Op-Ed: Which haunted attraction offers the best scares in Nashville?
Halloween is a little over ten days away, which means we’re right in the middle of spooky season.
To get into the Halloween mood, I decided to try out three of the most popular haunted attractions in the area to figure out which one is worth spending hard-earned money on. For this haunted tour of Nashville, the only rule I set was this: I’ll only be purchasing the base experience. Many of these houses offer add-ons to enhance the experience, but I wanted to experience them the way most people do.
Devil’s Dungeon:
Devil’s Dungeon is in Downtown Nashville. The cost is a locked $29.99 every night, with the option of paying add-ons to be able to skip the line to get in. For the money, you’re getting around a 40-minute experience through a single house. The whole tour takes place in a big warehouse, giving a ton of space for guests to explore larger sections. But for the most part, it’s a linear experience.
A major issue with many attractions like this one is the traffic they generate. Many haunted houses have so many people going through them that it’s almost like just walking in a long Disneyland line with some nice decorations. Being in a large line takes away all the scares. Thankfully, Devil’s Dungeon does a great job at staggering entrances. I was let into the house with just me and the friend I went with. The people behind me had to wait for me to reach a specific area before being allowed in.
Although it is technically one massive house, Devil’s Dungeon changes its theme various times throughout the experience, which is one of its standout attributes. You won’t get bored with the constant theme switches. In fact, not only do they switch up the themes, but also the way you experience the house. At one point, you must go through a maze section, and in another area, they give you 3D glasses to make the artwork seem like it’s popping out at you. This variety, especially the maze portion, made me really love Devils’ Dungeon.
Nashville Nightmare:
Nashville Nightmare is located in Madison and is definitely the higher-budget experience of the three. Not just in the amount of money you’re likely to spend, but also in the amount of money that goes into making this place run.
The larger scale of the experience means that the organizers partake in dynamic pricing. In other words, Nashville Nightmare charges a different entry fee every time of the day, depending on the demand they see. A Saturday night visit will cost double that of a Monday visit for example.
Because of this, I attended on a Monday night with an advertised price of $19.99. However, I ended up paying $31.99 because I waited until I got there to purchase my ticket. Prices get as high as $39.99, making it by far the most expensive house on this list.
As with the other houses, various add-ons are available, but they enhance the experience rather than simply letting you skip a line. For example, a Jason Vorhees experience is available, as well as some smaller escape rooms. For the core experience, you’re getting four different short houses. Right away, the increased scale is noticeable. There is a hub between the different houses, featuring actors in impressive costumes and gargantuan animatronics that set the scene. Inside the houses, there are detailed interiors. The detail that went into costumes, props and animatronics is evident. There’s also a lot of different types of terrain to walk on, including floors that shift as you walk on them, as well as mushy flooring.
It’s almost annoying how good the place looks and feels because it’s lacking on scares. As I mentioned prior, being let in with big groups takes away a large chunk of the horror. When you see people in front of you reacting to what’s happening, you know to be prepared. The best moments of fear come from not knowing what lies ahead. Unfortunately, at Nashville Nightmare, you always know what’s coming up.
Miller’s Thrillers:
Like Devil’s Dungeon, this experience has a set cost of $29.99, though regular entry can only be purchased in person. Miller’s Thrillers is in Colombia, Tennessee, making it a further journey out from Lipscomb than the rest of the houses. This further journey gives it the perfect setting, though, as it’s out in the middle of the woods.
The initial area is a hub that has roaming actors, food, and lots of nighttime shows, including singing and motorcycle stunts. This really elevates Miller’s Thrillers from just a haunted house to a full night of activities, something that can’t be said for either of the other houses. There’s a lot to sink your teeth into here, and being outside and surrounded by the trees enhances the thrill.
The main attraction, the Haunted Woods, is also outside. This setting creates a ton of possibilities for open-ended areas, but the Haunted Woods was surprisingly linear. You’re meant to follow one narrow path the entire time. But being in an actual forest for the haunted woods creates a top-notch atmosphere with tons of moments where you don’t know what lies ahead. Sprinkled along the journey are plenty of actors and animatronics that spring in front of you, making for some of the best jump scares I’ve ever had.
Verdict:
Selecting the best of the three was a hard pick. Each house was full of amazing artistry and dedicated actors. It’s evident that lots of love went into making these places as immersive as they are. If I had to pick one house, though, I’m going with Devil’s Dungeon. Its proximity is nice and it’s full of so many pleasant surprises with the constant switches in theming. You can’t go wrong with picking any of the three, though, as none of them offer a bad experience. If you’re looking to get into the Halloween mood, all three of these make for a great time.
Feature image taken by Samuel Espinoza
