Park Place

Pros

• The haunted house delivers a blast with great effects and an awesome cast.
• Seasoned haunters were impressed by its intensity and overall quality.
• It's a fantastic experience with great actors, amazing makeup, and impressive sets.
• Hillside is described as the standout haunt with strong recommendations to return for the Christmas event.
• The ambiance is immersive with high energy and surprising moments around every corner.
• The actors and sets are top notch, delivering memorable scares.
• Many reviewers call it the best haunted house in the Midwest and say they'll definitely be back.
• The end-area features like selfies and bonfires add to the experience, encouraging guests to linger and return.

Cons

• The managers dropped the ball big time.
• Promised features (split groups and an elevator experience) were not delivered.
• The clown house was rated 0/10.
• The overall experience was not as good as last year due to disorganized flow.
• The flow of people was not organized, causing groups to run into each other.
• Other patrons disrupted the experience by crowding and blocking pathways.
• Security was slow.
• The gift shop was lame.
• Parking was difficult, with only street parking and blocks away.
• An actor reportedly interacted with waiting kids in an unsettling way.
• The final room's long wait made the ending feel anticlimactic.

Review

A haunted house experience that keeps a city buzzing is clearly doing something right, and this set of reviews paints a vivid portrait of a standout attraction near Omaha. A dozen guests often bundle into two groups of six and still manage to stay close enough to share the thrills as the sets flash by with high-energy effects, impressive makeup, and a cast that consistently delivers. The overall feel is that of a first-rate production: immersive design, believable costumes, and a level of detail that makes each room feel like a new chapter in a sprawling, frightening story. Multiple reviewers mention the haunting as an event that's worth the price, with one noting that the experience lasts well beyond 30 minutes and another calling the hotel segment "phenomenal." The consensus is clear: this is the kind of haunt that stays with you long after you've left.

Among fans and seasoned haunt-goers, the intensity and quality are repeatedly praised. One reviewer, an experienced haunter, doesn't mince words: this place is nuts. The enthusiasm isn't just hype; it comes from the combination of top-tier actors, meticulous makeup, and a production that knows how to pace scares without letting up. Several writers highlight the venue's strong atmosphere - an old psychiatric hospital setting stands out as a memorable backdrop that adds to the creepiness and believability. The long waits are often mentioned, but for many, the payoff is worth it: "action, action, action" is a recurring phrase that captures the sense of constant movement and surprise around every corner.

There is also a strong sense of variety across haunt experiences. A few reviewers mention specific sections, such as a 3D clown haunt that's described as detailed and cool, and others point to a stand-out clown character that their party found both scary and strangely entertaining. The 4-haunt combo, sometimes paired with another house in Nebraska, is noted for keeping guests occupied and engaged from one room to the next. A frequent compliment is the long, immersive walk-throughs - one reviewer mentions more than 30 minutes in total - along with the presence of memorable set pieces and props that make the environment feel real rather than staged. Even first-time visitors are quick to recommend it, noting that it easily ranks among the best experiences they've had in the Midwest.

But no attraction is perfect for every guest. A handful of reviews flag expectations that weren't met in some runs: a promised elevator experience or a guaranteed split-up may not always be delivered, and at times the flow of groups through the space can feel disorganized. One writer even notes a perceived disproportionate amount of waiting within the final room, suggesting that the last section could have benefited from a different order to avoid fatigue. Still, even these criticisms often come with the caveat that the earlier parts of the visit were excellent, and that with a few adjustments in flow, the entire experience could be transformed into a flawless, five-star night.

Family-friendly and multi-generational perspectives add another layer to the story. Several reviews talk about sharing the experience with younger relatives, and even with grandchildren, highlighting that the scares can be intense but the overall production remains engaging and well executed. One party describes the grandkids lasting through about four rooms and finding the experience incredibly scary, which underlines the venue's ability to scale intensity without losing the sense of awe. The location and logistics are also a consideration for families - parking is often on-street and can require a bit of walking, but the broader sense is that the haunt is a staple season-after-season, something many look forward to all year and plan around for future visits, including special events around Christmas.

The people behind the scenes are a big part of the appeal. Reviewers routinely single out the actors for praise, noting that some performers are genuinely memorable and push the boundaries on fear and surprise. A few posts even mention particular performers by name or reference the kindness of staff in the gift shop, where conversations and friendly interactions become a pleasant coda to the adrenaline-pumping journey. The general sentiment is that the haunt is not only scary but offers a sociable, fun atmosphere - the kind of place where guests leave talking about their favorite moments, whether it's a clever scare, a startling reveal, or a particularly well-acted character delivering a line with just the right amount of menace.

