USS Nightmare (Newport, KY)
“A Screaming Steamboat Full of Fear”
By Noah Wullkotte: jollypumpkin@aol.com
Enter a realm of terror that you won’t soon forget. Newport, Kentucky becomes a haven for ghosts and ghouls this time of the year because of the one and only USS Nightmare. Have the ship scared out of you! It’s a darker and more sinister version of USS Nightmare. You’ll notice LED candles being used in certain parts of the boat which makes the haunt very spooky. USS Nightmare features some props that I haven’t seen at many haunts. Then there are classics that never grow old. My personal favorite is the kid dressed as a bunny rabbit holding a candy bucket. He rips his mask off to reveal a ghoulish face. We’ve seen the 13 Foot Impaler at other haunts, but USS Nightmare knows how to really showcase this behemoth. He’s behind netting as if he was King Kong. You’ll cross paths with the Impaler twice through out your journey. The crew has named him Fluffy and you better watch out or you’ll be eaten alive.
Other props include a flying grim reaper, a mutant sand worm, an animated werewolf, an electric chair, a CGI poltergeist, gutted fish, a shipping crate with a floating head, a vomiting ghoul, a rising corpse, a man on spinning disk (aka Psycho Vision) and so much more. You’ll even lay witness to a woman who has tubes draining the blood out of her body. The 7 Foot Tall animated mutant is a show stopper. Some of the props have their own twist. Their vortex tunnel is one of the most unique around. The hand rail tilts as the tunnel goes around and around. I’m getting dizzy just thinking about it. Some haunts have a Hellevator, but USS Nightmare has a crash simulator which I haven’t seen at any other haunt. It’s like an elevator on steroids. Learn the twisted history of the William S. Mitchell as the boat violently moves. A crazed actress tormented us as we tried to hide our fear.
USS Nightmare has a variety of icon characters that would be perfect for a classic horror flick. You’ve got the Captain who murdered his ex wife with an ax. His daughter Anna wants to make you one of her dolls inside her playroom. The Lady in Red swears that she didn’t crash the boat. This scene is quite detailed. It features an old jukebox, an old movie playing on the wall, a popcorn machine, patrons watching the movie and much more. Many of the characters inside the old boat have intricate makeup or prosthetics. The nurse inside the hospital had needles sticking out of her head which looked quite painful. You’ll meet your doom as you cross paths with vampires, a psycho in an insane asylum, a contortionist in the bathroom, a drunk crewman and some crazy ass clowns.
USS Nightmare has one of the best laser swamps which features a maze made of poles. Watch where you step because there’s some type of creature lurking. Many of the scenes are full of detail. The first scene you’ll experience is the William S. Mitchell Museum. It features 3 CGI animated portraits. The kitchen has some delicious treats. Who doesn’t like to eat some eyeballs or fingers? There are so many appetizing delicacies that will make your mouth water. Pans and a pot mysteriously move. The haunted forest has some great special effects. The screaming man behind a bush will make you jump. The hazardous waste zone features glowing poisonous liquid. USS Nightmare has many scenes. You’ll see everything from the William S. Mitchell Museum to a laboratory.
Walk across the catwalk twice and look down so you can view the water below your feet. What makes USS Nightmare so unique is that it takes place in an old haunted steamboat. You’ll see old machinery, rust, paint peeling, antiques and have an overwhelming feeling of dread. The total tour time was 25 minutes. This is a lengthy haunt that’s action packed. We definitely recommend the RIP Experience over the regular tour. Just imagine if you combined an interactive horror show with an Escape Room and you have an idea of what you’re about to participate in.
There are secret rooms that you’ll enter that the regular tour doesn’t include. This is a one of a kind experience you don’t want to miss out on. You’ll drink blood, take medicine, eat raw meat, get separated and you will have some actors get up close and personal. Areas you’ll enter include the speakeasy, the clown’s dressing room and so much more. My favorite was the decontamination chamber. We are notoriously bad a puzzles and there are a few. You’ll wear a flashing necklace that alerts the characters that you’re part of the RIP Experience. It took us nearly 40 minutes to make it out alive. There’s a photo op station when you exit. USS Nightmare offers a variety of concession items such as candy, chips, T-Shirts, hoodies, and more. You can also purchase your photo that was taken before getting in line. It’s $15 per person.
We recommend that you visit on Thursday or Sunday when it isn’t as crowded. You’re less likely to run into another group as well. It’s also cheaper at $25 instead of $35. Tickets for USS Nightmare vary in price. Please visit www.ussnightmare.com for all the ticketing options. The Lights on Matinee takes place on Sunday, October 27th from 4-6 PM. It’s $13 for adults and $10 for Kids 12 & under. The Captain’s Extreme Tour is on November 8th (10pm-1am) and 9th (8pm-1am). You must be 17 or older to purchase tickets. USS Nightmare is part of the Legendary Haunt Tour this year where people across the country will be able to get the ship scared out of them. Please be aware that the scoring for the review is for the regular tour since the majority of people will select that over the RIP Experience.
Length-9 Design-9 Props-9 Acting-9 Scare Effect-9
Final Stab: 9.0
www.ussnightmare.com