Extreme haunted house McKamey Manor is actually a torture chamber, petition says

Table Of Content

• Is McKamey Manor safe?
• More In Weird News
• Smoke and mirrors: McKamey explains the making of some of the horror
• Where is Russ McKamey now?
• Hulu documentary on McKamey Manor: Monster Inside: America's Most Extreme Haunted House
• 'Extreme haunted' house is 'torture chamber' in disguise, says petition to close it

They must sign a 40-page legal waiver, complete a sports physical, get a doctor’s note, pass a background check, show proof of medical insurance, and pass a drug test on the day of the experience. Participants—who need to be at least 21 years old or years old with parental approval—must also comply with the rules. Namely, no running, touching props or actors (aka fighting back), using foul language, or pushing is allowed. If you’ve never heard of the infamous attraction, McKamey Manor is an extreme haunt designed by Russ McKamey to physically and psychologically torture participants, often for hours. Although some of the more intense haunted houses allow actors to touch you but not physically harm you, the manor takes it up a notch. Previous contestants claim they have been kidnapped, waterboarded, forced to eat disgusting things, and often left bruised and injured.

Is McKamey Manor safe?

When Will The New McKamey Manor Documentary 'Monster Inside: America’s Most Extreme Haunted House' Be On Hulu? - Decider

When Will The New McKamey Manor Documentary 'Monster Inside: America’s Most Extreme Haunted House' Be On Hulu?.

Posted: Thu, 05 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

There were staff involved, plus EMTs standing by, and a special insurance policy. McKamey maintains the discussions of controversy are led by folks who haven't gone through the tour themselves and are based on an iteration of the manor that hasn't existed for five or six years. It used to be a more physical experience, with actors "yelling, getting real physical with them." Now, McKamey says, he's the only one who interacts with contestants during the tour. But some contend that at McKamey Manor, people are really getting hurt. A recent Change.org petition by Frankie Towery asking the Tennessee and Alabama governments to shut down McKamey's operation continues to collect signatures. A Change.org petition started in 2019 by Frankie Towery, asks the Tennessee and Alabama governments to shut down McKamey's operation has more than 190,000 signatures at this time.

More In Weird News

Hulu's synopsis also describes McKamey as "a Navy Veteran who lures horror enthusiasts into his web. They find themselves pulled into the no-holds-barred world of McKamey Manor—a haunt that doesn't end until Russ says so." McKamey also offers up a nice prize for those that "beat the manor". If anyone has the tenacity to persevere and make it through the whole event could win a $20,000 prize. Originally based in California, Russ McKamey moved his shop of horrors to Summertown in 2017 and has come up with new ways to scare those who dare enter and also gain some criticism over the years. Brotherton says actors blindfolded her with duct tape, submerged her by her ankles in water, and buried her alive with only a straw to breathe through.

Smoke and mirrors: McKamey explains the making of some of the horror

Whether it’s true or not, Russ Mckamey has managed to gain a cult-like following online. Some of those who have spoken out against McKamey claim his “cult” threatened and doxed them, causing them to leave the internet altogether. The owner, who according to WFLA has five dogs, only requires people to bring a bag of dog food. Back in San Diego, McKamey started filming everything that happened inside McKamey Manor as an insurance policy, so he'd have proof of what really went down — and what didn't — anytime law enforcement came knocking.

What Is McKamey Manor? A “Haunted House” So Terrifying You Have To Sign A 40-Page Waiver - Whiskey Riff

What Is McKamey Manor? A “Haunted House” So Terrifying You Have To Sign A 40-Page Waiver.

Posted: Fri, 13 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

And, like the way reality shows set their contestants up for drama, It's easier to pull off the ultimate scare when Smith and a handful of other volunteers are working behind the scenes with pre-tour screenings that help cater the experience to what would scare each individual. If you successfully join the Facebook group, you've completed step one of the vetting process. You must also speak with Russ personally before being accepted for a tour. Despite its extreme nature, McKamey Manor has a waiting list of close to 24,000 people, even as some people who experienced it say they have suffered aches, pains and emotional scars.

McKamey has buried people alive, as well as lowered them into a tank full of eels. While Russ McKamey hasn't specifically addressed the petitions, he has spoken out about his process, and claims there's nothing illegal going on. “There’s no torture, there’s nothing like that, but under hypnosis if you make someone believe there’s something really scary going on, that’s just in their own mind and not reality,” he told The Washington Post. It operates as a nonprofit, taking just a handful of visitors each weekend and accepting payment only in dog food. It is also unique in not having a safe word, says Jon Schnitzer, who is making a documentary about extreme haunts.

McKamey Manor Hulu documentary: 5 things we learned from controversial Tennessee haunted house

He continues to post updates about "challenges" routing followers to the main closed Facebook group for McKamey Manor. There are several ongoing petitions, along with many disgruntled neighbors, calling for McKamey Manor to be shut down. He is still active on both his personal and McKamey Manor Facebook accounts. In the Hulu show, some of the interviewees stated they believed McKamey now spends his days working at Walmart. Even adding in a video of an unidentified woman going into a store, going through a line and exiting stating it was "totally him". "Russ is there the entire time, recording it, and the joy and like pleasure he was getting out of it was extremely weird," she said.

Russ McKamey, the owner and mastermind behind the manor, has five dogs to feed. While the traditional Halloween haunted house relies on jump scares and eerie costumes to frighten, McKamey's experience was a lot more hands-on. Participants might be bound, blindfolded or otherwise restrained.

If the details of these tours haven't put you off already, you can still visit the infamous McKamey Manor. In 2017, largely due to local complaints, Russ McKamey moved his attraction from San Diego to Summerville, TN. He also has a secondary tour location in Huntsville, AL, where he takes participants that survive long enough at the Tennessee location.

Before participants can even make into into the Manor, they reportedly have to go through an interview of sorts. But one thing that all three of the participants interviewed wanted was something more. McKamey has denied that visitors are ever held against their will and has said that what appears in his YouTube videos is all "smoke and mirrors." A new documentary on Hulu tells the true story of the controversial experience.

Once someone has delivered some good answers, they talk to McKamey personally, when he gets to know them even more deeply. Calling McKamey Manor “torture porn” and “a shame to all haunted houses,” the petition claims that participants have suffered sexual assault, injections with drugs, and extreme physical harm. Those who want to participate can still sign up and experience it for themselves. The McKamey Manor website bills it as an "extreme haunted attraction." It requires that visitors be at least 21 years old, or if they are 18 to 20 have a parent's permission, and that they obtain a doctor's note stating that they are "physically and mentally cleared" for the experience.