The Mayhem Mansion (Morning View, KY)
“The Return of Remus”
By Noah Wullkotte: jollypumpkin@aol.com
A dark and winding road leads you to the small town of Morning View, Kentucky. This peaceful community has a deep dark secret. The ghost stories your parents told you when you were young are true and they become reality at Mayhem Mansion. This old school haunt has been scaring fright seekers for years and we never seem to get tired of its twisted brand of horror. The creators have a simple mission and that’s to scare the living daylights out of you.
Walk up a fire escape and enter a window before being transported into the 1920s. This isn’t a very high tech haunt, but that’s fine. Its attention to detail and its realistic costumes help create a frightening experience that sets it apart from your typical haunted attraction. Acting is at the forefront at Mayhem Mansion. Before we entered the haunt, we were greeted by a man that goes by the name of Remus. He has to be one of my all time favorite characters from any haunt I’ve been to. This backwoods hillbilly wears a straw hat and overalls. He guards his moonshine with his life and he has some items for sale at his shop.
I had a sip of some sweet moonshine and it tasted like apple cinnamon. Then I took a shot of his stronger batch. He warned me that it might give me jake leg. It reminded me of Wild Turkey. I’m convinced that Remus isn’t an actual actor. He lives at Mayhem Mansion protecting the property with his trusty shotgun that tends to go off without notice. I could write a full article just on Remus. He’s that damn good and we’re happy that he returned to Mayhem Mansion.
Much of the cast at Mayhem Mansion are young, but they’re some of the best actors you’ll come across. My favorite character of the night inside the mansion is the flapper from the roaring 20s. She can be found in the bar showing a little leg and asking for some tips. I was almost half tempted to take her up on her offer. But I was a little short on cash that night. Mayhem Mansion has a plethora of characters that are straight out of the prohibition era and many that want to rip your head off.
The butcher has gone mad and the doctor wants to examine you. It was discovered that I had an acute case of the “ugly”. Other characters include a psychopath in the wine cellar. He contorts his body as he chases after you. Pay your respects to poor Elizabeth or else. Mayhem Mansion is a haunt where you will be touched and your personal space will be invaded. This makes it a more intense and realistic experience which I quite enjoyed.
There are some areas that could be improved. Quite a few rooms lacked a soundtrack. Some creepy music in the doll room would make it even scarier for sure. We weren’t asked to take a shot of liquor in the bar like in previous years. This interactive element made the scene really stand out and it was just nasty. Total tour time is 15 minutes, but it could be much longer if you’re separated from your group or if an actor decides to spend more time with you. This isn’t a high tech haunt, but there are some interesting props that go perfectly with the various scenes. The animated doll in the swing was pretty creepy. The clown was as well.
Tickets are $18 a piece which is three more dollars compared to last season. Children 10 and under get in for only $10. A Fast Pass is five additional dollars and you can re-enter the haunt for only $7. Haverford’s Hollow Terror in the Woods Zombie Challenge is their newest attraction. Head into the woods with a pump action paintball gun. Your goal is to reach the checkpoint where you can purchase more ammo if you need to. Escape without being bitten by one of the walking dead and you must shoot the zombies in the head in order to survive. Tickets are $12 a person and $10 with their promo flyer.
A family package for Terror in the Woods is $30. You can get extra ammo for $2 or a life re-buy for $5. The shooting range is closed. Please visit www.themayhemmansion.com for extended details on pricing. You’ll also be able to watch a video that explains the back-story of the haunt. Robert Haverford is one sick individual. Extreme Night takes place on Saturday, November 2nd. You must be over 18, have an ID and sign a waiver. It’s no holds barred and you should bring an extra pair of clothes. Tickets for Extreme Night are $25 and $10 for re-entry. You must be at least 18 with ID and sign a waiver. Haverford’s Hollow will not be open that night. Please visit the haunt’s website for extended details.
Proceeds made from Mayhem Mansion go towards the Boon County For Cops and Kids Program which helps needy kids receive Christmas presents every year. They’re treated to a day of Christmas shopping which is great. Mayhem Mansion is a very underrated haunt and you would have a hard time finding a spookier location. The actors are great, the atmosphere is bone chilling and it’s fun. Don’t miss out on Mayhem Mansion this Halloween season.
Length-8 Design-8 Props/Animatronics-8 Acting-9 Scare Effect-9
Final Stab: 8.4
www.themayhemmansion.com