Gateway's Haunted Playhouse
215 South Country Road
Bellport, NY
Since 2009, the Gateway Playhouse converts its theater and grounds into an incredible group walkthrough haunt for the Halloween season. Spectacular sets are the first thing that jump out at you, with terrific attention to detail along with an extremely clever design and use of space. The second thing to jump out are the actors (literally!) whose makeup and performance are all top notch. Combine this with a great outdoor area where you can eat, drink, and wait for your opportunity to be the haunt's next victim, and you are in for the ideal October night out.
Is It Scary?
According to the official website : "This attraction is not for the faint of heart"
The Raven & Black Cat says : There were screams a'plenty coming from the groups around us, and the fantastic environment makes for the perfect creepy environment.
What We Loved
While any haunt will attempt to appeal to your senses of sight and sound, Gateway did not forget about smell and touch. In a room with an electric saw wielding maniac, I could feel the heat being generated by the sparks of the saw against a chain link fence. In rooms with gore, it stunk like rotting meat. These 'little things' are critical in heightening the experience. There was a room full of body bags hanging from the ceiling that we had to navigate - the bodies were seriously heavy. The details can either keep you in the moment or derail you if they're missed, and Gateway absolutely excels at this. Other highlights included an outdoor maze that was claustrophobic despite being out in the open air, and terrific puppetry/animatronics. Gateway did a fantastic job of using set pieces, effects and actors as misdirection to draw your attention away from where the real scare will come from.
What Could Be Better
On the night we attended, Gateway was mobbed with visitors and as a result the pacing of our haunt was off. Despite lingering in rooms, we kept running into the group ahead of us and getting run into by the one behind. The actors tried their best to maintain spacing by holding us up in certain spots, but it didn't work.
Final Thoughts
Gateway's Haunted Playhouse is massively popular and it's easy to see why. Amazing sets and great acting create a haunt with just the right level of creepiness that is perfect for a fun Halloween night. Gateway continues to be one of our favorite haunts and well worth the drive from NYC.
