Review: I visited two Haunted Houses so you don’t have to
By: Ellie Freeman
I detest horror as a medium for entertainment. In concept, I can understand the thrill of getting scared, but in practice, I just can’t take it. I cannot watch horror movies without every light in the building on and at least seven people in the room at the time. Knowing this, I intentionally chose possibly the worst option for my personal well-being: a haunted house review! I’ve ventured to two of the ghastliest, spookiest, and scariest places (within Oklahoma for $30) ever!
A scene from inside the Hex House
The Hex House
This attraction is inspired by an actual event that took place in 1944 at a house that was dubbed “The Hex House” by reporters who covered the case. There were two women being imprisoned within the house, and being led to believe that they were to receive a “great reward” in heaven as a reward for their suffering. They were tortured under the guise of “religious purification” and had their paychecks taken by their captor. The attraction itself uses a variety of actors, sets, props, and animatronics to scare visitors at every turn.
Gimmick 6/10
The subject matter that the Hex House was inspired by was a horrific event, however the attraction stretches the “inspired” to its absolute limit. It has practically nothing to do with the story except for the name. Overall the various rooms felt disjointed because they transitioned into each other rather poorly, however each room on its own was designed very well.
Spooks 8/10
The spooky element was done well as a result of the set design and actors. I was extremely tense and ended up walking ahead of my group in an attempt to distance myself from the horror. The actors were allowed and extremely willing to touch visitors and make them squirm. Overall, done very well; I was scared a good 90% of the time.
Fun 9/10
Again the actors and set design shine through to make the experience both enjoyable and exhilarating. Despite being scared, I was smiling most of the time because I was appreciating how well all the different elements worked together. My enjoyment was also enhanced by the woman in front of me screaming at the top of her lungs at every corner and scare.
Price 7/10
The tickets available are $27, $47 for the speed pass, and $95 for the instant pass. I got the speed pass, and given the length and quality of the experience I’d say the $46 dollar price tag is well worth it, and the $26 one is as well if you have the time to wait in line. The $95 is not worth its price as it's double the speed pass, and I only had to wait for 7 minutes 46 seconds to get to the door (I timed it).
Availability 9/10
The attraction is located at 5610 W Skelly Drive in Tulsa making it accessible to Jenks residents. It is a decent drive and gas is expensive so keep that in mind.
A picture inside of “The Asylum”
The Asylum
The Asylum is a haunted house in Nowata, Oklahoma that’s based on a 1940’s era sanitarium. You and your group are being admitted as patients while the ones within the sanitarium break free and take over. While The Asylum doesn’t have an extensive backstory, it’s extremely focused on its inspiration and executes the idea nearly perfectly.
Gimmick 10/10
The psych ward angle is an interesting concept that’s elevated how well everyone involved engages with it. The set design, to the props, the costumes, and the actors, are so well done and they’re all committed to it 1,000%.
Spooks 10/10
The spooks and scares were very surprising to me in how direct and abrasive they were. Actors made you “wash your hands” in the goop present within a surgery patient on the table, they pulled an entire person out of our group and isolated him within a separate room, and we were splashed by a disgusting amount of fake blood. I absolutely despise grime, so the need to feel the props, goop, organs, and touching made my skin crawl. Couple that with the constant banging, screaming, and tight spaces, and you’ve got plenty of spooks.
Fun 10/10
I had a great experience throughout the time I spent at the attraction. While my group didn’t seem to be scared much, they all had a great time regardless. I was terrified and also had a great time, so it’s a win-win. The most impressive things were attention to detail and consistent entertainment. Everything was so well done and thought out, and I cannot emphasize how immaculate an accomplishment it is to make waiting in line an immersive experience.
Price 10/10
The cheapest tickets are $30 and they are the best option hands down. While waiting in line took a long time, it was made genuinely enjoyable by the actors terrorizing random people in the crowd at all times. Despite the wait you should absolutely go with these tickets because they’re both the best ones and the most affordable.
Availability 1/10
The only category that falls short in any capacity is the location. The Asylum is located at 304 W Cherokee Ave, which is all the way in Nowata. For a Jenks resident this is an approximate 2 hour drive away. That drive with gas prices is not ideal to say the least.
Overall both of these attractions are definitely worth the money if you have a friend or group to bring with you. While the $30 average price tag is intimidating, given the amount of enjoyment I got from both, it’s well worth the time and investment. As someone who hates horror movies, books, and games because of my weak mind and overactive nerves, this is absolutely something worth trying out.