Address: 6325 Interchange Road, Lehighton, PA 18235
It wouldn't be haunted season without checking out some of the highly recommended haunts available to the public. This time around we are going to review the highly praised Waldorf Estate of Fear. While there are many tickets options this review will be centered around the Hell House Weekend Bundle. What that includes is the The Haunting At The Waldorf Hotel, Terror In The Corn, Haunted Hell House: A Paranormal Experience, and Escape Hell House. It also includes VIP passes. If you are a fan of the Hell House LLC movie franchise there will be a lot of familiar things here. If you have not seen them I am sure there is plenty of haunted fun to go around, but it is highly recommend that you take the time to check them out. Top notch found footage horror in its purist form.
Before we get into the review here is a link for you to check this attraction out for yourself. https://www.waldorfestateoffear.com/index.html
The Attractions and Reviews
The Haunting At The Waldorf Hotel
The harvest begins October 1st…the soul harvest. Oliver is weak and has one month to collect the souls that he needs to survive the year in Abaddon. Lucky for him, he has the damned, who still wander the halls to do his bidding for him. You see many check in but only the fortunate check out. Will you survive your stay? Find out this October your room is ready! The Waldorf hotel is full of high-tech lighting and tricks but most of all enthusiastic, highly energetic, live actors that will have you screaming for your mommy. So check in…we DARE you!
Review
Before anything else I have to say that the actors that work at this event are top notch. They really get into their parts and drag you in with them. While they were all excellent I have to say the greeter who takes you into the hotel is as professional as it can get. Wallace (the greeter) meets you in the line, forms the groups to enter, and brings you in. He plays the part as good as it could be done. He mixes two things that sound like they should not work. While being very friendly he also gives you that creepy tingle up your spine. Once you enter the house you weave your way throughout the rooms. The hallways, bar, second floor, room 2C, door 13, attic, and all other spaces have some surprises for you. Between the actors, the setting, the fog, and the light effects you feel a panic attack building with every step. You have to stay alert. I am not one who scares easily, but they got me on a few occasions. They move around like ghost ninjas. Once you are done being scared throughout the house they lead you out the back to safety. I did not want to give you the blow by blow and spoil the fun for those who are going, but it is well worth your time to venture into the Waldorf Estate of Fear.
Terror In The Corn
Come face to face with your favorite horror movie villains in this outdoor walking trail. Our realistic sets will have you thinking you just stepped inside your favorite horror movies. Will you survive a trip to Summer Camp or wake up from your nightmare? Find out in our newest attraction which will surely have you screaming!! Our walking trail weaves you through our infamous corn field lasting approximately 20 minutes (depends on the speed of your group). Please wear appropriate footwear since you will be walking on uneven ground, up and down stairs and through the woods.
Review
All I can say is WOW! Terror in the corn has something for every horror fan. Not only do you weave in and out of different movie themed areas both inside and out, you also have to navigate the corn field. Follow the green lights. Horror fans can rejoice. If it's a horror icon they are there. The most notable characters or areas for me were Michael Myers, Jason Vorhees, Stranger Things, Beetlejuice, and IT. If the person playing Pennywise gets to read this ..... Excellent job!!!! With that being said every person involved really sold their parts. This attraction is worth the travel time alone. Since there is so much to do there I recommend grabbing the package deal to see it all.
Haunted Hell House: A Paranormal Experience
Join Palmerton's hometown paranormal investigation team, High Spirits of Palmerton Paranormal, for an exclusive small group paranormal tour inside the infamous Hell House. Slots are limited with only 30 tickets available for each time slot (3 groups of 10 or go on your own). There will be three lead investigators available with advanced equipment to enhance your paranormal experience. The two time slots available are anticipated to sell out quickly! Tickets are $50 and are only exclusively available through online ordering. HSPP is providing equipment to rent (limited quantities) for those who wish to actively participate in the investigation on a first come first serve basis.
