Here's Why No One Has Ever Lasted The Full 10 Hours In McKamey Manor
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Calling all horror lovers and thrill seekers! Monster Inside: America's Most Extreme Haunted House dropped on Hulu on October 12, and if you haven't added it to your list of must-watch shows, this is your sign. The documentary does a deep dive into the realities of McKamey Manor, one of the most infamous haunted house attractions in the country.
In fact, the house is so terrifying that no one has ever lasted 10 hours in the house.
If you've already watched the doc and have questions, trust me, you're definitely not alone. And if you haven't seen it yet, consider this a fair warning that you might encounter some pretty gruesome stuff.
Ahead, you'll find the answers to all your burning questions regarding McKamey Manor, including how it works, how you can visit, the prize money, if it's still open today, and more.
Check out the trailer below.
What is McKamey Manor?
McKamey Manor is a haunted house attraction that is known for bringing its visitors' worst fears to life. It was founded by Russ McKamey around 2001, and quickly developed a loyal fan base.
Here's how it works: Contestants complete super terrifying tasks while blindfolded and transported around Summertown, Tennessee, and Huntsville, Alabama, per USA Today. And if someone can survive all 10 hours in the house, they win a $20,000 prize, per CBS.
Paid actors on site can manipulate guests, but the participants cannot touch the actors. Each visitor is also recorded the whole time.
Since the house's horrors are designed to tap into the specific fears of participants, every experience is different. In the past, contestants have claimed the waivers they sign to enter the house warn of the possibility of having to do things like pull out your own teeth, getting buried alive in a coffin, and other potential threats to physical safety, per USA Today.
The same contestant said the McKamey Manor's waiver states that there might be "a chance of death," per USA Today.
Where is McKamey Manor?
McKamey Manor is located in Summertown, Tennessee and Huntsville, Alabama. It was originally located in San Diego, California. However, it moved out due to the cost of living in the area, per News 19.
How can I visit McKamey Manor?
You can visit one of the McKamey Manor's locations in Alabama or Tennessee, but note that you also have to meet certain qualifications before you can gain entry.
For starters, you must be 21, or you can get parental permission if you're 18 to 20. Those interested in trying the experience must complete a physical exam, a background check, a phone screen, a drug test, and sign a 40-page waiver, per Fox Business. You also have to show proof of medical insurance and get a doctor's note stating you are physically and mentally cleared, per the McKamey Manor website.
Once someone gets through all those checkpoints, they'll have to watch a two-hour-long documentary that features dozens of people who attempted to get through the house over the past two years.
How much does it cost to go to McKamey Manor?
A voluntary donation is recommended, according to the McKamey Manor website. The contestants' donation are actually used to fund your event. So, if this is something you're considering, you should also think about how much that would cost to make it all happen, and go from there.
Is McKamey Manor legal?
Yep, it's legal. And participants sign a very long waiver before they start.
Previously, guests had to follow a "no safeword" policy that allowed the actors to continue their actions despite the participant's desire to stop, but that has since been changed, and visitors can call it quits once they hit their breaking point, per Fox Business.
Of note: There are currently two Change.org petitions to shut it down. One has nearly 200,000 signatures and claims that the experience is "a torture chamber under disguise," which has led to visitors being sexually assaulted and forced to take drugs. The other petition has almost three thousand signatures.
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.
Is McKamey Manor still open?
While the two petitions are pushing for McKamey Manor to be shut down, it is still open to this day. They operate year-round and offer one show per week.
Has anyone beat McKamey Manor?
No. Considering all the conditions and mental and physical stipulations that go into attending McKamey Manor, it's no surprise that no one has ever beaten it.
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