The Hudson Haunted House, located at Oak Grove Park in Hudson, has been around for over 50 years and is a fan favorite of locals. Being one of the oldest haunts in Ohio, people come from all over the state every year to visit and experience this terror for the Halloween season.
The Haunted House is run by the Hudson Jaycees, and the actors are all volunteers.
The haunt is $15 per person but $8 for anyone under 12. There is only a $1 charge to go through the haunt for a second time. Tickets are available for purchase online and at the start of the in-person line. The haunt is only open on Fridays and Saturdays from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
The Hudson Haunted House is a very inclusive experience. On certain days, from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m, they have Monster Magic. Monster Magic is great for younger kids and features “Monster Kryptonite” you can purchase to repel the monsters.
The haunt also offers Kids’ Trick-or-treating on select Sundays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The lights stay on, masks are off and kids can go through the house and Trick or Treat. The price is $4 per child or free if you bring an unopened toy to donate.
On the grounds of the haunt, there is also a food truck featuring items like lemonade, french fries, Philly cheesesteaks and other common foods you’d find at a fair.
Every year, the Hudson Haunted House changes aspects of the haunt to make sure it is new and exciting each year. However, this year seemed to disappoint.
While we visited on a slower day when the lines weren’t long, the rest was a letdown. There were only two monsters outside of the haunt itself walking around. There are usually at least six or seven that you can talk to and take pictures with.
As soon as you step into the house, the experience begins. This year, there was not much they changed, and everything was almost expected. The haunt itself lasted five minutes, which doesn’t seem worth $15.
Last year, I went multiple times with multiple different groups. Each of those times, there was a new monster or something you saw that you didn’t see before.
While the lines were longer then, it was worth it because of the abundance of monsters circling around the lines. The haunt itself also took a longer amount of time because there were more groups in front of us.
The second you walk into the house, there is a halt of your senses. It is pitch black, and you need to figure out the correct direction so you don’t bump into any walls.
As you continue on, your senses go into overflow in the different rooms—some feature flashing lights or optical allusions. My personal favorite room is when you enter onto a bridge and walk across. All around you is an optical illusion, and you feel like you are spinning in circles and going to fall off the bridge.
In the different rooms, characters may follow you, tap you or appear out of nowhere. While they are not allowed to grab you, they may touch you. If you are uncomfortable or do not know what is happening, then this may not be the haunted house for you.
To get your money’s worth, it is a good idea to go with a group of friends on a slightly busier day so you will have time to interact and take pictures with all the monsters around you.
If this sounds like an attraction you’d be interested in, make sure to visit it before their last day open on Oct. 29.
