrapyard of the damned, where headlights flicker like ghostly eyes and the air hums with the echoes of engines long dead.
As R.L. Stine once warned, “The only way to learn about fear is to experience it.” And at this haunted junkyard, fear comes standard – no assembly required. Visitors brave enough to enter will find themselves navigating narrow paths lined with wrecked memories and restless spirits, proving that one person’s trash can be another’s terror.
So fasten your seatbelt – if you can find one that isn’t soaked in blood – because at The Final Resting Place, every night ends in a crash course in horror.
The Final Resting Place is home to some mean, greasy creatures – backwoods mechanists and gearheads straight out of Hell. These crafty scavengers have a thirst for both blood and oil, armed with nasty attitudes and even nastier wardrobes that perfectly capture the haunt’s grimy aesthetic.
We were first greeted by Wrecker, a loudmouthed standout in the queue line whose quick wit and twisted humor revved up the crowd. His high-energy banter set the tone for the chaos that awaited us inside. Much of the cast at The Final Resting Place consists of younger actors, which gives them a unique edge; they’re agile, unpredictable, and able to hide in tight, unexpected spaces to deliver some well-timed scares.
That said, youthful energy can only take you so far. While many performers leaned more toward being witty and mischievous than genuinely frightening, their enthusiasm was undeniable. They brought wild intensity to every scene, sliding over cars and ganging up on guests with makeshift junkyard weapons.
Any sense of playful chaos quickly shifted when we crossed paths with the Junkyard’s masked, chainsaw-wielding enforcers. It’s clear these veterans have “learned the saw” – their proficiency was chillingly displayed on a dismembered body sprawled across a stretcher. While the haunt primarily stuck to its theme of jumpsuited workers, the addition of pig-headed butchers and cannibal beings added an extra layer of demented variety.
If anything, a few more seasoned adult actors could elevate the haunt’s overall intensity, balancing the youthful energy with deeper menace. Still, The Final Resting Place remains a gritty, gear-grinding good time where the line between man and machine is frighteningly blurred.
One area that could help elevate this attraction’s overall score in the future lies within its costuming and character design. While the theme of the haunt is clear, fully leaning into that concept could create a much stronger visual and atmospheric impact.
Throughout the trail, many costumes appeared simple or incomplete, with most monsters featuring basic makeup – primarily splattered blood and dirt. Masks were also used frequently, often with animal-inspired designs. During our journey, we encountered everything from a bird and a possum to multiple pig-like creatures, adding variety but lacking cohesion.
The queue actors, however, showcased the most impressive looks of the night. In particular, Wrecker stood out – not only for his incredible appearance but also for his energy and crowd engagement. Introducing more characters throughout the junkyard with this same level of detail would significantly enhance the experience, demonstrating the haunt’s full creative potential.
Other familiar archetypes we observed included clowns, butchers, and eerie young girls asking if we wanted to play. To better suit the junkyard setting, these characters could benefit from a grittier, more cohesive aesthetic – think grimy, blood-soaked overalls, crooked teeth, and distorted features. A post-apocalyptic or backwoods-inspired look could also help unify the theme, offering actors more creative freedom and delivering a more immersive, impactful performance.
Before our visit, we took a moment to explore The Haunted Junkyard’s website to gather any key information we might need ahead of time. The site was easy to navigate, offering clear details on ticket pricing, location, and several photos that provided a small glimpse of the eerie experience that awaited us. After securing our tickets, we entered the address into our GPS and were directed straight to the junkyard’s dimly lit parking area, setting the tone for the evening before we even stepped out of the car.
Upon arrival, string lights glowed faintly around the perimeter of the lot, guiding guests through the darkness like flickering embers in the distance. A few attendants were stationed on-site to direct vehicles efficiently, ensuring a smooth parking process despite the low lighting. While overall navigation was simple, we did notice that signage near the entrance could be improved; a clearer indication of the designated entry and exit points would make for a more seamless first impression.
From there, a large spray-painted van, serving as a makeshift beacon, pointed us toward the ticket booth. Here, we were welcomed by exceptionally friendly and helpful staff who made the check-in process quick and easy. Their enthusiasm and hospitality set a positive tone right from the start and helped build anticipation for what was to come.
Following another trail of overhead string lights, we made our way to the main attraction area. The path opened up to a queue line artfully decorated with rusted vehicles, crumbling façades, and decaying relics of a forgotten world. The attention to detail instantly transported us into the junkyard’s grim narrative – a place where civilization has long since decayed, leaving behind only twisted metal and lingering spirits.
By the time we reached the front of the line, it was clear that we had arrived at the heart of the haunt – a carefully crafted prelude that effectively set the tone for the grim, post-apocalyptic horrors that lay ahead.
There are two attractions that guests experience at The Final Resting Place Haunted Junkyard, each introduced by impressive facades of decaying buildings and rusted-out vehicles that instantly set the mood for what awaits inside. These larger-than-life structures, adorned with weathered metal and flickering lights, effectively immerse guests before they even cross the threshold.
At the entrance to Bacon and Legs, a standout moment came from a female character leaning out of a window, taunting and heckling guests as they waited in line. This interactive touch added depth to the queue-line experience and helped establish the chaotic energy that defines the junkyard’s atmosphere.
