More mystery theater than jump-scares and gore, Gravestone Manor offers a fun take on the haunted house concept and provides entertainment suitable for the whole family.
Located at 1095 State Route 315 in the Trion Warehouse, Gravestone Manor presents its 18th season of Halloween theatrics. The 2016 plot follows an unhinged detective, who is investigating a car crash and a missing persons case, right to the doorstep of the whispered-about Van Chappel family who the detective believes is at the root of the problem.
Customers line up and are greeted by a horror character, which, on opening night, was an extremely stoic and perfectly silent Michael Myers. He elicited some early screams from the youngest children in the crowd.
At the box office, patrons pay a $10 admission. Profits support the United Way of Wyoming Valley.
Friendly, if spooky, volunteers lead thrill seekers into a waiting area/movie theater where they watch simple but spine-tingling horror shorts while they await their fate.
Once the show starts, at 7 p.m., Gravestone does a great job of efficiently moving groups through the attraction. No one waited too long to take their turn in the manor, and the horror shorts made the waiting time fun.
Once inside, groups of seven or eight follow the kooky gumshoe through scene after scene connected by tight, dimly lit hallways where freaks and creatures could be lurking.
After investigating the scene of the crash, groups enter the Van Chappel residence, where they encounter a satanic dining room, a grimy bathroom and a chilling courtyard.
Set design is elaborate and creepy down the the finest detail. The atmosphere is entertaining to the eyes and raises the heart rate a bit.
The believable aesthetics, however, are far from the only thing that makes this attraction frighteningly entertaining.
There are plenty of scares and harrowing characters to meet.
All manner of creeps and demented entities inhabit the manor. Patrons happen upon various members of the Van Chappel family, biological and supernatural.
Although scares are frequent and ghouls could be hiding anywhere, Gravestone Manor has a no contact policy, so boos stop only the hearts of customers not their strides.
Overall this is a fun attraction that delivers an intriguing story to follow along with an expertly designed maze of fun yet scary scenes.
Gravestone Manor recommends all customers be over the age of 8, but the attraction provides Halloween season fun for virtually all ages.
While Gravestone might not scare the daylights out of every adult to enter its walls, depending on the individual’s tolerance for fright, it will certainly spook the adventurous and entertain the whole clan.
Rating: 4 Coffins out of 5
