The Scream Chamber--Halloween at the Samuel Cleage House

The Scream Chamber--Halloween at the Samuel Cleage House

Sat. Oct 12, 2024

Dana Koogler and Michael Lindsey 

Below is a link to the website if you are interested in going yourself! 

Scream Chamber Haunted Attraction

Several years back I visited the Samuel Cleage House, Cleage Cemetery, and Mouse Creek Farm. 

If you click the link it takes you right to that trip report. 

I wrote about it from a historic perspective.  It has been one of the BEST READ blogs I've ever written.

It was very popular then and continues to be appealing.  I said in that article I wanted to visit the place during Halloween to attend the Scream Chamber Haunted Attraction. Well, I finally got my wish! 

   It was awesome.    I realized after this visit that 1. This is one of the best haunted attractions anywhere. 2.  I need to visit again during daylight hours and go on one of the historic tours. 

Some of the reasons the Cleage house is so perfect for a haunted attraction?  Some folks say it truly is haunted.   It is associated with two murders that for sure happened and one that was rumored. 

  Samuel Cleage was in a disagreement with a Mr. Griffith and was stabbed and lingered and eventually died. His murderer fled the area and no justice was ever meted out for that heinous crime.

  During the Civil War food shortages were everywhere.  A slave woman at the Cleage mansion had fixed a pan of cornbread which was all the food they had left to eat.  A Union soldier broke in and tried to raid the house for food and riches.   Seeing that all they had was a pan of cornbread he spit in it.

The slave woman was so incensed she split his head wide open with a meat cleaver.   Sounds like to me he got what he had coming to him.

The rumor was passed around that a Nanny in the Cleage house murdered one of the infants in her charge, but I think that was unsubstantiated.   They said she went mad and killed the infant. 

If ever a place was to be haunted this would be ripe for it.  Lots of innocent blood shed and no justice. 

       

I will have to go back and visit for the historical tour. Will also try to revisit the cemetery and Mouse Creek Farm.    The haunted house tour doesn't allow ANY photos or videos inside for good reasons.

• It would slow down the line of visitors coming through because of all the dawdling to take photos or shoot video.
• It could  potentially ruin it for the folks who come along afterwards. 
• It is impractical because of the lighting and the tight quarters. 

They don't want you carrying anything larger than a fanny pack.  No loose items. Keep your phone in your pocket or put away at all times or they will escort you out. 

 I took what photos and video I could outdoors before we entered.   I complied 100% with the rules as did my grandson.  I found out you have to pay $10 extra per person if you want the actors to touch you.

We didn't want that so I certainly wasn't going to PAY to be grabbed.   The rules said not to touch the actors or you'd be escorted out.   I didn't touch a one of them. I didn't pay extra, but I sure got touched A LOT!  I think it irritated them that I was laughing, saying "Oh kewl!" and stuff like that. I was calm. Not screaming.    I was leading my group and totally together.   Ah well,  you can't scare them all.

You get some who are old nurses who have heads filled with images of blood, guts and gore already.

We're used to violent, unpredictable, crazy patients.   It is hard to scare my type when I've spent so many decades remaining calm in the face of whatever.  LMBO!    

   It is very well done. They put a lot of effort into it. The special effects were amazing.  I loved it.

My favorite part was the special effects that made it look for the world like you were wading right through neon green swamp water up to your waist!  You couldn't see your own feet.  It was thrilling,

My least favorite part was the tight squeeze part where you are compressed between some kind of inflatable device and have to blindly work your way through it.  You can't see a thing. It is pitch black.

     I highly recommend it.   I wish I'd done it sooner.   I will definitely go back again.

It is fun having new experiences and this was 180 degrees removed from my usual activities. I hate zombie movies, slasher films, and all those scary movies.  That's what makes it miraculous that I wanted to go and actually enjoyed it!  

Above: ghoulish nurse covered in blood and gore

Below: the undertaker making his rounds

Below: the occupant of the casket has gotten out and is trying to escape! 

Below: They have escape room games and axe throwing and a concession stand.

Below:  The hearse and the casket. They give hearse rides if you pay extra for one. 

Sister Bad Habit the skeletal nun. We encountered her several times throughout.  Scary is right!

Above:  the Cleage house and the stage. They have areas set up to take photos.  They had great music.  They had a 3D light show that I was amazed by!  They also had many bonfires lit in 55 gallon barrels around the place.  It is a neat effect and would have been helpful if the evening got chilly.  I wore shorts and a t- shirt and never got cold. 

Below are a couple videos: 

 The first one is the main area and Elvira singing "Two Big Pumpkins" 

and down here is the light show and the music from The Nightmare Before Christmas "Oogie Boogie's Song".