Demon House Gets Demented in Monogahela, Pennsylvania
|
|
Well, boils and ghouls the wife and I hit the ‘burgh again this past weekend to review another pro haunt for all you fine creeps. Demon House in Monogahela, PA drew us into its demented grounds, and let me just start off this review with a what caused me a bit of real terror dealing with this event.
When most folks go to a haunted house they expect chills and startles and the feeling of fear, but rarely - OK never - should anyone visiting your haunt be in any real jeopardy. When we first arrived at Demon House we entered their parking lot only to find it completely full. The person parking us sent us driving into a dead end which we had to back out. This was at best difficult due to the fact all the other cars were crammed in at strange angles. We were then directed back up the road to their overflow parking which was fine except for the walk back to the haunt. The road we walked had no sidewalk, no reflective markers or safety flares, and no one to guide us back. Traffic would literally be only a couple of feet from us on a blind curve, and we had to more than once jump into the weeds in order to keep from getting run over. This is a huge problem, and this haunt wasn’t even busy yet. If you can’t park everyone coming to your event and have them safely make it to your gates then you SHOULD NOT BE OPEN - PERIOD. This, unfortunately, set the tone for the rest of our haunt experience.
When we finally got onto the grounds of Demon House the cemetery and hanging skeletons that greeted us were quite good. Demon House loomed ominously on the top of the hill, and all in all the walk up the driveway was very creepy. Of course when we made it to the folks who were ready to take care of us I announced who I was and mentioned the names of the folks in charge I was told to ask for and got little response from anyone. They all seemed wrapped up in the usual frenzy that can accompany opening night, and eventually I got frustrated trying to find anyone in charge so I could give a little more background on this haunt. I just paid my money and hoped for the best. I was told I my group wouldn’t be going in for 35 minutes, and then I asked about the VIP admission in order to escape the line. No one knew exactly how to do a VIP, but this was finally ironed out and we made our way to the cue area. It was funny how I actually saw no line which made me wonder why it was going to take 35 minutes to enter in the first place.
I really liked the multimedia presentation of the Demon House back story. It really set the mood with a tale of Indian burial grounds, tortured Spanish prisoners, and a witch woman named Carla. Then I had to wonder why when we finally got into the haunt we suddenly found ourselves in Area 51 with aliens on the loose. Hey, I’m all for aliens in a haunted house as well as killer clowns, but if you spend so much time on a really good back story then stick to it. Keep me in your world as much as you can, and chances are I’ll come back to it if I liked it.
Demon House had a lot of good things that seemed a bit disjointed. Of course it was opening weekend, and actors sometimes don’t have the feel of what to do just yet this early in the season. There was plenty of maze action and lots of scenery to look at. I really loved the actual house that Demon House was in, and I still can’t believe this gorgeous real mansion is turned into a haunt. It may have been the initial snafus at the start of our Demon House experience but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was in a lengthy home haunt and not a pro haunt.
Without belaboring the point, I did like that Demon House had an outdoor theater of sorts showing free horror movies and customers could gather around campfires and play games and hit the concession stand. I must admit that everyone visiting Demon House seemed to be having a good time, but this haunt really was not geared for the serious haunt goer who looks for higher end scares and props and trained actors. This is not a bad thing, but at $15 for regular admission and $20 for VIP I’m not too sure I got my money’s worth.
So would I go again? Not unless there’s a drastic drop in the price - like 30-40%. Of course I had to drive over two hours to get there. If I were local the price may not have been to so salty to the palate.
When you go:
Box Office opens 7PM till Midnight Fridays and Saturdays and 7PM till 11PM Thursdays, Sundays, and Halloween.
Tickets: Take cash. I saw no way to pay with a credit or debit card.
General Admission:
$15.00 per person.
Season Pass:
$35.00 per person. (Season Pass allows YOU to visit as many times as you like this season. Plus - YOU receive the official “Demon House” Tee Shirt)
V.I.P. Pass:
$20.00 per person.
Check their schedule for all the dates.
