FamousDC seeks to bring you the very best our region has to offer. That includes the most spine-tingling haunted houses and suspense attractions for this Halloween season. We assembled an independent panel of expert enthusiasts who have frequented spooky shindigs across the region over the last three years, and they candidly discussed their impressions, experiences and critiques of some of the major local fright fairs.
Our scaretacular experts, Gregg and Mickey, are brave young professionals square in the middle of the key 18-34 demographic. Gregg is a risk analyst in the finance sector while Mickey is a communication specialist with a psychological society. Let’s find out what scared these two!
Nightmare Manor
Location:
Ijamsville, MD
Indoor/Outdoor:
Both
Theme:
“Actual” Haunted House
Cost:
$25 apiece, very reasonable “but the Fast Pass is unnecessary”
Initial Impressions:
“Eerie drive out to middle of nowhere” “Cool waiting area” “A local classic”
Notes:
“The actors and attractions are very good, but the setting and its history are the real stars here. You can’t miss this one.”
Field of Screams
Location:
Olney, MD
Indoor/Outdoor:
Outdoor
Theme:
“Bored teenagers finally having something to do on a weekend night.”
Cost:
$50+, “Too much, even with a Groupon”
Initial Impressions:
“Crowded, unorganized” “Parking was BAD” “Line to buy Fast Pass longer than line to enter park proper”
Notes:
“CO2 cartridges for Zombie Paintball experience were not properly filled, making the guns less than functional.”
Markhoff’s Haunted Forest
Location:
Between Dickerson and Poolesville, MD
Indoor/Outdoor:
Outdoor
Theme:
Biohazard
Cost:
$25-35 per person, “Reasonable for all you get”
Initial Impressions:
“Excellent space” “Lots to do” “Impressive lighting/bonfires/haunty haunters”
Notes:
“This was easily the scariest place we saw the last three years.”
Eastern State Penitentiary “Terror Behind the Walls”
Location:
Fairmount, PA
Indoor/Outdoor:
Indoor
Theme:
Real, actual abandoned Gothic prison
Cost:
“Quite high, but highly worth it.”
Initial Impressions:
“Really long drive” “Chilling” “Definitely not a cute place” “People really died here”
Notes:
“LONG wait, long drive, but be patient” “Infirmary was scariest part.”
Gravensteen (ON HIATUS 2015)
Location:
N.E. District
Indoor/Outdoor:
Indoor
Theme:
Standard/Generic Horror
Cost:
“Too high”
Initial Impressions:
“Too much space for any suspense” “P-R-E-D-I-C-T-A-B-L-E!”
Notes:
“Look, we know Gravensteen took 2015 off and we hope they come back next year with a vengeance, there is great untapped potential here. Good luck Gravensteen!”
TUNE IN THIS HALLOWEEN SATURDAY AS WE SEND OUR OWN ANXIOUS STAFFER TO EXPERIENCE THE SCARIEST ATTRACTION OF THEM ALL, AND WRITE ABOUT THE EXQUISITE LIVING TERROR THEY UNDERGO FOR YOUR HALLOWEEN PLEASURE!!
The preceding material is derived from the panel’s personal opinions voiced during the interview and do not reflect the views of FamousDC.
Related Links:
Trick-Or-Treat Items You’ll Only Get in DC
Seven DC Events to Attend in October
