This article is from 2021 and may be outdated. We're working on restoring a newer version.
Some haunted sites require waivers due to dangerous areas that visitors must avoid.
The fact is, some ghost enthusiasts take risks anyway. A waiver protects the site owners from lawsuit.
Usually, waivers are designed to create a scarier atmosphere. It’s simply good theater. Consider the waiver and posted warning signs part of the set dressing. It’s performance art.
But… whether they’re “set dressing” or not, don’t ignore those signs. They might just be legitimate.
Haunted houses can be very old, and old houses can have loose or weak floorboards, narrow corridors, and other potential hazards.
Sometimes, liability insurance requires waivers. When you are investigating in the dark, it’s easy to bump into something, trip over a loose carpet, or lose your footing on stairs.
The same thing could happen if you’re wandering around an unfamiliar not-haunted house in the dark.
Take precautions, whether you’re asked to sign a waiver or not. If you see someone stumble on uneven stairs, tread carefully. Old houses and other haunts can present risks like that. That’s expected.
However, if you’re ever hurt at a “haunted” site due to the owner’s obvious negligence, see an attorney.
It doesn’t matter if you’ve signed a waiver. There’s a big difference between an accident, and poor site maintenance.