Review: Panic in the Woods - The Haunted Mansion

RATING: 4 Keys RESULT: Win REMAINING: 3:00

Come on down to the woods for a dirt-stomping good time as we search for a priceless heirloom necklace … inside a mansion in a barn.

Story

You have been summoned to the Lockwood Mansion for the reading of Edmond Lockwood III’s last will & testament. Listed as one of the long-lost relatives to receive an inheritance, you attend this meeting. The late Ms. Norina Lockwood’s necklace, worth millions, has been willed to be divided amongst the people present. However, there are stipulations… You are to be locked in the mansion for no more than one hour. In that time, you must find the necklace that has been carefully hidden and escape the locked room. But be aware! Since Lockwood’s passing, the townsfolk say they hear strange noises coming from the mansion. Some say it is haunted. Do you have what it takes to uncover the secrets of The Haunted Mansion?

Nothing inspires hard work and dedication like the promise of inheriting the priceless necklace of a distant relative you never knew. Your new favorite family member has the last laugh, though. Before you can lay claim to your rightful inheritance that you will cherish dearly for as long as it takes to find a buyer, you must search the mansion top to bottom and escape within an hour.

In addition, there seems to be a supernatural force present in the house that wants to prevent you from achieving your mission – or perhaps it is the ghost of Lockwood himself lurking about in the afterlife making sure his wealth forever remains inside these dark, wooden walls.

Located at a venue best known locally for its annual haunted attraction, The Haunted Mansion is a good example of how – if done well – a haunted house venue can move easily and laterally into the escape room industry. Established with much expertise in theming experiences, Panic in the Woods takes you on a spooky adventure that follows the story of searching for an heirloom necklace with a few bumps in the night along the way.

Scenic

The haunt-like scenic setting of the venue is definitely present within The Haunted Mansion. Very much like a well-done, classically themed haunted house, the experience surrounds players in cobwebs, dust, old furniture, and an atmosphere authentic to the story.

There are scary, dark areas that require courage to reach for what is beyond the safety of the light. The multiple room layout emulates the feeling of perusing an old, dusty haunted manor. Even though the actual backdrop and location is a climate-controlled barn with carpet installed over the original dirt floor, the overall presentation relays the appearance of an old, decrepit house that is quite possibly nearing the end of its life or becoming eligible for a good flipping.

Throughout the game path, key elements help support the theme of the room: bookshelves, desks, lamps, and curtain dressings that seem to have aged a good bit before finding their resting places in this storyworld. Fancy chairs and a gallery of artwork boast the family’s wealth.

In another room, a wrought-iron gate teases a view out to the garden. Between the bars, a ghostly apparition is projected in the distance, creating a nice visual effect.

Puzzles

The Haunted Mansion’s puzzles are key- and code-based for the most part, with a few technical and physical challenges thrown into the mix. The tasks definitely contain an intentional creep factor, which we really loved due to being huge horror fans.

At one point, we had to muster up enough gumption to reach through a dark, mysterious hidey hole to retrieve item(s) important to our progress in our journey. An antique, locking desk made a perfect gameplay piece, holding its secrets until we had unraveled the correct solutions.

Our favorite challenge rewarded us with the appearance of an unexpected spectral apparition. By the end of the finale, we felt as if we had made it through both a satisfying haunt and a rewarding escape room – a perfect combination for us.

Overall

Panic in the Woods succeeded in making this experience well-detailed and authentic, paying attention to every aspect that appealed to us as both haunt fans and escapers. The game turned out even better than we anticipated, especially since it is located in a barn in the middle of Nowhere, TN. Let’s face it, a barn is not the typical location one would think to build a mansion.

In any case, this venue – having a long history of hosting an annual haunted attraction – pretty much got everything right. While we did enjoy this experience, we would like to see even more scenic elements layered in, as well as some advancements in the area of puzzles. It is a great, solid 4 Key room fit for any fun night out without fear of… well, being too scared.