The Witch's Dungeon: Double, double, toil and trouble

The Witch's Dungeon, located on Battle Street in Bristol, Connecticut, is a funny little place. And, by "little," I mean very little. More wax museum than haunted house, the Dungeon is really a destination for classic Universal Monster movie buffs. Those looking for a quick scare should seek their haunts elsewhere. 

I came across the Witch's Dungeon this summer, shortly after moving to West Hartford. I was Googling for record shops and, somehow, ended up at preservehollywood.org. Scrolling though the site, I was intrigued by the concept of the museum (essentially, a tribute to the movies and creatures of the classic studio era of filmmaking) and the work of its creator, Cortlandt Hull. I also stumbled across the quite hilarious review of the Dungeon over at CT Museum Quest, so I had an idea of what to expect if I decided to pay the museum a visit: long lines, long waits, and wax figures behind plexiglass.

Let me repeat: long lines, long waits, and wax figures behind plexiglass.

If you can't handle one of those three things, then do not take a drive to Bristol, because that short description pretty much fits the Dungeon to a T.

My wife and I arrived at the Witch's Dungeon on a cool recent evening and spotted the location by the trail of cars lining the side of the road. We walked to the address and were pleasantly surprised to see a fairly short line waiting to get inside. We passed a small trailer that contained movie memorabilia and took our places in the queue behind a father and son, the younger of which was carrying a rubber Creature From The Black Lagoon figurine. While we waited, we were entertained by the Mummy being projected on a small screen in the front yard of what I can only assume is Mr. Hull's house. 

As the line slowly shuffled forward, we realized the Dungeon wasn't a big place. Contained in a short, squat chalet structure, we also realized it didn't allow for many visitors at any given time. The front door would open only every seven or eight minutes. Two people would enter. Then, seven or eight minutes later, the door would open again, and two more would make their way inside.

If it wasn't such a cool night, the wait wouldn't have felt so bad, but the chill in the air made 45 minutes seem like an hour and a half. I wasn't surprised when a few families eventually bailed out of the line, their teeth chattering as they walked to their mini-vans.

But, we persevered, entertained by the film and by the faux gravestones that peppered the lawn near the roped-off waiting area. As we got closer to the entrance, we could hear the muffled soundtrack of the displays inside.

Before long, we had reached the front door. We paid the attendant our $1 admission fee and chit-chatted as we waited for our turn. When we asked if anything changed from year to year in the Dungeon, we were told the monsters always stayed the same, but that the audio had been improved from previous years.

Then, the signal was made. The door opened. And we entered.

Guided by a teenager in a grim reaper hood (and white tennis shoes) carrying a lantern, we made our way from display to display as each lit up automatically. We saw Dracula, Dr. Phibes, the Fly, Frankenstein, Wolf Man, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, and so on. The figures looked great. There was amazing detail in some of the displays. Were they scary? No. In fact, the only thing frightening about the Dungeon was the incredibly tight quarters visitors must traverse to get from beginning to end. I kept my back hunched the entire time, fearing a beam to the forehead in the pitch black darkness. This is why only a few people go inside at once, I thought. There really isn't space for more than two or three people.

But, hokey as it was, I had a good time walking though the Witch's Dungeon. Had the wait been longer, I may have been disappointed, but we left with a smile on our faces.

If you're thinking of visiting the Dungeon, I suggest an early arrival. Also, bring a coffee or hot chocolate to keep warm. Here is a link to a YouTube video tour of the Dungeon, in case you bail from the line.

The Witch's Dungeon is open Friday, Saturday, and Sundays in October from 7 PM to 10 PM. They will be closed the weekend of October 24 - 26th, though.