October 3rd, 2007 at 2:26 pm
As for the review of Demon House, I totally disagree with your findings. I Have been a patron to Demon House for the past three years and this year is by far the best. I dont understand how you didnt have safety while you were trying to park. I was there the opening night and the roadway was full of flares and there was parking attendents to ensure your SAFETY. I COMMEND DEMON HOUSE ON THERE PROFESSIONAL HAUNT!!!
October 3rd, 2007 at 7:41 pm
I completely respect your opinion on this. Saturday night there were no flares and the roadway was treacherous from the overflow parking down the road. While their haunt was good and I liked many things about it, if I were to compare it to other similar haunts the price was high. I also still stand by my assessment of sticking to a theme throughout a haunt. I loved the backstory and was looking forward to seeing more of it.
Thanks for your opinion though. As I said, everyone who was there was having a good time. I just tend to be more critical than the average haunt goer.
Beastly Wishes and horrid Hauntings,
Patrick
October 4th, 2007 at 10:41 pm
i disagree with a few things.
1st: demonhouse was the #1 haunted attraction in ‘06, and everyone i spoke to after just the first weekend agrees this is the best year so far
2nd: i’m sorry but i think the whole story about parking and dodging cars is made up, or at least exaggerated. i was directed where to go, saw plenty of flares and road markers, and i didn’t have a single incident, nor find out about anyone else having one on the way to the house
3rd: the wait depends on what time you show up. i know the gates open @ 7 but the actual tours don’t start until dark (almost an hour later)
4th: i don’t know what you mean by “proffessional”
i never went to a haunted house and saw Johnny Depp dressed up as a pirate or Anthony Hopkins as a cannibal. I know these are just regular people, sometimes just kids trying to have fun by scaring people in a spooky decorated house wearing make-up
5th: i don’t know how you didn’t hear about a VIP pass. the people in front of me all purchased one and almost immediately someone was contacted and escorted them to the start of the haunt
6th: i got scared at demon house… MORE than once, and i’ve been to other haunts so far, like one that opened a week before demon house (i won’t mention names) but i wasn’t scared not even a little bit. i was just annoyed by all those chainsaws at my feet
FINALLY: i think i’d rather pay $15 to hang out, eat, watch a movie, enjoy an open fire, NOT wait in line for 2 HOURS, but only 40 minutes, and anticipate the toll of the bell when i know my groups next.
I’m sorry I plainly disagree, and some parts of your review I DO agree with. I can’t help but wonder if reviews like this one were done on purpose.
October 5th, 2007 at 7:11 am
As I’ve said before I totally respect your opinion on this. I am not an expert, however I pretty much live this industry: IE, I have run haunted houses (albeit amateur home haunts), I have given and attended seminars at haunters gatherings and conventions, I read all the trade magazines, I travel to haunted houses, and I know many people in the industry. Still, there are many opinions on how to run haunted houses - many of which are very successful, and mine is just one of them. I must preface my response to you with this. I write this blog geared toward the Halloween and Haunted House enthusiast both professional and amateur. Therefore I use terms that are common in the industry and may not be familiar to the average haunt goer. My mistake. I probably should set up a definitions page so that people can catch up. A professional haunted house is any that charges an admission fee or actively seeks a donation from each person entering. It may have paid or volunteer actors. According to the PA Department of Agriculture, who inspect haunted houses and amusement parks, this would put them in a whole other class than someone who does a yard haunt (display in front of their house), garage or amateur home haunt, or even a home haunter who puts out a donation box. Charity haunts also are considered pro-haunts by definition.
I will also say, as I did in the initial review, that Demon House has many good things going for it. If I lived locally I might attend again. I do not and will not because at the price, when compared to other haunted houses in similar markets, the value for me isn’t there.
Now, let me respond to your individual points:
#1 I’m sure that this is the best year so far from folks that have gone in the past. I have no reference because I have never been before. I can only base my review on what I saw Saturday September 29th at about 9:30 PM. Also, rated #1 by who? Are they industry professionals like Haunt World Magazine or Haunted Attraction Magazine?
2# I am a bit chagrined that you imply I am lying about this. When I arrived there were no flares, and at least twice my wife and I had to jump into the weeds to avoid being hit. This is the kiss of death to any business, and indeed all you need is one person to twist an ankle and sue you. Then it’s all over for not only your business, but possibly your family’s financial future if you haven’t incorporated legally to insulate your private finances from your business finances.
