Hell’s Dungeon in Dayton Unleashes the 420 Massacre: A Terrifying Tour Through a Haunt Like No Other

DAYTON, Ohio — If you're looking for something spine-tingling, Hell’s Dungeon in Dayton has just the thrill for you.

Located in what was once the Elder-Beerman department store at East Town Shopping Center, Hell’s Dungeon has turned the retail relic into a sprawling haunted maze, complete with grotesque characters, immersive environments, and unexpected jump scares. The event is not for the faint of heart.

“We’re all about embracing the rejected,” said Raz, one of the haunted house’s key team members, during an off-the-cuff video tour. “Whether it's your background, your identity, or whatever makes you different — here, you're family.”

What Makes Hell’s Dungeon Different?

Hell’s Dungeon is more than just costumes and cobwebs. Every character inside the haunt — from the menacing “Grave Digger” to the eerie Firewood Family — is custom-created by the actors themselves. Makeup, backstories, costumes — it's all developed in-house, giving the attraction a gritty, DIY authenticity that sets it apart from chain haunts.

“This is our sixth operating season,” said Raz. “We’re veteran-owned, built by outcasts, and powered by creativity. You won’t find a place like this anywhere else.”

The attraction features five immersive haunted experiences, including:

• The Bayou: A twisted swamp teeming with cannibalistic characters

• The Asylum: Home to unhinged patients and unnerving surprises

• The House of Firewood: A backwoods nightmare

• Maximum Security: Where your worst fears are locked away

• The Circus: Featuring clowns so terrifying, they were given the day off for the tour’s safety

Yes, you read that right — the clowns were too scary to be included.

A Terrifyingly Good Deal

For those daring enough to enter, Hells' Dungeon is open for special events. You can stay up to date on all the happenings by visiting: thedungeonhauntedhouse.com 

You Might Lose a Shoe — Or Your Nerve

During the live walkthrough, I literally lost his shoe from being scared — and spent the rest of the tour hobbling barefoot through the dimly lit corridors, chased by actors, startled by sounds, and cornered by grotesque figures. “If you lose something in here,” said Raz, “you’re not likely to see it again. Especially if the clowns get it.”

Final Warning from the Grave Digger

At the end of the haunted journey, the Grave Digger had one chilling message for viewers:
“If you don’t come to us, we will come to you.”

Hell’s Dungeon is more than a haunted house — it’s a full-blown horror experience born from passion, purpose, and a touch of madness.