Brett Helling
Brett Helling is the founder and owner of Gigworker.com. Having worked in the gig economy for nearly a decade, he has mastered freelance, remote, and app-based work. You can learn more about his journey in his book, "Gigworker: Independent Work and the State of the Gig Economy", now available on Amazon.
Key Takeaways
- McKamey Manor offers extreme haunted house tours with a $20,000 cash prize.
- Strict requirements include a 40-page waiver, physical exam, drug test, and background check.
- Two tour options: 10-hour Desolation or 6-hour Descent; no one has completed either.
- Challenges include torture, hypnosis, and waterboarding; safe words are now allowed.
Are you a fan of horror films and want to experience what raw fear and terror feel like in the flesh?
Are you brave enough to survive a full-on horror fest to bag thousands of dollars in cash prize?
You're in for a real challenge if you say yes to both! Thousands of aspiring participants are lining up for a chance to join McKamey Manor's extreme haunting tour, designed to test (and break) your physical and mental strength.
But before you get too excited, let's take a peek at this haunted house that pays you $20,000 and see if you're up to their terrifying offer.
McKamey Manor at a Glance
Considered the scariest haunted house in the world, McKamey Manor is guaranteed to draw out screams of raw terror even from the bravest of hearts.
The manor is owned by Russ McKamey and is located in Summertown, Tennessee. It has a second location in Huntsville, reserved for visitors who spent enough time in Summertown and deemed worthy of advancing to the next level.
As of this writing, no one's gotten into Huntsville and completed the tour, making that $20,000 cash prize much more enticing.
What You Need to Enter the McKamey Manor
Having the will and courage to face your fears is one thing. Getting into the tour itself is another.
McKamey Manor's known for its strict and thorough guest screening process. You'll need to pass all these essential requirements to qualify and join its waitlist:
- Signed 40-page Waiver: This document contains the details of activities, risks, potential psychological side effects, and tools the manor's using to scare you.
- Sports Physical Exam: This must include your doctor's letter stating you're physically and mentally fit to participate in the activity.
- Portable Drug Test: You'll need to undergo a drug test before the start of the show to ensure your optimum natural, physical, and mental state.
- Medical Insurance: Proof of insurance coverage will be required. Ask your providers for a policy certificate of currency detailing the sum insured details, inclusions, and exclusions.
- Background Check Approval: Russ McKamey and his team must profile the participants to create a personalized horror tour experience. Expect to provide personal details, including those you're uncomfortable discussing with most people.
- Pre-screening Approval via Facebook, FaceTime, or Phone: Part of the profiling process is getting to know you better. The team may decide to call you via phone or video.
- Age Eligibility: You must be 21 years old or older to join, but adults 18 to 20 years old can be allowed entry with parents' approval.
- Bag of Dog Food: McKamey Manor doesn't collect fees from participants, but they encourage you to donate a bag of dog food.
McKamey Manor Journey Mechanics
The rules are straightforward once you're approved for entry. You only need to remember the following:
- You're on your own. You can scream for help, but there won't be any.
- All journeys are video-recorded.
- Videos of your participation will be shared via Youtube or any streaming platforms you and Russ agree on beforehand.
- You'll go through each challenge based on the plan. You won't get to pass or choose challenges.
2 Types of Challenges Guests Can Choose From
Whether you're a casual thrill-seeker or a hardcore survival game fan, McKamey Manor guarantees a whole boot camp experience with a single goal - to scare visitors enough to send them running home.
Here are two journey scenarios to choose from:
Desolation Tour
Desolation is a ten-hour journey of non-stop terror.
From the time you enter the manor until you start begging to get out, this challenge is designed to put you in scenarios that trigger all your deepest anxieties and fears.
Because of its extreme nature, advanced reservations are required, which Russ McKamey is more than willing to accommodate.
Descent Tour
Descent is a shorter version of Desolation, running for only six hours. Challenges are easier and give visitors bigger chances of completing the course, though nobody's succeeded yet.
This tour is what Russ McKamey currently runs in his show and what he recommends for first-time guests who want to take part in the more grueling Desolation at a later date.
What to Expect Inside the McKamey Manor
As a horror-slash-survival journey, expecting the scariest experience you can imagine makes a lot of sense.
Still, even that may pale against the challenges faced by previous guests:
- Torture Chamber
- Hypnosis
- Smoke and Mirrors Everywhere
- Kidnapping Scenarios
- Cockroaches and Tarantulas
- Labyrinth of Metal Cages
If that doesn't trigger some of your worst fears, there are also mentions of waterboarding and physical assault.
McKamey Manor Do's and Don'ts
While this Tennessee haunted house now sounds like the place out of our worst nightmares, it's completely legal. Many people like it!
Despite the intense and scary journey it subjects its guests to, the manor's waiting list runs around 27,000, proving it enticing.
Before signing up, here are do's and don'ts you must be aware of:
McKamey Manor Do's
- Be physically and mentally ready.
- Leave valuables like smartphones, jewelry, and purses at home.
- Hydrate well before the tour.
McKamey Manor Don'ts
- Bring pets.
- Bring weapons and alcoholic beverages.
- Take drugs.
- Smoke.
- Bring cameras.
- Overeat before the tour.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Use Safe Words in McKamey Manor?
The journey now allows safe words after complaints from multiple participants of having suffered 'too much' within the tour.
In San Diego, where this haunted house attraction was first located before moving to Tennessee, Russ McKamey didn't allow safe words.
This resulted in lawsuits and public complaints from visitors who thought the manor actors went overboard and treated them more severely than they originally agreed.
Can You Visit McKamey Manor in Groups?
Desolation and Descent are recommended for a solo experience, but the manor allows a maximum of two guests to go in at once.
This can be attributed to the fact that each tour is tailored-fit for your profile, and organizing challenges compatible with the whole group may not be feasible logistically.
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