‘Sadistic’ haunted house creator addressed disturbing allegations of extreme physical and mental torture
The creator of the scariest haunted house in America has explained why the controversy surrounding his 'torture chamber in disguise' doesn't bother him.
McKamey Manor isn't like your normal haunted house with grown men running at you with bed sheets wrapped around their head.
Instead, it's said to be the pioneer of 'extreme' haunted attractions in the US, dating back to 1989 in San Diego.
Created by Russ McKamey, it's designed to create a terrifying experience for each guest.
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This is said to include intense physical contact, alleged physical assault, being forced to drink or eat unknown substances, and manipulation tactics.
If you're (somehow) intrigued, take a peek here:
If that somehow tickles your fancy, you apparently have to be at least 21 years old, pass a sports physical and get mental health clearance.
You've also got to sign a massive 40-page liability waiver, given that one experience can last up to 36 hours.
The first haunted attraction was shut down in 2015 due to controversy and was moved to Tennessee in 2017, with another location in Alabama.
One of well-spread rumours over the years was that participants had their teeth pulled out during the tour.
Previously speaking to LADbible, Russ said that if people were actually hurt, he'd be in jail right now.
"It's all part of the smoke and mirrors game," he said. "So just between you and me? Of course not, but is it fun to say, just to get people talking?
"Again, if somebody actually pulled their tooth out, don't you think somebody would have gone and reported [it] to somebody?
"But it makes a good story, doesn't it? It gets people talking."
Insisting that he's great at 'manipulating' the media, he said he has intentionally 'put so many stories out there just to spin people up and get them talking in all crazy'.
"That's what I do. It's all about a mind game with everybody, and that's something that nobody else can do. And that's something that, you know, is unique to the Manor," he admitted.
Addressing backlash like being called a 'torture chamber in disguise', Russ added: "That's all part of the deal, it's all part of the controversy.
"But what's reality is that I can backup that that's not true, and they can't back up that it is true, because it's not.
"If things were really horrible, like they say they were, that would have come out, somebody would have said something in their exit interview, but not a single one did."
Anish Vij