Once inside, both attractions showcased distinct themes, but neither felt cohesive enough to fully deliver a unified storyline. The design relied heavily on neon paint and vibrant colors, which, while visually striking, clashed somewhat with the darker, grittier tone that the environment seemed to promise. The strongest sense of immersion came from the authentic junkyard setting itself – with real, rusted vehicles cleverly integrated into the walkthrough. The seamless transitions between indoor sections and the open-air pathways created a genuine sense of exploration through a post-apocalyptic scrapyard.
The cast played a pivotal role in sustaining that immersion. Their energy and interactive performances made us feel like we had truly stumbled into their twisted domain. However, a few encounters did lose momentum. One example was the entrapment scene in Bacon and Legs, which stretched on for nearly five minutes with little action. While the concept had potential, the pacing made the moment feel more stagnant than suspenseful, briefly pulling us out of the experience. We could easily see this section becoming far more effective if the actors incorporated mock tasers, cattle prods, or herding behaviors to create the feeling of being livestock corralled for slaughter – a perfect thematic fit for the junkyard setting.
Audio design also impacted the overall immersion. Several stretches of the trail were noticeably silent, which made some character interactions feel awkward or incomplete. Enhancing the soundscape with ambient effects, mechanical noises, and strategically placed speakers would go a long way toward maintaining tension and realism throughout both attractions.
The Final Resting Place is one of the most distinctive haunted attractions out there – truly in a class of its own. Built entirely from discarded materials, the haunt thrives on its resourcefulness and raw creativity. This design choice gives the creators an incredible amount of artistic freedom to express their vision in ways that feel authentic to the junkyard setting. However, it also presents a few challenges that occasionally limit what can be executed effectively.
One such limitation may stem from the lack of available power. Throughout the haunt, we noticed stretches of “dead space” with little to no sound. While brief moments of silence can heighten tension, too much of it risks pulling guests out of the experience. A consistent ambient soundtrack could go a long way in maintaining immersion from start to finish.
Where The Final Resting Place truly shines is in its scenic design and world-building. The team masterfully transforms heaps of junk into an immersive, layered environment bursting with personality. Every corner feels hand-built and lived-in, from chaotic workspaces to eerie scrapyard corridors. Their playful use of certain “adult store” props added a touch of offbeat humor that fit perfectly with the haunt’s grimy, tongue-in-cheek tone.
The animatronics and sensory effects are simple but effective, complementing the environment rather than overpowering it. Highlights included the laser-fog rooms, corral-style passages made of plastic stretchers, and deranged welders showering sparks into the darkness. And of course, the twin cars driven by skeletons – complete with flames spitting from their engines – were a standout spectacle that perfectly encapsulated the Junkyard’s unhinged creativity.
21. How scary was it? (35% of score): 7.75
22. How well did they provide scares to everyone in the group? (15% of score): 8
23. How predictable were the scares? (25% of score): 7.88
24. How well did they provide a wide variety (types) of scares? (10% of score): 8.13
25. How strong was the ending / finale? (15% of score): 8.5
The Final Resting Place is a terrifying thrill ride of howls, ghouls, and blood-soaked power tools. While the air reeks of grease and gasoline, these fiends can smell something far sweeter – your fear. They feed on it like rust devouring a rotting ’40s Plymouth, and they know you’re scared just as instinctively as a mechanic knows what’s wrong with an engine by sound alone.
Mechanical terror roars to life here, fueled by a diverse and relentless cast that attacks from every direction at full throttle. No guest goes unnoticed – these chop shop psychos make sure everyone who stumbles into their twisted homestead gets equal attention. Armed with an arsenal of props, makeshift weapons, and a labyrinth of scrapyard scenery, they use every tool at their disposal to keep you off balance and on edge.
Some of the younger actors could fine-tune their timing and vocal delivery, but the majority executed their roles with raw energy and commitment, sending us running for our lives. With such an abundance of tools, toys, and traps, there’s never a shortage of variety in the scares. By the time you reach the finale, one question will still be screaming in your mind – just how many chainsaws are chasing me right now?
Our journey through this rusted nightmare of twisted metal and mayhem lasted approximately 28 minutes. With a general admission price of $25, that gives The Final Resting Place an MPD (Minutes Per Dollar) rating of 1.12 – right in line with other haunted attractions in the region.
Included with admission is a clever side attraction called “Bacon and Legs,” which not only adds extra value but also provides guests with something entertaining to enjoy while waiting for the main event.
During our visit, several food trucks and vendors were on-site offering a variety of tasty options. We highly recommend the pulled pork mac and cheese which was easily one of the best haunt concessions we’ve had this season. After surviving your trip through the junkyard, you’ll exit through the gift shop, which offers a wide selection of T-shirts and themed apparel. A special shoutout goes to Wrecker, who gifted us a free item for being good sports after he relentlessly tormented our group all night.
For those planning a visit, we suggest going on a Friday night. The following Saturday was nearly twice as busy, so Fridays offer a more manageable crowd and a smoother overall experience.
988 Polk Road, Sabina, Ohio 45169