Deep Dive
What makes McKamey Manor different from typical haunted houses?
McKamey Manor is a highly extreme haunted house where participants sign a waiver allowing the organizers to torture them, including actions like waterboarding, shaving heads, and pulling teeth.
Who is Russ McKamey, and what is his background?
Russ McKamey is the creator of McKamey Manor. He was born on January 28, 1959, in Fullerton, California. He served in the United States Navy for 22 years, retiring in 2002. He also worked as a DJ and at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post in San Diego.
How did McKamey Manor evolve over the years?
Originally a family-friendly haunted house in 2005, McKamey Manor evolved into an extreme attraction by the early 2010s, allowing participants to be physically and psychologically tortured. This shift coincided with Russ McKamey's brain injury in 2010.
What are some of the extreme activities participants may endure at McKamey Manor?
Participants may face activities such as waterboarding, being shaved, having their teeth pulled, being buried alive, and enduring physical abuse like being slapped with a wet sock or having their hair pulled.
Why do some people believe McKamey Manor is linked to the CIA?
Some speculate that Russ McKamey, with his Navy background, is secretly working for the CIA to test interrogation techniques on participants. This theory suggests that the CIA uses the manor to document and refine torture methods for use on terrorists.
What is the controversy surrounding the safe word at McKamey Manor?
Some participants claim they used the safe word to stop the experience, but the torture continued. This has led to accusations that the safe word system is not always respected, despite being part of the legal waiver.
What is the waiting list for McKamey Manor, and why is it so long?
McKamey Manor has a waiting list of over 24,000 people. The extreme nature of the experience and the $20,000 prize for completing the tour attract many participants, despite the physical and psychological risks.
What happened to Russ McKamey in 2010, and how did it affect him?
In 2010, Russ McKamey suffered a brain injury involving a brain bleed, seizures, and a small stroke. After recovering, his haunted house attraction became more extreme, leading some to speculate that the injury altered his behavior and decision-making.
What are some of the allegations made by Russ McKamey's ex-partners?
Ex-partners, including Carol and Holly, have accused Russ of verbal and psychological abuse, controlling behavior, and making disturbing comments about children. Holly also claimed Russ fantasized about children and would watch them at Walmart.
What is the petition to shut down McKamey Manor, and how many people have signed it?
A petition on change.org, filed in 2019, calls for the closure of McKamey Manor due to its extreme and allegedly abusive practices. As of the podcast recording, over 193,058 people have signed the petition.
- McKamey Manor's evolution from a family-friendly haunted house to an extreme experience.
- Russ McKamey's background in the US Navy and his subsequent career as a DJ and VFW claims representative.
- The increasing intensity of McKamey Manor over the years and the growing controversy surrounding it.
Shownotes Transcript