Just returned home from my inaugural excursion to Haunted Nashville and turned on all the lights in the house! What an amazingly scary haunt!
If your idea of fright via a haunted house means blood, guts, gore and chain saw-wielding teenagers wearing hockey masks, then go to Slaughterhouse or one of the many other cheesy haunted houses in the area... If that stuff is what gives you the creeps, then Haunted Nashville isn't for you.
I've been to myriad haunted attractions in my 40 years, and none have given me the willies like Haunted Nashville did earlier this evening. And you must keep in mind that fear is relative. What scares the snot out of one person might not phase the next one in line.
The glory -- or more appropriately, horror -- of Haunted Nashville is how it taps into and preys and plays on the basic, inherent fear of the human mind, primarily fear of the dark. Add to that incredible, Hollywood-style sets and special effects (most notable, a ghost in a rocking chair who gets up and vanishes through a wall), and you've got all you need to make your heart pound fast and clutch tightly to those with you as you tip-toe through the many dark corners, twists and turns throughout the three different structural environments.
A very creative, well-crafted storyline takes you through the entire experience, which, if you give it attention, adds to the spook factor... but you'll be equally creeped out if you don't pay attention to it.
You'll encounter a lot of live, professional, character actors representing ghosts, ghouls, zombies,etc. along the way ... each adorned with Hollywood-style makeup and costumes. One hag in particular (whom I dub ""The Creeper"") jumped out in front of me, I screamed, dodged around it and took off running ... when I stopped and turned around expecting to see my three pals behind me... they were no where in sight, but The Creeper was right there hands in the air (it chased me without me knowing it), more screaming from me... and yes, the 9-year-old in my group (they only let 8 people in at a time), pointed out: ""Dude, you sure do scream loud for a guy!""
Haunted Nashville succinctly gave me a lot of screaming moments. It spooked me on all counts, and coming out of it, it was a LOT OF FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!
The thing I like best about this attraction is that it is family friendly, best suited for kids 8 and older. If you have kiddos in that age range, this attraction is your absolute BEST BOO BET!
--Chad Young, Managing Editor/Entertainment Editor, Nashville Parent Magazine
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