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McKamey Manor is a haunted house in Summertown, Tennessee, that has caused a lot of debate. It was started by Russ McKamey in 2017 and quickly became famous for its intense and immersive experience, which is often called survival horror. The haunted house is said to make many people weak in body and mind. At up to six hours long, tours make it more than just another haunted house.
Before they can go into this haunted house, the tour participants have to sign a lengthy 40-page waiver acknowledging the extreme nature of the tour. Also, they have to show that they are mentally and physically healthy enough to attend the event by passing medical tests.
The intense nature of this process and reports of mental and physical pain have caused a lot of media attention and public backlash. Even though it has been involved in a lot of problems, the haunted house is still open, and McKamey confirmed that in October 2023.
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A huge number of people are waiting to go through the haunted house, and there is a $20,000 prize for anyone who makes it through the tour, but no one has ever been able to finish it.
Monster Inside: America's Most Extreme Haunted House, a 2023 Hulu documentary, brought more attention to the attraction by showing disturbing footage and talking to former visitors. People are once again interested and worried about McKamey Manor and its owner because of this documentary.
Inside McKamey Manor: An infamous haunted attraction
When it comes to scary things, McKamey Manor stands out from other haunted houses. Attacks on the body, psychological manipulation and scary situations are all things that participants have to deal with.
Since each person's deepest fears are taken into account, the tour is uniquely scary for each person who goes. One of the risks listed in the waiver is being forced to take unknown substances or get a haircut. Instead of a haunted house, people who have been there have said that it feels like a torture chamber.
In the Hulu documentary, guests recount harrowing experiences. Some describe being submerged in water, locked in small spaces and exposed to tarantulas. The house was originally run without a safe word, but McKamey has since introduced one, allowing participants to end the tour when they reach their limit.
Even with this option, no one has completed the tour, and many claim that the experience is designed to break participants before they can succeed.
People have gone to court and signed petitions about the attraction. Over 80,000 people signed a Change.org petition to close McKamey Manor in 2019. Many of them have said that the attraction is just a cover for legalized torture.
When the documentary aired in 2023, it made people even more angry and led to new investigations. As stated by local news outlet WKRN, Jonathan Skrmetti, the attorney general of Tennessee, mentioned that the manor's business practices would be looked into to see if they broke any consumer protection laws, especially when it came to withdrawing consent.
Despite the backlash, McKamey Manor continues to operate, albeit under increased scrutiny. In 2024, Russ McKamey faced serious criminal charges, including attempted murder and domestic assault.
Although these charges were dropped later, the controversy surrounding McKamey and his haunted house hasn't diminished. The manor's legality, particularly in terms of how it handles participants' consent, continues to be a point of debate.
The house has also gained media coverage for its peculiar entry requirements. Prospective participants must provide proof of medical insurance, a doctor's note and a passing grade on a sports physical.
They must also undergo a lengthy screening process, which includes a phone call with McKamey himself. Admission to this extreme experience costs only a few cans of dog food, which McKamey donates to animal shelters.
The Monster Inside
The documentary Monster Inside gives viewers a rare look into the scary things that happen at McKamey Manor. Former participants who were interviewed said that the house is more than just a really scary haunted attraction; it really hurts people's minds and bodies. The documentary showed that McKamey was obsessed with filming how the participants responded, which made the experience more uncomfortable.
A lot of guests who were in the documentary felt like they were pushed past their limits, which made people worry about the lack of safety measures. Many still think that it's dangerous to go to the house, even though it now has a safe word.
The 40-page waiver that participants sign doesn't really protect them because it has parts that cover very bad physical harm, like having teeth pulled and being forced to drink drugs. Given these controversial parts, McKamey Manor has remained in the public eye, and many wonder how it's still legal to have such an attraction.
There's no other attraction like McKamey Manor. It's a controversial and extreme haunted house that tests people's mental and physical limits. Even though there has been a lot of criticism and legal challenges, the haunted house is still open.
The documentary showed how disturbing the tours are, which led to even more scrutiny. But McKamey keeps defending his business, which brings in thousands of thrill-seekers willing to go through the ordeal. With a history of lawsuits, problems and media attention, McKamey Manor is likely to stay in the news for a long time.
Monster Inside: America's Most Extreme Haunted House is available to stream on Hulu, Disney+ and Apple TV.
