Laclede's Landing Wax Museum — Attraction in St. Louis

I was back in town for a funeral and decided to meet up with a good friend. It was 104º outside so the thought of all of our usual outdoor haunts were simply out of the question. We walked into the City Museum and walked right back out ... apparently everyone had that idea. So we had to think of some other way to have some fun and beat the cruel heat. My friend (being the hip, modern person she is) started searching on her phone for other things we could do. She found the Laclede's Landing Wax Museum. I've been to loads of wax museums and always enjoy them. When she said she'd never been to one, that just sealed the deal so off we went.

The admission price was $10 each, which I'd say is pretty reasonable judging from the other Wax Museums I'd been to. There's a nice little place on the inside to buy snacks, ice cream and drinks. The people who worked there (I only saw two young guys manning the front desk) were really laid back. And in the insane heat, the place was VERY air conditioned (it is a wax museum, after all) and delightfully empty ... there were just a few small groups that we passed while we were there.

It was an expansive collection and the winding labyrinth-like setup was pretty fun. The problem was that it seemed that the venue nor the collections were not well taken care of. The glass that enclosed all of the wax figures was extremely dirty with handprints and dust to the point that it was difficult to see some of exhibits. The wax figures themselves looked like they had been on all-night benders with frazzled hair and some of them in awkward, almost drunken poses. Many of them were missing fingers or, like Spock, a chunk of his nose. A lot of the figures had extensive cobwebs and a very thick layer of dust covering them. Some of the exhibits weren't lit up and some were empty. The vast majority of them lacked any sort of information or even a placard of who they were ... which would have been helpful for some of the lesser quality figures that didn't bear a good likeness to anyone in particular. The information that was provided was kind of taped up crookedly on the glass. BTW, if you're one of those people who describes yourself as "OCD", you probably won't enjoy your visit; there are a lot of crooked things and things that are just "off". That sort of stuff doesn't bother me but it was messing with my friend.

The newer section which featured superheroes looked like large action figures ... they weren't even wax. It kinda just seemed like a cheap, slipshod, modern answer to the skill and beauty of wax figure art. The Horror section was kind of fun. It was definitely gory and not advisable for kids, prudes or wimps. There was a lot of nudity, too.

Despite all of that, she and I really had a wonderful time. It was a large collection with a good variety of historical figures and celebrities. Honestly the crappiness of it kind of made it fun and we laughed about the figures who looked like they had just gotten back from the club, and mused (and shuddered) about what might go on at the wax museum at night. We were a little sad about how neglected the wax figures seemed to be. It has a lot of potential to be a really wonderful little display but it really needs some TLC and upkeep. The lack of care kind of makes you wonder where your admission is going.

It was a neat little place to visit, though! We really did have a lot of fun and it was a nice way to beat the heat. With a little work this place could be a great feature of the awesome city...

I went here with a friend about a year ago after reading the google reviews. It seemed like people either love it or hate it, with no in-between. I honestly can't tell you if I loved it or if I hate it. I think about it all the time.

I didn't know how afraid of wax figures I was until I was in this "museum". The hallways are a skinny maze of dark, dimly lit displays, and there was no one there besides us, which all contributed to a very creepy atmosphere. Some figures were behind glass, others were just out in the narrow hallways, forcing you to squeeze past them. The "bible" section was actually horrifying, with multiple displays without any lights, and creepy wax figures lurking in the shadows. I literally RAN through most of this museum. I'm a grown man.

My heart was beating out of my chest with anxiety the entire time I was there. By the time we finished with the upstairs, which was the "NORMAL" section of the museum, we were confronted with the option to tour the basement, which is the actual horror section of the museum filled with Halloween displays. I was so anxious at this point I told my friend I didn't want to do it. She wanted her money's worth and dragged me down with her. Also, worth noting the only bathroom in the museum is located in the middle of the horror basement. Kind of hilarious honestly, but so so mean.

Overall this place was a trip. If you're visiting St. Louis and are looking for something unique to do, check it out. It was scary and fun at the same time. Think: Haunted House. ...

We will probably never stop laughing about visiting this "wax" museum. Never. It was next level ridiculous in a way only I could find hilarious. Located close to our hotel in Laclede's Landing, an area that they're clearly trying to revitalize without much luck, we should have paid heed to the 14 red flags that tried to tell us what we were in for, but we don't listen that well. The cost is only $10 a person for adults. I don't know what the child pricing is, but this is NOT a place you should ever take a child. My child, who is 19, tried to leave every bit of 20 times, but the way backward always seemed worse than the way forward, so he couldn't get up the nerve to exit. The place is a labyrinth of unlit hallways painted in black with various dusty figures behind plate glass. Nothing made sense. We should've left when we saw the three Jesuses being crucified, or when Prince Charles was still hanging out with Princess Diana, but nope. The tour ended in a crypt-like basement FULL of horror figurines, and yet ... WE STILL KEPT GOING.

Here's my honest take: If you're looking for a Madame Tussauds, skip this. If you're looking to laugh, don't mind being a little scared, and you want to make memories that you'll laugh about for a lifetime, do this. Take video. Take pictures. I promise your friends will not believe this place exists without them. Take it for what it is and have...