What would you say if I told you your neighbor has an obstacle course of torture in his backyard? For some San Diego natives, I speak the truth.
When you think of California, the first thing that usually comes to mind is beautiful beaches with equally beautiful people and a weather forecast of sunny and 85 for a majority of your days. What most people don’t know is that a few miles from San Diego’s beautiful beaches, is the home of Russ McKamey. More popularly known as the McKamey Manor.
Calling all adrenaline junkies; I believe I just found your next fix.
McKamey Manor is home to one of the most extreme haunted houses in the United States. It is an eight-hour long haunted house experience that no one has managed to complete in its entirety, as of yet. As of today the haunted house has a waiting list of more than 2,000 people anxiously waiting to try their luck in this house of horror.
Before you get too excited, McKamey Manor has a 21+ age requirement and all guests must sign the Mckamey Manor entrance waiver prior to taking the tour. No exceptions. All guests must also be in perfect health before taking on the McKamey dare.
If you haven’t caught on by now, McKamey Manor isn’t your typical house of horrors. There is a strict “no quit” policy once your waiver is signed. Haunts will only be stopped if participants need medical care. There is no “safe word” to be used once those doors close behind you. Once you enter McKamey Manor you will live out your own horror movie. This is a rough, intense, and truly terrifying experience that allows all creatures to come in contact with you. People pay to be kidnapped, masked, slapped, bound, stomped on, and held underwater. Actors induce guests’ vomiting, place roaches on their faces and in their mouths, and sometimes cut their hair.
Personally, I love horror movies. I’m the first one in line to see the newest scary movie, but McKamey lost me at roaches. There is not enough money in the world for me to pay for a roach to be placed on my face or in my mouth.
I’ll pass.
McKamey tapes each of his haunts, later making movies out of them which can all be found on his website. During these “movies” you can see victims being shoved, dragged by their hair, blindfolded, slapped and soaked with water. Often times they are then forced to make animal noises and are spun around until they become dizzy, some even vomiting. They’re then covered in fake blood, dirt and other substances. In one video you see a participant in the bottom of a freezer, covered in dirty water, being repeatedly slapped as her “tormentors” demand that she sing songs. Did I mention they actually pay for this?
All of this happens within the fence of creator Russ McKamey’s back yard on a quiet San Diego street where his children, no older than 10, are playing just feet away inside the house. I would love to ask his neighbors how they feel about all the constant screams for help they must hear.
Participants are warned of the cuts and bruises they will receive while on their haunt but during their exit reviews you will notice their black eyes swollen shut, bug bites, busted lips, and bloody knees. Those brave enough to take on this obstacle course from hell all come out saying the same thing, they were not prepared for what happened to them. I believe calling his attraction a “haunted house” does not do it justice in the least and in a way creates for false advertising.
Watch this video and judge for yourself, would you take the McKamey dare?
