Lake Erie Fearfest, located at Ghostly Manor Thrill Center, 3319 Milan Road
Sandusky, Ohio 44870 is a world-class, five-haunt complex awaiting thrill-seekers and hardcore horror fans alike.
PIctures by Katie Feher
Listed as one of the country’s “Top-Ten” Haunts by Forbes magazine in 2013, the Criscione family has only improved upon what earned them national accolades last year. According to Ghostly Manor Thrill Center’s Director of Operations Billy Criscione, “The haunts are updated and revised each season.” With Ghostly Manor operating all year, more time annually, is spent updating the four seasonal haunts. Some haunts get weeks of updates and revisions, others get several days.”
Between “Darkmare”, “Quarantine”, “Caged”, “Eerie Chateau” and the year-round “Ghostly Manor”, guests will find every kind of scare imaginable. From the classic jump scares and poorly lit corners, to impressive automated light and effect sequences combined with unusual textural environments.
Guests of Lake Erie Fearfest and Ghostly Manor can experience all five amazing haunts for only $25. At $5 per haunt it’s an impressive value and a great way to spend a chilly fall evening.
What’s more is each haunt plays to different fears and each feels unique and expertly themed.
“Quarantine” provides an eerily surreal catastrophic medical disaster environment. Chain link fencing contains deadly freaks and strobe lighting provides glimpses of lurking patients, creating an entirely immersive experience.
“Eerie Chateau” feels a bit familiar but far from ordinary. The ‘Chateau’ feels expansive and deep and guests should expect to be challenged from impressive angles and heights.
Some people find haunts less than scary because they can see the scare coming. However, “Darkmare” is thoroughly dark. So dark that even after the 10-15 minutes it takes to navigate, your eyes will not adjust to absence of light. This creates a visceral fear based on complete lack of sight. Walking arms-out is the only way to make it through ‘alive’.
PIctures by Katie Feher
The newly revised “Caged” is smaller this year, but no less frightening. The combination of walls constructed from heavy gauge cage and the perfect amount of fog and light create a very tense situation. While guests can ‘see’ what’s ahead, it’s impossible to tell when you’re actually in harms way.
Lastly, but certainly not least is “Ghostly Manor” itself. The year-round attraction takes more than 20 minutes to navigate and is densely packed with scares. Expertly crafted and full of classic haunting elements, the indoor/outdoor attraction has something for everyone. While a ‘catch-all’ haunt may not sound exceptionally impressive, the attention to detail and quality of the actors that occupy this massive haunt make for a thoroughly satisfying experience.
For directions, hours of operations and a full list of attractions offered at Ghostly Manor Thrill Center visit ghostlymanor.com.
