Wells Township Haunted House is located in Brilliant, Ohio. Originally built in 1836, this historic building once served as a holding area for Civil War soldiers who had passed away. Today, it stands as a truly unique haunted house experience- unlike anything else in the area.
What sets this attraction apart is its guided tours: each group is led by an engaging tour guide who takes you from room to room, stopping for interactive scenes and memorable encounters along the way. Have you ever visited another haunted attraction where you get to interact with a dedicated guide throughout your entire journey?
When you arrive, it doesn’t seem like you’re at a haunted attraction because you’re right in the middle of a neighborhood. However, the loud music, glowing fire barrels, and brightly lit food trucks quickly confirm that you’re in the right spot.
We immediately noticed Wells Township Haunted House had plenty of cast members, especially with about three queue actors interacting around the midway waiting area. Our tour guide also impressed us by staying in character – he never spoke, heightening the suspense, but was still very fun and interactive. Throughout the experience, he kept pointing for us to open doors, caskets, or boxes, only to feign anger when we did, quickly closing them and playfully grabbing our hands, making the tour even more enjoyable.
During our visit, we met a variety of cast members, including a nun, camp counselor, priest, demon-possessed girl, witch, poker dealer, and chainsaw maniac. Each character had a unique skit, ensuring every scene felt distinct and original. We truly appreciated the thoughtful design of both the scenes and characters in this haunted attraction.
We had a fun moment with the camp counselor when she found us in her cabin and asked why we were there. We told her we wanted to have a party, but she said parties weren’t allowed and told us to get back to bed. She finished by warning us: no more pranks, since she thought we were up to something.
We encountered a priest performing an exorcism on a girl who was twitching and moving violently, clearly possessed. The scene was so vivid and lifelike that we felt like we were in a movie. Suddenly, the priest was stabbed with their own cross, and the possessed girl appeared hanging on the wall, looking truly creepy.
The dealer was also an incredibly interactive cast member. He asked us to pick a hand, but when we chose one, he replied that it was already taken and prompted us to pick another. Eventually, we made a choice but ended up losing. We even thought he might have set it up so we would lose automatically. Still, he was extremely entertaining and made the experience enjoyable.
Surprisingly, all the cast members were volunteers, yet each did a great job in their roles.
The costumes were executed excellently, making it easy to distinguish each character and their role. The attention to detail stood out, especially with the realistic distressing that lent authenticity to the outfits. For example, the tour guide wore a brown burlap bag, the priest had a robe with a crucifix, and the possessed girl’s messy hair and facial injuries were convincingly applied. The witch’s carefully crafted headpiece, along with high-quality makeup and masks, complemented the performances perfectly. Overall, the makeup and costuming thoughtfully matched each scene and theme.
We also really enjoyed seeing some of the queue actors outside. One of them wore a highly detailed mask, and another was running around with an ax, chasing guests through the crowd.
Entering the address into your GPS brings you straight to the location, making it easy to find. Parking can be challenging – there’s a small lot, but it fills up quickly, so street parking is often necessary. All the staff members here were very friendly and welcoming. Both the ticket booth employees and the other staff members on the property were extremely nice.
For the most part, everything inside the attraction felt safe. However, be cautious as some areas require you to watch your step, with frequent sections where you step up or down. Because it’s dark throughout, navigating these parts can be a little tricky. Therefore, we recommend not running as you move from room to room.
Standing outside, we immediately felt the haunted house vibe, amplified by the rock and metal music blasting through the air. We loved the atmosphere – it was clear the attraction was cranked up for every guest entering that night. While there wasn’t an explicit storyline, every scene felt like its own story, which made the experience unique because each room had such a different look and feel.
We didn’t see any of the staff’s water bottles or personal bags, and the attraction did an excellent job hiding speakers, lights, and fog machines. As we walked through, the pacing was smooth, with scenes following one after another. When you exit, you’re brought back into the midway area, keeping the atmosphere consistent.
The music and sounds were well set up throughout the attraction. Each room featured its own playlist, complemented by unique sound effects in every section of the haunted house. The volume was just right, and not annoying at all, and the speakers used were clearly of good quality.
The scenes throughout the attraction were impressively realistic. At times, it really felt like we were part of the scene – particularly in the camp counselors’ room, which fully resembled a dorm, complete with bunk beds and an authentic setup.
The lighting and sensory effects were impressive, with the attraction making extensive use of flashing lights. We especially loved the laser swamps, particularly the one with numerous bouncy bridges – something we hadn’t encountered in a haunted attraction before. The laser swamp made the experience even more immersive.
This attraction offers many features you won’t find elsewhere. The experience begins with a moving ride – so be prepared! As you continue, you’ll encounter an actual slide that you must go down, making this experience truly unique. Few attractions require visitors to use a slide to progress, and we only know of a handful in this category.
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): 9.13
23. How predictable were the scares? (25% of score): 8.5
24. How well did they provide a wide variety (types) of scares? (10% of score): 9
25. How strong was the ending / finale? (15% of score): 9.25
This attraction isn’t for anyone afraid of the dark. While walking through, we encountered several scenes that went almost completely black before the lights flickered back on, often revealing cast members right in front of us. They’d scream, growl, or recite lines as part of their act, amplifying the scare factor.
During another scene, we saw a cast member experiencing a bad dream as the lights flickered. Suddenly, a creature on four legs emerged from the closet and got right up in our faces. We weren’t sure what it was meant to be, but it gave us quite a scare.
This attraction delivered scares from every direction and kept the intensity up throughout the entire show. We truly appreciated the effort to involve everyone in our group. The witch at the end, floating in her chair, was a highlight, but beware, chainsaw maniacs might pursue you after!
General admission is $18, while VIP tickets are $30. Our 26-minute visit resulted in a Minutes Per Dollar (MPD) rate of 1.44, which is above average for this season’s attractions. Most nights, live bands provide entertainment; on other nights, a large projector plays music and videos in the midway area. Rather than lining up right away, guests get assigned numbers and only line up when their number appears on the screen. Occasionally, queue actors run by to add excitement to the wait.
While you wait, there’s a food truck offering snacks. Once again, we were surprised by this place, as it makes lots of changes each year and always knows how to entertain and keep us guessing. We greatly appreciate that the attraction keeps prices low so families and kids can enjoy a memorable night out together. If you haven’t visited yet, you should check out Wells Township Haunted House – it’s not your typical haunted attraction.
101 Market Street, Brilliant, Ohio 43913