This is thee best haunted experience hands down in Metro Detroit. The history alone here lends itself to absolute mystery and fear. The building is historic and well renovated for safety and ambiance. You park immediately when you drive in, and go to a small parking shed where you pay. Walk down through the parking lot and through metal detectors and wanding. Down through an alley between two buildings. Walk right into a mini midway carnival area with games and food. They didn't take Samsung Pay but took Apple pay. Have a nice collection of clothing to buy. The walk through horror garden with animatronics was a fun intro into the experience. Scary stages set up and actors in costumes walking about you can take photos with. We got the VIP passes, so we did the haunt quicker and came at 7, so we avoided the crush of people. Highly recommend that time if you want a thinner crowd on a Friday night. Go into this as an EXPERIENCE, and you will love it. Like most haunts, they have to balance safety with frights. So many people want to be scared so bad they are constantly afraid, and that is not reasonable with so many people coming through. The entire set is Universal Studios quality. Animatronics, fog, actors, high-quality props and lighting, and travel in a small group. I have been going to haunted houses for years, and so I know how to give a proper review. You will feel "fun fear" and at times "uncomfortable fear," and once you hit the basement, "real fear." Expect all 3 and that this should be taken in as an EXPERIENCE as a whole, and then you will walk away satisfied. So many picky people complain about fear levels when the entire enterprise is so sophisticated that it is professional grade quality.
The basement was separate from the main building, and so you come out of one building and go outside, which is a nice breathing break from indoors, and then you go down the stairs into the basement. You can choose different ways to go, apparently, because my friend and I ended up alone, lol! It got intense down there! Smaller and tighter, it becomes as you wind through bug sacs and floor to ceiling animatronics and dark, dark spaces and the actual morgue with white drawers of vintage bone color. There are areas that were amazing and sophisticated, and others that scared me as to become slightly claustraphobic and genuinely afraid. It is in the tightness and darkness that your fear grows and accumulates, and by the time you emerge, you are happy to gulp the cool, night air! 75 bucks for the VIP tickets and well worth it. Walked around outside after and enjoyed that area, too. I highly recommend this experience and that you wear comfortable shoes that will not make you slip.
This haunt has technology only 20 places in the world have, cold spark pyrotechnics and Universal Studios quality props. The actors will touch you and put their hands in your hair and on your arms, so be aware of this, but you cannot touch them. Actors bring a fun and jump-scare element to the historical and creepy atmosphere. Do not be one of those Halloween haunted houses purist and bash what is best described as a 3 stage experience, and you will have a blast! Realize and respect the digital mapping, the high-grade props, and the history here as the largest psychiatric asylum in America. I will go again. It takes a little piece from you each time you go into a building, and that exhilaration and fun make this an experience worth having. You cannot bring your cell phone and use it inside the buildings and will get kicked out if you do, but you can use it outside. Bring your friends and enjoy the total EXPERIENCE, and you will not be disappointed. My favorite was the padded room that tilted sharply about 40 degrees and had a tall actor in a straight jacket. Wow, was that wild! Another tunnel that makes you dizzy with color and moment is a challenge, so please be aware of this. Rooms and displays are at times horrific and other times like walking through a movie set. Go. It is absolutely worth it. The drive out is...
Read moreI was finally able to attend a paranormal event with my friend Cori, the Paranormal Lockdown on April 13th which was scheduled for 12 hours 6p-6a! We were surprised to see so many people but it was such a great experience, which could have not been the case when dealing with such a large crowd of all ages and experiences within such an amazingly vast historic building! By chance we were assigned to the “green group” with Ms. Lauren… we could not have gotten any luckier to have such a great group but more importantly, an experienced and knowledgeable guide! Lauren set the tone for our group and I think it was evident right away that she was more than capable of handling such a task. She was able to give the history and details of the previous state hospital and its operations as well as any modern day changes/updates that have occurred since it was closed as a hospital and current renovations being done for preservation and safety, along with her own personal experiences while working within Eloise herself. She maintained a group of 15-20+ (poor girl had a different number for every headcount as we gained more “groupies” as we went!) all while we traversed unending flights of stairs- exploring all 5 floors and the sub-basement and basement areas! Lauren was charismatic and captivating on her own but also gave us freedom and encouraged us to do our own investigations, gain our own experiences to share, she gave everyone the attention and respect they deserved and our group became a ‘group’ that stuck together yet also branched out and reconvened to share and help each other. No ideas were dismissed and staff often gave praise for new questions or lines of thinking they themselves hadn’t had before which was invigorating and eventually we had such an awesome gathering in the 5th floor tub room that literally every walkie call was “where’s Lauren?” followed