The Final Bell Haunted Schoolhouse — 2025 Review

🎃 The Final Bell Haunted Schoolhouse

Location: Hampstead, Maryland

Date: October 17, 2025

Website: www.finalbellhaunt.com

Overall Rating: 7.5/10

For a brand-new haunt built in just seven weeks, The Final Bell came out swinging! Between clever school-themed scenes like the basketball court and prom room, and unique characters like the unforgettable “book monster,” this place shows huge potential. The haunt isn’t perfect—it strays from its theme at times and has some unfinished spaces—but it’s a first-year attraction that already has us excited to see how it evolves. Expect solid scares, creative design, and a Principal who makes sure “class is always in session.”

Entertainment & Food: 5/10

Two roaming actors inside were a highlight (especially The Principal), but more outside presence would help set the mood. Concessions weren’t available yet, which left a gap in the midway experience. Even something simple like popcorn, cookies, or soda—tied to a pep rally or cafeteria theme—would add flavor. A few photo-ops outside could also encourage guests to linger, as the outdoor space was solely limited to the ticket booth & a promo clip of Final Bell projected onto the building. 

For a ~13 minute experience, the $30 ticket feels steep (over $2 per minute). A standalone price closer to $20-$25 would feel of better value with the current experience offered, though the $62 combo ticket granting access to both The Final Bell Haunt AND Hera’s Nightmare (VIP included) is a great deal—onsite only ticket deal!

Costume & Makeup: 8.5/10

Some seriously clever creativity here! The book monster with a page-face was a total standout—perfectly tied into the schoolhouse theme. Makeup was clean, consistent, and sold the look of both teachers and students gone wrong. 

Cast & Crew: 7.5/10

The cast showed solid energy for a first-year team. The basketball players, the teacher climbing desks, and especially The Principal brought life and variety. We learned that many actors were brand new, but you couldn’t always tell.

Still, there’s room to grow. Groups often missed interactions at the back half because actors retreated too quickly. A few props also triggered too early, resetting before the full group could experience them. Dialogue (especially schoolhouse focused) and witty one-liners will elevate this cast as they gain more confidence.

Set Design & Special Effects: 7.75/10

The creativity shines in scenes like the basketball court, prom room, and locker room—fresh takes that we rarely see in haunts. The blackout maze had great pacing, intense flashes, and some strong startles.

But other spaces felt unfinished, with empty shelves, bare tables, or stretches without keen attention to detail. The schoolhouse theme occasionally veered off track into crypts, spiders, and mutant orbs. Unless tied directly into the story (buried catacombs beneath the school?), these sections felt a bit disconnected. Lighting and audio were strong throughout, but adding themed music outside & in the queue lines would help establish the atmosphere before entering—imagine hearing “school announcements” overhead while waiting in the queue line. 

Scare/Thrill Factor: 7.5/10

The haunt delivered steady energy without long dead zones, and group spacing was excellent—we never caught up to another party. The blackout maze provided good disorientation, and bright flashes combined with actors landed strong startles.

That said, scares were often predictable. More misdirection, more surprises from unexpected angles, and more actors delivering dialogue to both the front and back of groups would heighten the thrill factor.

Fright Night MVP:

The Principal, Mr. Williams — roaming the school lobby with booming authority, sending guests to detention, and yelling at kids as though it was the first day of class all over again. "PUT YOUR PHONE AWAY!" His presence set the tone perfectly.

Sharpening the Scare: 

• Continuity Matters: The strongest moments were when we were clearly in the schoolhouse setting (classroom, locker room, basketball court, prom). The shift into catacombs, spiders, and mutant orbs felt disconnected. If you’d like to keep those elements, build a story bridge—perhaps the school was built on top of old tunnels, and something buried is being unleashed. Even a short narrative before the descent (“beware the catacombs beneath the school…”) would help guests stay immersed.

• Fill the Space: A few rooms felt unfinished or too bare. Empty shelves, blank tables, and long stretches without décor break immersion. Simple props like old books, dusty trophies, broken lockers, or graffiti can keep the “school vibe” alive even when no scare is happening. Every corner should look intentional, even if it’s just clutter or set dressing.

• Actor Growth: Many actors delivered solid pop-scares, but the next step is engagement. Encourage dialogue, witty one-liners, and improvisation (the school teacher mastered this!!). Characters like teachers could yell “Class dismissed!” or “Detention forever!” while slamming desks. A zombie lunch lady could warn “Don’t eat the cafeteria food.” These little moments stick with guests. Also, more actor training on interacting with the entire group, not just the front half—those in the back should feel equally targeted.

• Prop Timing: Several pneumatic and animatronic scares went off before the whole group made it into view, meaning the back half missed them entirely at times (groups of 4-5). Adjust sensor placement or delay the trigger a few seconds so that larger groups experience the effect. This ensures everyone gets the “wow” moment.

• Blackout Maze: This had great potential with the bright flash effect and disorientation. To push it further: reduce ambient light so it’s truly dark, add unexpected tactile elements (fabric strips, uneven flooring textures), and cover exposed equipment (like the subwoofer) with black fabric. Small changes will make this area feel more polished & intense!

• Atmosphere Outside: Before guests even enter, the vibe should scream “schoolhouse of horrors.” Themed music (school bell chimes, warped pledge of allegiance, creepy announcements over an intercom) could play outside and in the queue. Add a photo-op backdrop (chalkboard with bloody writing, “Class of 2025 – RIP”) to give people shareable memories. Concessions tied to the theme—like popcorn or sodas at a fake pep rally—would also make the experience feel more complete.

• Merch: You’ve got a goldmine of witty merch options with this theme: “I Survived Detention at The Final Bell,” “Don’t Eat the Cafeteria Food,” or shirts featuring the book monster. Not only does merch bring in revenue, but it builds your brand identity and spreads awareness for future seasons.

• Ticketing: On a fairly slow evening, the wait at the ticket booth felt long. One quick fix: hand guests their wristbands and let them apply them instead of staff doing it. This tiny change would speed things up without sacrificing organization. Adding a second staffer at peak times could also prevent bottlenecks.

Recap the Screams:

The Final Bell Haunted Schoolhouse may only be in its first year, but the creativity, energy, and potential are undeniable. Highlights like the book monster costume, basketball court scene, and detention-worthy Principal prove this team has great ideas and the passion to bring them to life. Yes, some areas felt unfinished and the theme wavered in places—but for something built in just seven weeks, it’s an impressive debut.

With polish, more consistency, and expanded offerings outside the walkthrough, The Final Bell could easily become a must-visit Maryland haunt in the coming seasons. Class isn’t dismissed just yet—it’s only getting started.

📍 And if you’re making the trip, don’t miss their sister haunt, Hera’s Nightmare, located just ~15 minutes away in the TownMall of Westminster. Pairing these two attractions together makes for a full night of screams—and the combo ticket is the best value!