Haunted Prison NRV — 2025 Review

Haunted Prison NRV – 2025 Review

Date: 9/26/2025

Location: Fairlawn, Virginia

Website: https://www.hauntedprisonnrv.com/haunted-prison-nrv

Overall Rating: 8.25/10

Haunted Prison NRV, located in Fairlawn, VA, is run by the same passionate team behind Nightmare on Main and proudly presented by New River Community Action. Sadly, 2025 marks its final season, as the property is being repurposed — a real loss, since this naturally eerie location is perfect for a haunt.

Our visit took place during a friends & family preview night, so not all outside elements (beer garden, roaming spooks, hearse photo ops, merchandise, etc.) were yet in place. Even so, the show impressed with a strong, immersive walkthrough filled with clever scares, effective sets, and one of the best elevator illusions we’ve seen. If you plan to visit, pair it with Nightmare on Main, just 15–20 minutes away. Combo tickets are available for both.

Entertainment Value: 6/10

While preview night didn’t showcase much outside the haunt, Haunted Prison NRV typically features a beer garden, roaming actors, merchandise, and a hearse for photo ops — all of which add to the experience. Once these offerings are running, they’ll help round out the night.

Costume & Makeup: 8.5/10

Makeup and costuming weren’t elaborate but were highly effective in the prison setting. Characters looked gritty, intimidating, and believable under the dim, atmospheric lighting, which added to the realism of each scene.

Cast & Crew: 9/10

The cast delivered a strong performance across the board. From the morgue scare that rose unexpectedly, to “Grandma” misdirecting us in her strobe-lit scene, actors brought both energy and creativity. Their improvisation kept us engaged and on edge, and even the smaller roles felt purposeful. The prison inmates seemed to come from every angle imaginable — above, below, and all around — leaving us with the unnerving sense that no direction was truly safe.

Set Design & Special Effects: 9/10

Set work was excellent, with the opening prison hallway immediately setting the tone. Highlights included the prison bathroom, electric chair, morgue, laundry, security room, and lab. The elevator scene stole the show — with multiple screens simulating movement on all sides, it was one of the most immersive illusions we’ve seen. Transitioning straight into the vortex tunnel afterward was brilliantly disorienting. The chain link strobe maze also stood out as one of the best-timed uses of lighting we’ve encountered.

Fright/Thrill Factor: 8.5/10

The prison’s isolated setting already carries a built-in creep factor, and the attraction built on it well. Scares hit from all angles — eye-level, above, and below. Hanging heads behind doors, the laser swamp, morgue, and chain link maze were particularly effective. Even the final quiet hallway, dimly lit and unsettling, left a lasting impression.

Fright Night MVP: 

The Bathroom Inmate stole the show with his unsettling mix of creepiness and bizarre humor. When he leaned in and told one of us we “smelled like his mom,” it was both disturbing and strangely funny — the kind of oddball, off-the-wall moment that sticks with you long after the haunt ends. His commitment to character made the bathroom scene one of the most memorable of the night.

Sharpening the Scare:

• Layer in more detail: Extra clutter, props, and finishing touches could fill out some rooms and heighten immersion.

• Lean into the prison theme: Re-creating additional jail cells or staging a “prison break” sequence with a spotlight and alarms could tie the theme together even more.

• Expand the cast: More actors would help close gaps and increase intensity throughout the walkthrough.

• Elevate engagement: Encouraging dialogue and skit-driven scares would add variety; some performers repeated the similar lines.

• Maximize the elevator scene: Adding a more dramatic finale — an explosion sound, stronger shake, or sudden scare — could make it unforgettable.

• Use all the senses: Introducing scents in scenes and expanding uneven flooring would further disorient and immerse guests.

• Strobe maze chaos: More hanging obstacles in the chain link strobe maze would add to the already disorienting effect.

• Build up the exterior: Food trucks, music, projections, or roaming inmates would bring the outside to life. Clearer parking signage, additional photo opps, and merchandise offerings would also improve the overall experience.

Recap the Screams:

Haunted Prison NRV blends strong sets, talented actors, and clever effects into an impressively cohesive haunt. From the unforgettable elevator illusion to the strobe maze and morgue scares, the experience is full of creative frights. While preview night didn’t showcase the usual midway offerings, the walkthrough itself was executed at a high level.

It’s bittersweet knowing this will be the haunt’s final year, but that makes 2025 the perfect time to visit. Don’t miss your chance to experience Haunted Prison NRV before it closes — and while you’re there, grab a combo ticket to also see Nightmare on Main for a double dose of scares in the New River Valley.