by them coming to join in on the fun!! I think that was one of the best experiences of the entire event was the way that connections of all walks of life came together and I know many of us left with a few more friends and plans to hopefully see each other again and I think that was largely due to Lauren and her ability to let each person find their own way while maintaining a cohesive vibe that wanted us to come share more! AND she had already given tours since that morning and was such a trooper, she stayed beautiful and magical the entire time when you could tell that girl needed a marg and a back rub! Don’t forget that all of this was happening as other groups did the same and I can honestly say that the staff handled the entire operation in such a well executed manner- !!communication!! You can tell they also have a very clear and dedicated head of security/safety operations (and WAY more) and that was evident in Jim. His demeanor was so calming yet his point could not have been more clearer and poignant when speaking to such a large and diverse crowd. You can tell the staff enjoys their time together working within Eloise and for those who care about that, it was so comforting to see. The building is grand but she is old, yet she is so loved by those who get to work there. There were a few things that could have been a little more clearer before arriving but you also had to remember what it truly was/is and that’s an experience and it is what you make of it. We are all human, but the most important issues like safety were 100% covered and then some. I NEVER felt unsafe or unsure once inside the building and honestly the amount of time I spent getting hear such amazing and life changing experiences from the staff, like Ace- iykyk right?!, that the amount of money paid would have never been the price I offered to get to sit and share time with some of these people! If you are passionate about paranormal phenomena of any kind I strongly suggest visiting Eloise with an open mind for any and all experiences you could have (not all unknown is bad/evil) you will leave a little more enlightened and fulfilled. She leaves an...
Read moreI was here for an event organized by yelp. A special thanks to Kelly & Linda for sticking it out with me until the end--it was so nice meeting you both! I don't think I could have done it alone.
This was my first time visiting a haunted house, and it turned out to be an unforgettable experience. I'm not usually a fan of scary movies or events, so I was really hesitant about going. But once I stepped inside, the eerie atmosphere, detailed sets, and spine-chilling sounds completely immersed me in the experience. It was thrilling in a way I didn't expect, and by the end, I was glad I pushed myself out of my comfort zone. Definitely worth the scare!
The building's historic charm added to the atmosphere, which was electrifying from the moment we arrived. We walked through metal detectors and security checks. Costumed patients greeted us with, "I've been waiting for you," which immediately sent a shiver down my spine. Oh man, I was super scared to even enter, but that's when the fun really began.
The Mediterranean spread from Homestead Kitchen was delicious. The chicken and hummus were cooked to perfection! There were also desserts, cocktails, and face painting (though I didn't try that). The roaming actors added to the fear, creeping around us while we were eating, making eerie sounds. It was a perfect blend of thrill and excitement!
The haunted walkthrough was split into two parts: an escape room and a basement, both set up in an incredibly realistic old hospital setting. From the sounds and lighting to the smells, everything was designed to ramp up the fear factor. The scare actors were phenomenal--sneaking up with creepy makeup, jumping out at just the right moments. Some scares were predictable, but they still got me screaming when they came so close. It was all so well-executed!
We were told not to touch the actors during the walkthrough, but they could get right up close, touching us and making creepy sounds to give us a real scare. Photography was not allowed during the walkthrough, which only added to the suspense and kept us fully immersed in the experience. The photo ops were amazing, and the actors were having fun with us during the pictures. Kudos to all the artists involved--it's clear they put in a lot of time, dedication, and creativity. I really appreciate their hard work and patience.
We were sent in batches, and having a bigger group definitely made a difference. In the basement, the scare actors started following us, which made the whole experience even scarier! It was a perfect mix of fun and fright, and an incredible way to get into the Halloween spirit.
They also featured a pumpkin land, perfect for some cool shots. There were pumpkin animatronics, all in a spooky Halloween theme. Zella Bakery had some delicious treats on display. To top it all off, we left with a grab bag filled with goodies--Halloween cookies, a t-shirt, and an eye mask. It was a nice final touch to a fantastic day. They balanced safety and scares perfectly.
It was well-organized with plenty of parking, though it's not wheelchair-friendly. They also conduct thorough security checks before entry, making it feel like a safe and secure environment. Many staff members were on hand, guiding us through the floors and ensuring everything ran smoothly. I really appreciate how well they took care of us!
They offer an unforgettable experience for both thrill-seekers and history enthusiasts alike. Overall, an amazing event--thank you, Eloise Asylum team! The historic Eloise Asylum is now open to the public starting from 5th October! Step into a place filled with stories of the past, explore its fascinating history, and experience the eerie charm of this iconic site. Don't miss the chance to visit this unique...
Read more