Culbertson Mansion – 2016 Review

(all ratings scored out of 5)

Culbertson Mansion

Curb Appeal – 3.3/5
Scare Factor – 3.8/5
Actor Enthusiasm – 5/5
Creativity – 5/5

Overall – 4.2/5

Teresa – This place is always one of my favorites because it is such a labor of love for everyone involved. All the people working on the haunt and acting in it are volunteers. They pick a new theme every year and there are always unique surprises. This year the theme was Nightmares and Phobias. It featured everything from closet monsters, to bugs, to being buried alive (and all kinds of others that I won’t spoil). They really make you participate and face your fears. I loved the actors and costumes. There were lots of jump scares, and be warned that some of the actors may touch you, which makes it even scarier. I only wish it could be longer, but they are limited in space, being in the old carriage house behind the mansion. The setting is super-creepy though. And once they raise enough money, they will be able to remodel the 3rd floor of the carriage house to have more room. I highly recommend this one if you are within driving distance. Be sure to check out the mansion during the day too. And go to the haunt every year, because it is always unique!

Gus – Culbertson Mansion is the hidden gem of the Louisville Haunt scene. When we arrived, we almost missed the entrance as there was no sign announcing the attraction. Had we not known about it you could walk right past without even knowing there was a haunt nearby. Once you find it, you are in for a treat. While it was a a short trip, it was full of unique effects you won’t see anywhere else. Culbertson Mansion is a volunteer staffed haunt, which means that all of the actors are there because of a real passion for the art of haunting, not for a paycheck. All of the proceeds directly benefit the Culbertson Mansion. (http://www.indianamuseum.org/culbertson-mansion-state-historic-site)

So not only are you entertained, but you are benefiting a worth cause. I highly recommend including this in your haunted house tours if you are in the area.

Donna –  This is an often overlooked haunt  in new Albany Indiana that everyone who loves haunted houses should visit during the Halloween season!  It is totally volunteer and the money goes towards restoring the historical Culbertson  mansion which is an iconic building in the new Albany area. The actors, even though they are volunteer, do a great job  of terrifying you as you walk through the rooms. It takes place in the old carriage house which has creepy vives going in.  It’s a fairly small area but don’t  let that fool you because they pack  so much into a small area that it feels like a much larger haunt. The sets are amazing very creative the acting and actors are exceptional.  It is one of our very favorite haunts  because it is so well done with a passion by someone who sincerely loves what they do.

Todd – The Culbertson Mansion haunt is a diamond in the rough. When you think of a volunteer-run haunt that instead of taking place in the mansion itself, takes place in the carriage house behind, you may think you’re in for a small-scale, no frills haunt. Wrong.

The group running this haunt is VERY creative, coming up with ideas and execution that aren’t found at the biggest, high-budget haunts around. With rooms with secret exits, monsters trying to pull people through walls and a lot of hand-crafted details, the Culbertson haunt has a lot of personality.

On top of that, they are diligent in making sure your experience is not the same year after year. The theme of the haunt is changed annually, to the point where only a few rooms are recognizable. The veteran volunteers have worked there for decades so they know what works and what to build upon.

Honestly, the only thing unfortunate about this haunt is the length. They pack a lot of punch into the small space the carriage house offers; I just wish it could be 4x longer!