Starview Manor 2018
Starview Manor lured us out to the far west side of Lancaster last year and it did not disappoint. They’ve returned for a second year, this time with a more frightening experience in store as Starview Manor Massacre. The big projection screen for those waiting in line remains from the previous year, but instead of horror movies, the night of our visit they were playing a baseball game.
The walk-though is bigger this year, with more rooms and a larger cast of 16 actors, including a cameo appearance from Jeff the Killer. The exterior display has expanded as well and taken over the neighbor’s yard. While you wait in line, be sure to stop by the gas station for a conversation with the owner, where you might be able to learn some about the lore behind the haunt. Once you’re inside, don’t let your guard down, because there are a few “props” that you may find are actually well disguised actors ready to pounce the moment you pass. The sets have had a lot of work put into them, and if the line is short enough you may want to make a second visit to get a better look. You’ll run into chained up captives inside, try to rescue them if you dare, but know that if you linger too long you may share their fate.
Starview Manor has done a great job this year, with jump scares coming from several unexpected places, though I won’t spoil the surprise. They also go to the trouble of having some lore behind the haunt, though in future years I hope they incorporate it more into the haunt itself with dialogue, since if you don’t read the haunt’s Facebook page and talk to the gas station owner in line, you might make it to the end of the haunt without ever knowing there was a story.