The Haunted House at Race City Review (2023)

Race City Haunted House is located in an amusement park on one of the main roads in Panama City Beach, so it is easy to find. It’s also only a couple blocks from the beach. There is plenty of complimentary parking, and once in the amusement park, you can’t miss the tall, looming haunted house structure.

We had no concerns for our safety with security throughout the park. Every team member we encountered, from the food trucks to security and management, was helpful and friendly. Race City’s website has excellent information about its attractions, so it is easy to plan your visit.

The haunt looks like an actual house that was converted into a haunt. Aside from the house’s creepy entrance, there isn’t much in the way of pre-haunt décor. This was likely because Race City is an amusement park, and the haunt is just one of many fun attractions.

Once we got in the haunt, we were continuously immersed in the experience. Every room was skillfully designed and flowed well from one to the next. One of the great things about this haunt is that there are no hallways. Each room leads to another room. Every inch of space was transformed, and we felt transported to another dimension. It was like going through an actual haunted home.

The set designs were meticulously detailed and realistic, and that is where this haunt excels above many others. I could revisit this haunt many times and still be able to see details missed from previous visits. The GM of Race City let us know that the sets were professionally created by a veteran of the haunted attraction business who has worked with some of the top haunts in the country.

The sound effects were influential throughout the haunt and were most noticeable in the beginning in the “lobby” of the house. There was a voiceover reminiscent of the Crypt Keeper that goes over the rules and then leads you into the house’s story. The lighting was equally effective, with the swamp area being our favorite effect.

We saw more than a dozen animatronics throughout the haunt that worked cohesively with the theme of the rooms that they were in. Some were effective and realistic, some were aged and had predictable scares, but all added to the ambiance.

Race City Haunted House is reasonably priced at $12 a person, and the experience time was 6 minutes, so you are paying $2 per minute. With backyard haunts charging $15-$20 for an experience these days that isn’t even close to the professional quality of this one, $12 was a steal for what we experienced inside.

Also, haunt goers can make a whole night out for themselves at Race City. In addition to the haunt, there is a roller coaster and other carnival-type rides, games, mini–golf, and more! The other attractions come at an additional cost; however, they offer an unlimited ride pass that includes the haunt for $57. Tickets must be purchased onsite, and cash and credit are accepted.