3# I never complained about the wait because I knew, in advance, there was a VIP ticket available. However, I seemed to stump those who were organizing the cue and taking my money when I asked about skipping the line with the VIP ticket. It wasn’t that I didn’t know about the VIP. It was that people who were vying for my haunt dollar did not initially know what it meant or how to do it. Then, when I was escorted to the area where you sit and watch the presentation there seemed to be no line waiting. So I had to question why there would have been a 35 minute wait when no one was there and I was ushered right in. I must have missed something.
4# I defined “professional” previously. I understand the actors are indeed normal folks. Many of them did a fine job. I have had both great and mediocre people in my own haunts. I never criticized the actors at all. Just the dangerous road walk, the lack of staying with the very excellent Demon theme, and the price compared to other haunted houses in similar markets.
#5 Once again - I heard about the VIP through the website. I just seemed to befuddle those who asked about paying for it in order to skip the line. In my opinion. If I had a line and no one in the VIP ticket line, I would be asking people if they wanted to upgrade and skip the wait.
6# I didn’t get scared or startled, but I did laugh quite often at the rather good acting. Much of it was fun. Whether a person gets scared or not in a haunted house is pretty much an individual thing. I did however get startled several times in the “one that opened a week before Demon House”. By that I mean Hundred Acres Manor.
And finally - of course I did this review “on purpose”. It didn’t just accidentally fall out of my head and onto the screen. I did not get paid by anyone to say good or bad things about Demon House, though I occasionally do get paid. Those posts are always clearly marked as an advertisement. A review is an opinion - nothing more, nothing less. It should always, whether I wrote it or your favorite movie critic did, be taken with a grain of salt. Now since this is my blog and I pay for the bandwidth I will continue to give my opinions on it. Any one else can choose to read it, or not. I will always try to give my honest opinion when writing a review unless I absolutely hate something - then I will say nothing. The fact that I did a review of Demon House means I liked something - in fact many things. I just don’t want to hang out and watch movies and enjoy a fire when I have these things at home. I want haunt action.
Thanks for your opinion on this.
Beastly Wishes and Horrid Hauntings
Patrick
May 26th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
THIS WEBSITE FUCKING SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 28th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
I’ve approved your comment as a way of letting every one of my reader know what intelligent representatives of Demon House you must be.
July 7th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
I think the demon house was pretty cool. The fact that you dont have to stand in a goddamned like for over an hour (like stupid rich’s fright farm) is well worth $15. it didnt last long enough though - it should be at least 30 mins long. but i will definately go back again. the actors outside in the maze part were freakin scary!
July 8th, 2008 at 5:20 am
I agree with that. Many of the actors were good, and I hate lines too so it was nice to be able to purchase the VIP upgrade in order to enter immediately.
September 23rd, 2008 at 12:11 pm
I have to disagree with you.
Demon House is actually a really incredible haunted house.
I think the price is completely fair since you’re in an actual haunted house and there is no line to get in. You can watch movies, play games, eat, and sit around a camp fire.
The reason there are aliens is because the owner is obsessed and thought it would be cool; trust me, I know him personally.
The back story is the actual history of the house so that makes it just that much cooler. Paranormal investigaters are always coming from all over the country just to walk through the house. You’d be amazed at what they discover.
I respect your opinion, but I simply disagree.
I actually loved it so much that I decided to volunteer there this year as an actress.
Demon House is amazing and I think that everyone should get a chance to visit it.
October 11th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
I went to demon house yesterday expecting its goin to be good because it was ranked number 1 in 2006. It was not worth 15$ there were about 10 cars in the parking lot and it was like a 10-15 min walk thru. It wasnt scary at all. The movies they were playin were from like the 50’s. Overall is wasnt very good, it should have been like 7 bucks tho. I suggest hundred acr manor in South Park its about a 50 min walk thru. Even tho there is about a 30 min line its worth it. Its very scary and full of surprises.
October 11th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Thank you Mike for a voice of reason.
Patrick