Nightmare on Edgewood (Indianapolis, IN)
“40 Years of Fear”
By Noah Wullkotte: jollypumpkin@aol.com
Indianapolis is home to the Angel of Death. He lives at place called Nightmare on Edgewood. Watch him rise out of a creepy hearse as he holds on to a poor soul who was destined for the graveyard. A demented clown on stilts torments customers as they purchase their tickets. Nightmare on Edgewood has been scaring Indiana since 1978 and they’ve gained a huge following over the years.
The crowd was massive and thankfully there was some line entertainment. A DJ wearing a Michael Myers mask played some tunes as bubbles were shot into the air. The music was pumping and I was excited to experience this year’s haunt. Nightmare on Edgewood is a full blown in your face haunt where the actors will touch, torment and strike fear into those who dare to enter.
Nightmare on Edgewood is comprised of three attractions which include Edgewood Mortuary, Karnival and Conley Manor. We consider these themed areas that form one large haunt. Nightmare on Edgewood is intense to say the least. We were placed with another group and they were losing their minds as they entered various rooms. The first room you’ll enter is where you’ll be told the rules by a skeleton I didn’t trust. There’s a big surprise in store and this was a great way to kick off the haunt.
You’ll come face to face with homicidal maniacs and schizophrenic psychos at Nightmare on Edgewood. I had a hatchet placed against my neck and a mental patient used a very unique chainsaw. The mad doctor wants to shove poison down your throat and a crazed inmate is behind bars as he tries to escape. Nightmare on Edgewood is a sensory overload. There are unique props and effects everywhere you turn. The murky swamp features a massive man eating crocodile that has an endless appetite. He might just take a bite out of you if you’re not careful.
Their haunt Karnival is full of clowns and some unique lighting effects. One room was glowing red and featured some creepy clown props. It was simple, but pretty effective. The broken down carnival was also impressive. I enjoyed the old abandoned arcade and was half tempted to play a game. The bio hazard area features glowing toxic waste that you better not touch or you might get infected. My favorite prop can be found in Conley Manor. You’ll enter a dinning room when suddenly a group of zombies bust out of a dinner table. It was pretty startling and very badass.
Our favorite haunt was Conley Manor. The building is surrounded by old trees and it can be a little foggy inside. I felt like I was part of a living nightmare. My biggest complaint about Conley Manor is its length. It only lasts 5 minutes, but this of course depends on your pace and interaction with the characters. Karnival also lasts only 5 minutes. There are plenty of characters you’ll interact with inside Conley Manor from the mechanic in the old garage to the young girl in the doll room. You’ll escape through the bookcase full of dolls.
Edgewood Mortuary was 9 minutes, Karnival was 5 and Conley Manor was 5 minutes as well. This makes your experience close to 20 minutes long. General admission is $25, VIP is $40 and a Nightmare on Edgewood and House of Trepidation combo is $40. Nightmare on Edgewood has a 40th anniversary special where you pay only $40 for 2 tickets. This saves you a whopping $10. We highly recommend the $40 VIP ticket since it can get extremely crowded on a Friday or Saturday night. We would have waited hours in line if it wasn’t for VIP. Click here for coupons that will save you up to $5 depending on the night you visit.
Don’t forget to check out their Escape Room called Escape The Nightmare. It’s only $5 and you must also purchase a ticket to Nightmare on Edgewood. They have special event nights which are Fright Latin Night on October 18th, Trick or Treat Night on the 27th, Halloween Trivia Brawl on October 30th and more. Tickets are only $15 on Halloween night. It’s also only $15 on November 2nd for Classic Monsters Night and for Lights Out Night on November 3rd.
Nightmare on Edgewood celebrates 40 years of giving people of the Hoosier state endless nightmares. It’s a fun haunt and one of the most intense around. We highly recommend that you give them a visit this Halloween season.
Length-9 Design-8 Props/Animatronics-8 Acting-9 Scare Effect-9
Final Stab: 8.6
www.nightmareonedgewood.com