Going to a haunted house is supposed to be an experience. You’re there to scream, laugh, get scared, and hopefully walk away with a few stories to tell. But there’s something guests sometimes forget: There are real people behind the masks. Our actors and crew work hard to create an immersive experience for you. They spend hours in makeup, costumes, rehearsals, and sets so that you can step into their world for a few hours.
So how can you be a great haunted house guest?
It’s actually pretty simple: treat the people and the attraction with the same respect you would expect in return.
Here are 10 simple rules for making sure everyone has a great night.
1. Respect the Actors
The person standing in front of you may look like a monster, but they’re still a person doing a job.
Our actors are there to scare you. They may get in your face, yell, sneak up behind you, or say things designed to make you uncomfortable. That’s part of the show. But being scared doesn’t give anyone permission to mistreat an actor.
Don’t hit them. Don’t shove them. Don’t grab them. Don’t threaten them. And don’t cuss at or verbally abuse them.
You can scream. You can run. You can laugh. You can tell your friends that they scared the life out of you.
Just remember there’s a human being underneath the makeup.
2. Keep Your Hands to Yourself
This one should be easy:
Don’t touch the actors.
Our actors won’t touch you, and you shouldn’t touch them.
Even if an actor gets close to you or catches you off guard, resist the urge to push, grab, shove, or swing at them.
A startled reaction can quickly turn into an injury.
The best rule is simple: hands off.
3. Respect the Props and Scenes
Everything you see inside a haunted attraction is there for a reason.
The sets, props, furniture, decorations, special effects, and scenery are all part of the experience.
Please don’t climb on things, move props, knock things over, pull on decorations, or intentionally damage anything.
You may see something that looks like it could be touched, moved, or climbed on, but that doesn’t mean it should be.
Look, don’t destroy.
4. No Lights or Flash on the Trail
This one is simple and extremely important:
No lights. No flash. No exceptions.
Cell phone flashlights, camera flashes, and other personal lights are not permitted on the trail.
Our attraction is designed around darkness, lighting effects, carefully placed scares, and what you can’t see. Turning on a light can instantly ruin the experience for you, the people around you, and guests coming through behind you.It can also expose actors, props, entrances, exits, and scares that are intentionally hidden. Put the phone away and let the Woods do what they’re designed to do.
You paid to be scared. Let us scare you.
5. Don’t Ruin the Scare
We’ve all seen the person who decides they need to announce exactly where the next scare is coming from.
“HE’S BEHIND THE DOOR!”
“DON’T GO IN THERE!”
“THERE’S SOMEONE UNDER THE BED!”
We get it. Maybe you’re trying to protect your friends. But you’re also ruining the experience for everyone behind you. Let the actors do their jobs. Let your friends experience the scares for themselves. Don’t intentionally reveal hidden actors, entrances, exits, or surprises. You may have figured out the trick.
Let everyone else have their moment.
6. Follow Staff Instructions
Our staff members are there to help keep the attraction running smoothly and safely. If an employee tells you to wait, stop, move forward, stay with your group, or do something else, please listen. There’s a reason for the instruction, even if you don’t immediately understand what’s happening. Following directions helps keep the experience moving and helps us make sure everyone has a great night.
Listen to the people who know the Woods.
7. Stay With Your Group and Keep Moving
Once you enter the attraction, keep moving with the group in front of you. Don’t intentionally stop in the middle of a scene to take pictures, talk, or wait for your friends. Don’t push the group ahead of you, either. If you get separated from your group, follow staff instructions rather than trying to run back through the attraction. Keeping groups moving helps prevent backups and gives every guest the chance to experience the scares as they were designed.
And remember: the group behind you wants to be scared, too.
8. Know Your Limits With Alcohol and Intoxication
If you’re planning on becoming heavily intoxicated before visiting a haunted attraction, it may be better to sit this one out. A haunted house is not the place to lose control. You’re walking through dark environments, navigating uneven surfaces, interacting with actors, and sharing the attraction with other guests. Being intoxicated can make it much harder to follow instructions, control your reactions, or safely navigate the attraction. If you’re impaired to the point that you can’t handle yourself appropriately in public, please don’t come through the attraction.
Come back another night and enjoy it safely.
9. Remember That Actors Are Doing Their Jobs
An actor may say something to you that you wouldn’t expect to hear from someone in everyday life. That’s because they aren’t being themselves. They’re playing a character. Their job is to make you uncomfortable, startle you, scare you, and entertain you. That’s what you paid for! Try to remember the difference between a character interacting with you and a real person attacking you. Play along. Give them something to work with. The more you participate, the better your experience can become.
10. Be Kind
At the end of the night, this is really what it comes down to.
Be kind.
Be kind to the actors.
Be kind to the staff.
Be kind to the other guests.
Be patient in line. Follow instructions. Respect the attraction. Treat people the way you’d want to be treated.
You don’t have to be quiet. You don’t have to be serious. You don’t even have to be brave.
You’re supposed to scream.
You’re supposed to laugh.
You’re supposed to get scared.
You’re supposed to have fun.
But you should also be able to leave knowing you helped make the experience better, not worse, for the people around you.
Come for the Fear. Stay for the Fun.
A great haunted attraction is a team effort. Our actors bring the characters to life, our crew builds the world, and our guests bring the energy that makes the experience unforgettable. When everyone does their part, something incredible happens. You get to step out of the real world for a little while and into ours. So scream as loud as you want. Laugh at your friends. Get scared. Have fun.
Just remember: behind every monster is a person, behind every scare is a team, and behind every scene is someone who worked hard to create it.
Because the best haunted house experience is one where everyone leaves with a great story to tell.