Review
First, I have to say it was very cool to go through the house in a small group. We showed up around 11:30 pm and were greeted quickly. We were brought into the house prior to the start time. We were fortunate to be in a group of 2. The rest of the people in our group were the professional investigation team. They offered us ghost hunting equipment to rent to capture any activity, which we rented. We also got anything we captured on an SD card at the end. This was a great deal for $25. We were instructed on the equipment, how to use it, and what we should expect each to do. The investigation started promptly at midnight. I have to say that we used the entire two hours. We went through the entire house and stopped at the paranormal activity hotspots as well as iconic locations from the movies. They had several tests to spark activity in the house. The bar area was very active while we were there. Room 2C also gave us something to see. The attic had a spirit in it who was rough around the edges to say the least. The rest of the house was very fun, but not as active as the above mentioned.
Our last stop that we spent the most time in was the basement. Had to save the best for last. There was a ton of activity in that area. It also gave you the opportunity to hang around the legendary basement steps. While all the equipment was very fun to learn about and use my favorite part was the Phasma Box. Basically, it picks up noises and voices that the human ear can not hear. I don't want to give away to much, but I will say for the paranormal fans out there this is a must go to attraction. High Spirits of Palmerton Paranormal LLC did a great job and are very friendly. They make the learning process simple and stress free for anyone who has never done this type of thing. Scream Queen Angie Moyer was also there to see how it was at the end. Time really passed quickly when your in there on the hunt.
If you are interested in this event or any of the other places they investigate go follow High Spirits of Palmerston on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube.
Escape Hell House
This is your chance to enter the famed Abaddon Hotel from the Hell House LLC franchise. With only a flashlight, you and several other victims will have 30 minutes to explore the rooms where all of the horror takes place, even the BASEMENT. Will you survive inside the Abaddon or become a permanent resident like the other before you?
Review
This was without a doubt my favorite part. While everything here was great this was the opportunity to explore the house as if you were in the movie. We ended up in a group of seven people. We got ready and got our flashlights. We were escorted to the back door of Waldorf Estate, and just like the movie we were able to enter the door. From that moment on you are free roaming for the next half of an hour. The place is dark, but the flashlights give you just enough to see what is happening. As you make your way through the house there are four characters lurking in the shadows. You make your way form room to room only to find passages blocked off. You have to backtrack and see if you can find another way. Then different passage ways are blocked off while the previous are open. It really is a little stressful, but in a fun way.
The four characters I mentioned above show up out of no where. They just stand there and it is definitely creepier than having them jump out at you. As you move they move .... sometimes. They are very good at moving without you having any idea. Zero noise unless they choose to make some, but you never see it. Every time you think you dogged one another just shows up. Then the one you dogged is right there. Then you turn around and they are gone only to pop up again at what seems to be an location that would have been impossible to get to that fast. At one point I thought I was going to catch the girl. She was at the top of the stairs near an open door. I looked away then made my way up, but she was gone. I know I seen a piece of her gown head into the room with the open door. So naturally I looked in the room just to find it empty. It was a real head scratching moment. Have no fear she showed up again where I did not think she could be. Once it is all said and done you make your way back to the front door for an extra surprise. For those into the photo ops this is your chance. I know it is called "ESCAPE" Hell House, but make no mistakes you are not escaping anything here. Your just hoping to keep moving and try to avoid the scares which is impossible here.
Apocalypse
The apocalypse has hit and you find yourself fighting for your life in a zombie infested wasteland when a survivor offers you refuge. He locks you in for safe keeping while he goes to look for more survivors but are you truly safe? Your room holds up to 10 survivors who have 30 minutes to solve the riddles and clues that lead you to the key to get out before the undead get in. This is a medium level escape game recommended for 12 yrs or older. Reservations are suggested since availability is limited.
Unfortunately, we were not able to take part in this attraction. Judging by the others we went through I have zero doubt that this was also excellent.
Cast - (10 of 10)
While a lot of planning goes into this event it can not run smoothly unless the actors do their part. I do not know how so many great actors can be placed in one spot. They really are that good. They literally take on the roles as if they were going to be in that part forever. This part alone makes the rest of the stuff even more fun.
Costumes - (10 of 10)
They really hit the nail on the head here. If it is from the Hell House LLC movie nothing needs to be said. It is flawless in everyway. As a fan everything will be recognized immediately. Should you be someone who has not seen the films do yourself a favor and watch them. At least the first one. If it is any other character they go above and beyond to make sure it looks its very best. This isn't Spirit Halloween costumes they are running around in.