There's also a tone of loyalty that runs through many reviews. Guests say they'll be back, often highlighting how well the experience ages - be it as a yearly tradition or a new highlight to look forward to. Some reviewers explicitly compare it favorably to other famous haunts in the region, calling it the best in the Midwest or the best they've seen outside major theme parks. There's a sense that the production's ambition - long haunts with elaborate rooms, a strong cast, and a careful blend of horror and fun - places it in a category of its own. The appeal isn't simply the fright; it's the whole event: the atmosphere, the storytelling, the impressive sets, and the small moments of levity with actors and staff that keep the mood from tipping entirely into dread.

Finally, there's a note of evolution. An Update from 2025 hints at a shifting balance between demand and experience: last year's heavy crowds and the appeal of fast passes aren't as necessary on a typical Saturday night, and some guests felt the flow and orchestration could use more adult oversight to smooth the crowds. The sentiment isn't that the haunt has declined, but that its success has attracted larger crowds whose presence challenges the logistics. The takeaway is practical but positive: the attraction is still widely loved, still delivering immersive, high-energy scares and memorable moments, but guests may want to plan ahead, arrive early, and be prepared for the possibility of longer lines or the need for strategic pacing to maximize enjoyment.

In sum, this haunted house complex is described as a standout, multi-faceted experience that sets a high bar for production value, acting, and atmosphere in the Midwest. It's celebrated for its length, its highly skilled performers, and its ability to transport guests into a terrifyingly entertaining world. While some reviewers call for refinements in crowd flow and consistency between nights, the overwhelming impression is one of a top-tier attraction that draws fans back year after year, often becoming a cherished fall ritual for locals and visitors alike. If you're chasing fierce scares, immersive environments, and a night that lingers in memory, this is the kind of haunt that earns its reputation - though you should plan for parking, be prepared for lines, and brace yourself for an experience that doesn't merely entertain but envelops you from the moment you step inside.

Places of Worship

• Frontline Nazarene Church (0.2 miles)
• Holy Rosary Church (0.8 miles)
• Glenwood Community Church (1.4 miles)
• Calvary Baptist Church (1.9 miles)
• United Methodist Church (3.7 miles)
• First Lutheran Church (8.3 miles)
• Methodist Health System (8.4 miles)

Hospitals

• Glenwood State Hospital School (0.3 miles)
• Glenwood Resource Center (0.4 miles)
• Alegent Health - Glenwood Clinic (0.6 miles)
• Ridge Family Practice PC (14.6 miles)
• Mercy Hospital - CHI Health (16.4 miles)

Restaurants

• House of Ananda Yoga (0.3 miles)
• Adriano's Brick Oven (0.4 miles)
• El Portal (0.5 miles)
• El Portal Mexican Restaurant (0.5 miles)
• McDonald's (0.8 miles)
• Bodega Victoriana Winery (2.9 miles)
• The Hangout (8.4 miles)

Physicians

• Robert K Fryzek (0.4 miles)
• Alegent Health Clinic - Primary Care (0.8 miles)
• Cass Family Medicine (8 miles)
• Thomas Baer MD (8.4 miles)
• Methodist Physicians Clinic (8.4 miles)
• Mark D Frey MD (10.4 miles)
• Medical Clinic PC (10.5 miles)

Transportation

• Hendrix Taxidermy Studio (0.4 miles)
• U-Haul Neighborhood Dealer (4.5 miles)
• Council Bluffs Municipal Airport (CBF) (14.9 miles)

Pharmacies

• Medicap Pharmacy (0.8 miles)
• Heritage Pharmacy (8.1 miles)
• Stoner Drug (10.6 miles)
• Offutt Satellite Pharmacy (11.1 miles)
• Walgreens (11.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (11.3 miles)
• Summit Plaza (13.7 miles)

Parks

• Mile Hill Lake Park (2.5 miles)
• Falconwood Park (9.8 miles)
• American Heroes Park (10.1 miles)
• Lake Manawa State Park (12.4 miles)
• Looking Glass Park (12.5 miles)
• Clear Water Falls Park (13.4 miles)
• Willow Slough State Game Management Area (14.8 miles)