The Haunt PA — 2025 Review

The Haunt PA – 2025 Review

Location: Schaefferstown, PA

Date: 10/19/2025

Website: www.thehauntpa.com

Overall Rating: 6.25/10

The Haunt PA, now celebrating its 5th season, is a community-driven, volunteer-run attraction that pours heart and creativity into every detail. For just $20 a ticket, guests get nearly 40-45 minutes of entertainment—a huge value, especially knowing this event exists simply to bring people together and deliver seasonal thrills. This haunt is old-school, relying heavily on its energetic cast and quirky, interactive moments to carry the night. While it may not pack in high-end special effects, it makes up for it with passion, ingenuity, and plenty of memorable scenes.

Entertainment Value: 6/10

At just $20, the ticket price here is hard to beat. Guests get nearly 40-45 minutes of entertainment, which is rare at that cost.

The midway offers seating and a small concessions stand with snacks and lite fare. Haunt PA also hosts an annual hearse show night, a fun tradition that adds to the atmosphere and makes the haunt feel even more community-rooted. On our Sunday night visit, however, the midway felt quieter than in past seasons. Adding in live bands, music, projections of movies, or more roaming characters could transform the space into a livelier pre- and post-haunt hub.

Costume & Makeup: 6.5/10

Costuming and makeup were simple but effective. Nothing flashy, but each character looked the part and the quality was consistent throughout. This haunt leans more on performance than visual flair, and that works for them.

Cast & Crew: 7/10

The volunteer cast is the backbone of Haunt PA. Their energy and commitment to engaging guests was obvious, and they worked hard to keep the experience interactive and fun. Some standout characters included:

• Cromwell’s Cuts Barber – Our MVP of the night, he turned a haircut into a hilariously weird and memorable encounter.

• The Drill Sergeant – Putting guests through exercises, solitary confinement, and pushups, he gave the group a workout to remember.

• The Teacher – Strict and sharp-tongued, her classroom demanded perfect manners.

• The Dentist – Delivered one of the night’s most gruesome moments with a chilling “dental exam.”

• The Performer – Pulled guests up on stage for singing and antics, keeping things unpredictable.

• The Pigman Grillmaster – Cooking and serving bacon to guests was bizarre, funny, and completely unique.

The actors are bursting with passion, though they could benefit from more structured improv training to avoid falling back on repetitive lines like “Get out!” or “Leave!”

Set Design & Special Effects: 6/10

Haunt PA is a true DIY haunt, with nearly everything inside being hand-crafted, thrifted, and pieced together by volunteers. The creativity behind their sets is impressive—especially when you consider they have to completely set up and tear down each season. What they pull off with limited resources shows just how much time and effort goes into the show.

Standout scenes this year included the city morgue, where whispering walls and watchful eyes created a chilling atmosphere; the toxic waste zone, which was vibrant, detailed, and had perfectly timed scares; the blackout mask maze, disorienting and lined with creepy white masks; and the funeral scene, where pint-sized ghouls and a whispering soul-stealer gave some of the most chilling moments of the night. The carnival area also stood out, with a comical clown and a real-life marionette performer that was both unique and memorable.

The pigman grilling bacon in the outdoor section was equal parts bizarre and brilliant—and it gave haunt-goers a tasty surprise! While the scenic work is grassroots, the creativity and effort shine through, making it one of the most impressive elements of this community haunt.

Fright & Thrill Factor: 6/10

The scares took a backseat this year to interactivity. While the quirky, funny skits kept us entertained, they weren’t always frightening. The more traditional rooms—the morgue, the funeral scene, blackout maze, and the toxic zone—delivered creepier vibes and stronger tension.

The clever actor placement in the funeral scene, particularly the whispering soul-stealer, gave one of the night’s best chills.

Sharpening the Scare:

Haunt PA has a great foundation, and with a few adjustments, it could elevate the experience even further:

• Actor Training & Dialogue – The cast has the passion, but providing more structured improv workshops would help polish dialogue, avoid repetition, and keep interactions fresh throughout the night.

• Balance Between Skits & Scares – The interactive skits are fun, but tightening their length and mixing in more traditional “gotcha” scares would create a stronger rhythm and keep guests on edge.

• Atmosphere & Audio – Several scenes were too quiet. Layering in ambient audio, creepy whispers, or background effects would instantly deepen immersion.

• Flow & Pacing – At 40-45 minutes, the haunt offers great value, but trimming down or reworking a few lengthy interactions would maintain suspense and prevent downtime.

• Midway Experience – The annual hearse show is a fantastic tradition—building on that with live bands, music, or additional roaming characters would keep guests entertained before and after the haunt.

• Set Expansion – The hand-crafted sets are already impressive, but continuing to thrift, repurpose, and add scenic layering will help certain rooms feel even more complete.

The suggestions above aren’t meant as criticism but as ways to match the cast’s passion with tighter pacing, scarier impact, and stronger immersion.

Fright Night MVP:

Cromwell’s Cuts Barber – Equal parts creepy, weird, and hilarious. From bleaching hair to clipping bangs, this barber made us laugh the hardest and left the strongest impression of the night. Not-to-mention, his prom-style dress really tied the whole skit together! 

Recap the Screams: 

Haunt PA continues to be a passion project fueled by volunteers who clearly love what they do. At just $20, it’s an affordable night out with tons of entertainment packed into one ticket—and it’s all for the love of the season. While this year leaned more toward interactive theater than pure scares, the cast’s enthusiasm and quirky creativity make it a haunt that stands out for doing things differently.

Bottom line: If you’re looking for a budget-friendly, actor-driven haunt with heart, Haunt PA is worth the trip.