Customer Service - (10 of 10)
When you arrive there is a ticket booth upon entry. I had a mix up with ticket (my fault) when I arrived. The staff at the booth not only fixed it, but they had a smile about it. The brains behind the operation (Angie) happened to be there as well. Most attractions are self running which this was, but everyone involved was very accessible and friendly.
Atmosphere - (10 of 10)
Everyone at this event seemed to be in sync. Sometimes it just happens that way. People were running around having a good time. Good conversations going on in the lines. Horror fans uniting. There were park tables to sit at so you could enjoy some food and beverages. There was also a very cool (large) fire pit that had large tree trunks around it for seating. It was very comfortable. Everything just seemed to work as you would have imagined it to.
Special Effects - (9 of 10)
I try to look at everything I write through the eyes of everyone. That is an impossible task since we are all so different. I gave this a 9 of 10, but I have an explanation. The movie tied to this location was an Indie film. Lower end budget that requires skill form everyone involved to make it great. I appreciate this part, and what you would see in the film is what you see here. Personally, this is a ten in my book. I am aware that others will got through this and expect effects as if this was from a high budget Hollywood film. Those people may also say that this and everything in the genre is not worthy. So for those out there reading this I made it a 9 with consideration of your feelings. I don't agree, but I am trying to be fair.
Theme - (10 of 10)
Not much to say here. They touch on so many classic and modern horror films. Every character you may have been afraid of as a child is there to scare you. Then there is the obvious part. The Abaddon Hotel. I would be a liar if I said the Hell House connection wasn't important. It is what attracted me to take a 2 hour drive and spend the weekend.
Scare Factor - (8 of 10) - Creepiness - (10 of 10)
We all have different levels of how rattled we get during haunted attractions. As I stated before I personally do not scare easy. The others in my group would have rated this a 20 out of 10. There is a lot to take in doing these attractions. Great actors, great set-up, and everything was smooth. If you are a fan of the Hell House LLC movies that also adds another layer to it all. I always do my best to stay alert during these things and try and beat the scares. That was really not a thing this time around. Even with my best efforts they definitely got me on serval occasions. The hotel itself is creepy no doubt about it. Factor in everything I said above and the creepy factor hits the max meter by itself.
Value - (10 of 10)
When I purchased my tickets the Hell House weekend package ($100) was available. It included Hell House: A Paranormal Investigation (2 hours), The Haunting at the Waldorf Hotel (haunted house walk through), Terror in the Corn (corn maze that has so much more than a corn field), Escape Hell House (self explanatory), and VIP passes. If your going to take part in everything they have to offer this package is a no brained.
There was a good selection in this area. Both food and merchandise. I can not comment on everything that they had since I did not go to every stand. There was a main food truck that was great. We got doughnut holes with jelly and pudding. The doughnuts themselves were great. The jelly and pudding came in empty syringes and you had to inject it into each doughnut which was very cool. They also had drinks served in IV bags. It really just added to the fun of it all. We did sit and enjoy this stuff by the large firepit they had burning. I also got a hot chocolate and a coffee form Uncommon Grounds. Both were really good and fresh. That is a big thing for me. We hit the merch booth and got a few t-shirts which were awesome. High Spirits of Palmerton Paranormal also had set up a tent. They were there and a lot of fun to talk to. They answered so many questions from so many people. They also were the group who did the Paranormal Investigation. I had the chance to speak with Laurissa and Allen Rex several times over the weekend. They are very knowledgeable and very cool on top of it.
I would go to this event again in a heartbeat, and I plan to. It really was a lot of fun. The people, staff, atmosphere, and everything else were excellent. Huge shout out to every actor that was there throughout the weekend. They really go at this and play their parts. Each and every person there deserves a standing ovation for their performance. Also, a major shout out and thank you to Angie Moyer for making it all possible. In the hours that I was there she must have walked 100 miles all over the place making sure it was running tip top. You can tell that she truly loves what she does and it shows with the end results. Do yourself a favor and head out there for the weekend. You will not regret it.
Also, please like and share this article. When something is done extremely well it should be noted. I hope this really gets the word out to people who don't know about this attraction or may be on the fence about going.
You should also take the few minutes to read the legend on the website. It really makes the hotel and what you are about to go through make sense. There is also some backstories on some of the staff at the bottom of that page. To save you the time of searching the link to the story is: https://www.waldorfestateoffear.com/legend.html