Waldorf Estate of Fear
6325 Interchange Road
Lehighton, PA
The haunt that got my adrenaline pumping the most this Halloween season was The Waldorf Estate of Fear. Even though they told me not to run, I did anyway! More on that in a bit... Located in Lehighton, PA, Waldorf is celebrating their 10th terrifying year, with three attractions - a hayride (Terror in the Corn), a group walk-through haunt (The Haunting at the Waldorf Hotel), and new for this year, an interactive zombie experience (Infection) where you don a flag football belt and attempt to juke your way through an onslaught of the undead while keeping your vital organs (three flags representing your brain, heart and lungs) intact.
Is It Scary?
According to the Official Website: “Come find out for yourself!!!”
The Raven & Black Cat says: Our competitive nature took over during Infection and it's hard not to get a jolt when a zombie jumps out at you that you are actively trying to avoid - especially while you're running for your life! Between the rush of this experience and some genuinely dark sets in the group haunt, Waldorf delivers solid scares.
What We Loved
Infection was an absolute blast. Upon entering, we were told not to run and rather to just try to dodge the zombies who were coming for our flags. I don't know if it had been a slow night and the ghouls inside were extra hungry, but they seemed to be chasing us harder than I expected and as a result I ran. I totally ran. I tried to pull a spin move on one of the zombies coming for me, and I lost my balance and fell on my ass. As I lay there, my head still spinning from dizziness, I quickly imagined the classic horror movie scenes of a horde of zombies descending on a poor soul, ripping out his innards and having themselves a feast. Luckily for me, the Jaded Viewer selflessly pulled me off of the ground and saved me and my flags from that sad fate.
After Infection, with our adrenaline pumping, we were greeted at The Haunting at the Waldorf Hotel by James Cudie (spelled CU Die), a cross between a demon bellhop and a stand-up comedian. It was the start of a terrific trip through a haunted hotel that felt real because it's built out in a space that was previously a restaurant. The kitchen set was actually a kitchen. The bar set was actually a bar. Beyond the great use of space, the haunt was well paced and the monsters inside interacted with us well.
What Could Be Better
The hayride wasn't on par with the other two attractions at the haunt. Things started off on the wrong foot when we were instructed by a giant demon pumpkin not to smoke during the hayride - this could have been handled by attendees who are not supposed to be a part of the show as we were starting. There were some enjoyable cameos by familiar characters and nice sets, but there was too much reliance on actors screaming as loudly as they could as they mounted the wagon. I was mostly scared for their vocal cords.
Final Thoughts
The Haunting at the Waldorf Hotel is dark, creative, and one of the better group walk through haunts I experienced this season. But the star of the show is Infection and it's a blast for anyone who has ever watched a zombie flick and thought 'I could dodge those zombies easily.' Guess what, you can't! I may have only lost one flag (I assume it was my brain - I didn't use it much anyway), but I definitely lost some dignity lying there on the ground. It's hard to imagine enjoying being chased by the undead more.
Waldorf Estate of Fear 2014 Season
September 26 - November 1
Ticket Information
- Terror Package (All 3 Attractions): $35
- Scream Package (Any 2 Attractions): $30
- The Haunting at the Waldorf Hotel Only: $15
- Infection Only: $15
- Terror in the Corn Hayride Only: $20
- VIP Upgrade (Skip to the front of the line): Add $15
Age Requirements
According to the Official Website: "There is no age limit, parents must use their own discretion. Our rule of thumb is 10 and over!"
Additional Information
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