Hell’s Dungeon (Dayton, OH)
“Soul Sucking Sickos”
By Noah Wullkotte: Visited on 9/26/26
A zombie slid on the ground as we waited to enter Hell’s Dungeon. He snarled at us before he left in disgust. This season the rejects are out to steal your soul. This 30 minute tour of terror has just about any type of scene you could imagine. This is great because you never know what to expect. We first got our picture taken in front of the Hell’s Dungeon sign and then got in line. I could hear the Rocky Horror Picture Show soundtrack play in the other room. After a few minutes it was our turn to come face to face with insanity. Whoever designed this haunt must have a sick and twisted mind. We’ve been touring Hell’s Dungeon for years now and it always makes us laugh, jump and smile.
We were first asked by a playful clown to enter a coffin before being let out. Then we proceeded to knock on a door which eventually opened. It led to the one and only Rufus. This is where all Hell broke loose. Hell’s Dungeon is a traditional haunt in a sense. There is a story you can follow, but for the most part it’s a mixture of scary, amusing and downright crazy scenes.
One of my favorite characters is the voodoo priest that steals your soul. It’s a deep red before leaving your body. The crazed mental patients in the asylum are erratic. Their mood changes at a moment’s notice and you could say that they’re aren’t mentally sound. A lunatic made me kiss her worm as she smiled at a feverish pace. A woman violently banged her head against plexiglass. A mother showed us her headless baby before we left in disgust. Hell’s Dungeon has a very enthusiastic group of actors which is great. The girl dressed as a doll baby doesn’t just cry for your mommy. She performs a play with her stuffed toys and has you participate.
The backwoods killers had us cracking up. One shirtless hillbilly had his butt crack showing as he stuck his finger in my ear. Hell’s Dungeon features a variety of rooms. This includes a graveyard, barbershop, dentist office, game room, funeral home, asylum, animal specimens room and so much more. It gets kind of exhausting just thinking about all that Hell’s Dungeon has to offer in the way of scenes.
We appreciate the fact that Hell’s Dungeon pays attention to little details here and there. The church/chapel has stained glass windows and a car has been wrecked with an animated zombie sticking out of the windshield. This is a haunt that does a decent job with its props. Yes, there are areas that could be improved. The vortex tunnel wasn’t spinning the night we toured, but I’m sure this will be fixed soon. The animated elevator (Hellevator) seemed more intense this season, but this could just be my imagination. Hell’s Dungeon has interactive elements with some props that attack customers. The killer shark and monster pumpkin come to mind.
There have been a lot of changes made to Hell’s Dungeon and there’s a new ending. The maze near the end wasn’t very effective and this space could be utilized better. Some areas could be more detailed by incorporating lighting effects and music. Great sound effects and music makes a haunt more immersive and unsettling. Adding thunder and lightning to the graveyard would make it spookier and more realistic.
Hell’s Dungeon should illuminate the building with scary lighting. Red or green spotlights would give it a nightmarish glow and make it look more like a haunted house instead of a regular business. It’s a quality haunt, but the outside could definitely use some fine tuning. The inside before the haunt starts could use more decor as well. These are minor complaints though.
Hell’s Dungeon is in the Eastown Shopping Center. Click here to watch a short video with directions on how to locate the haunt once you’re nearby. It can get a little confusing if you’re unfamiliar with the area. General admission is $26, Fast Pass is $36, VIP is $50 and there are fees if purchased online. Group rates are available for 12 or more people and it’s only $18 per person. Click here for discount tickets through Groupon. Hell’s Dungeon uses a virtual queue which is pretty cool. This isn’t a short haunt by any means. Total tour time is around 30 minutes which makes Hell’s Dungeon a great value.
Saturday September 26th was Pride Weekend. It featured East Side Oddities, Tuff Pro Wrestling and Rocky Horror Picture Show at 10pm. Hell’s Dungeon has various vendors and merchandise available. We always have a frighteningly good time at this Dayton, Ohio haunt. Rufus is waiting and the rejects want to add your soul to their collection.
Length-10 Design-7 Props-7 Acting-7 Scare Effect-7
Final Stab: 7.6
www.experiencethedungeon.com
3866 Linden Ave
Dayton, OH 45432
