Update: 10/1/09 Cavern of Terror is closed in 2009 You have to admit--anything that involves a cave of any sort is scary. Add to it a dark autumn night, a cast full of creepy creatures and special effects...and it starts to become particularly frightening even before you walk in.
The Cavern of Terror, located in an old abandoned limestone quarry on the edge of Excelsior Springs, now houses a haunted house with a long history of mysterious folklore. According to local legend, the 20+ acres of caves were left over from an original mining company Some say it was a Speakeasy, some say it was a hideout of Jesse James. Adding to mystery, the cavern was purchased many years ago by a Dr. Ghoul (which is of public record)who wanted to put a house inside of the caves, but died before this ever happened. The poured concrete slab of the home site still remains today. In 2003 the caves were purchased, and the Cavern of Terror was born.
As we made our way north to the Cavern of Terror, we had no idea what to expect. But we knew as we turned off the highway and passed an old graveyard, that we were going to be scared. I was already scared. A little further and there it was on the left...The Cavern of Terror.
It was a dusky fall night, at the end of the parking lot was the entrance--a creepy mining tunnel which when we got there (7pm) was locked. The flickering lights, creepy music and the fact that we had to wait while the coolness of the cave seeped out, only led to our anticipation of what was to come and what had been in the Cavern of terror before us.
As you enter, you'll head down the tunnel to the ticket area and your journey through the cave will begin.
The Cavern of Terror is a thrilling 30-40 minute fright fest through the depths of the limestone cave. It's here you'll twist and turn through the caves labyrinth with the scary and downright terrifying lurking pretty much behind every corner. In typical haunted house fashion, you'll go through a myriad of rooms and scenes where ghouls will leap out at you behind walls, things will chase you when you're not expecting it, bloody characters ....but you're in a real cave and it's amazingly dark, which only increases the scare level and your blood pressure.
Tops on the scare level include a scary man who chases you through a meat locker, one crazy ice cream truck driving clown and a mid-cave showdown with a chain saw chasing ghoul. Without ruining all the fun--one particular woman who jumps at you from a bungee cord will almost give you a heart attack and the haunted grave yard with creepy, creaky bridge was creepy enough...then had a few surprises lurking in the darkness.
Just as we took a deep breath and though it was over, in haunted house tradition, we were chased by a man with a chainsaw. The three of us ran for our lives (and he really chased us!) out of the cave and back to the parking lot.
Cavern of Terror, Excelsior Springs, Mo.
Info Line : 816.799.6624
Open 7-12pm (or later) Friday, Saturday and Sunday September 26-October 26
Nightly, October 27th-November 1st.
Cost :$17, fast pass, additional $3
$2 off coupons printable online at the Cavern of Terror Website, or at 60 metro locations.
Website: www.thecavernofterror.com
