cutting edge haunted house age limit

5 Spooky Haunted Houses in Dallas-Fort Worth

Thrill-seekers wait all year for the eerie environments and classic jump scares that Dallas haunted houses provide–and these haunted houses in the DFW metro area are among the best!

For those who want some less intense Halloween spook this season, don’t worry!

Whether you’re celebrating with kids or simply don’t like to be (too) scared there are options for you, as well. 

If you’re hoping to scare yourself silly this October, here’s where to look.

Some links in this post may be affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please see our disclosure policy for more detail.

When to Visit Dallas-Fort Worth Haunted Houses

October is the peak season for exploring haunted houses in Dallas and beyond–but some of these events open as early as September!

Be sure to check exact dates for your haunted house in advance, especially if you are hoping to visit on a weeknight (some events are weekend-only).

Spooky Haunted Houses in Dallas-Fort Worth

Dark Hour is located in Plano, TX, about 25 minutes and 20 miles north of Dallas.

If you’re looking for a terrifying Halloween experience, this is the place for you.

Dark Hour is a unique haunted house near Dallas that they have two haunts in one location.

And fair warning, these events may be too intense for kids under 10 years old.

The Thirteen

Are witches right up your alley? Coven brings your witchy nightmares to life with The Thirteen.

Thirteen witches have cast a spell of dark magic that surpasses time as we know it and flows into a new dimension where otherworldly souls go.

Screams, pain, and fear only charge this spell, cast by witches strong in their powers with evil histories and horrors of ancient times.

Victoria Frankenstein, The Nightmare Witch, Meave Mackenna, Lilandra, Jaenna Greenteeth, Huldra, Hella Ween, The Wendigo Witch, Baba Lupina, Annabelle Noir, The Blind Sisters, Cih Lung, and Corva Hyve quietly chant “Bound by blood, We fear none. Our Coven’s reign has just begun.”

Annabelle Noire’s Asylum

Annabelle Noire’s Asylum brings you werewolves, wendigoes, and goblins ready to tear you apart if you get caught.

In the Asylum it’s Annabelle that will drive you mad.

Home to the spellbound, possessed, black magic mind control and domination spells pollute the demons held here.

The torment and madness held within these halls are palpable and so are the screams.

Cutting Edge

Cutting Edge Haunted House in Fort Worth is known as one of the biggest and best haunted houses in Fort Worth and in North Texas overall.

Plan to spend about one hour making it through the corridors of this Texas-sized haunted house.

“Hell’s Half Acre” is a historic part of Fort Worth where the 100-year-old abandoned meat packing plant is home to the famous Cutting Edge haunted house.

Named for the debauchery that took place in the 1800s, the Cutting Edge location was once home to roaming cowboys, outlaws, gunslingers, saloons, and overall lawlessness. 

The Cutting Edge brings the meatpacking plant back to life to process humans.

Realistic mannequins run through the plant on the original conveyor system to be butchered and brought to the first floor for packaging. Various themes throughout change annually.

Kids under 12 can’t be left alone–but then again, they probably won’t want to be!

Haunted Shadows Lake Trail

Haunted Shadows Lake Trail can be found just past the Blue Sky Sports Center in The Colony, TX.

Located 35 minutes north of Dallas, the Sports Center rests on the shores of Lake Lewisville and covers (in total) 171 acres.

Outside of the spooky season, this is an indoor soccer facility with outdoor fields as well.

The trail itself is just over a mile, so don’t let the acreage fool you. Acres of North Texas grasslands and native woods create a truly haunted experience.

The story of Jeremiah Brody is one that goes way back. Brody sought out troubled youngsters for work on his private farm, for a price of course. It saved time, money, and effort from the local sheriffs.

Discarded, troubled souls were taken out of public scorn but into a different kind of system.

Many nameless graves are found throughout the property’s cemetery with unmarked tombstones as they, in the end, were forgotten.

Some say those lost souls still haunt the old farm and harbor resentment towards society. 

This is a self-guided but well-marked trail. They do have a G version but you need to ask for it, which is great for elementary-aged kids.

This version means the youngest in the group is given a lightsaber to identify the group as G-rated, so you still get to experience the creepy trail, minus the intense scares.

Reindeer Manor

Reindeer Manor is located in Red Oak, TX, just a short 25-minute drive south of Dallas.

The home was built in 1920 and was owned by James Sharp, a successful oilman.

The wooden home caught fire killing the family renting it in the process.

James decided to rebuild a brick house, but before construction was finished he was found dead.

Matt, his son, inherited the farm with his wife and found wealth racing horses and investing in stocks.

Distraught from the stock market crash of 1929, he poisoned his wife in the house, then hanged himself in the same building where one of the attractions is held now.

This is also a confirmed haunted location and the longest-running haunted house in Dallas-Fort Worth’s metro, opening in 1974.

Reindeer Manor has four separate attractions to scare the, well you know, out of patrons.

A brick wall leads to a steel gate with an arch that reads “Reindeer Manor” instantly sending chills down your spine. The theme changes annually just to keep travelers on their toes.

13th Street Morgue, Dungeon of Doom, and Shadow House are also on the Reindeer Manor property and equally as scary but in different ways.

Other attractions are offered onsite as well, such as bands and ax throwing. 

There is no age limit to visit, but they ask visitors to use their best judgment.

Children will be offered a glow stick for protection from the monsters. 

Fright Fest

Fright Fest can be found inside of Six Flags Over Texas, which is already packed with roller coasters that are Texas-sized for the hard-core adrenaline junkie, to the low-key train ride around the park year-round. 

Fright Fest has been scaring visitors since 1993 when it officially debuted.

The event is fun for the whole family and always decked out with spooky ghosts, spider webs, creepy sounds, zombies, and monsters lurking around the park.

Typically, there are a handful of haunted houses within the park to choose from and themes vary. 

Fright Fest welcomes all ages. Haunted houses are located in the park but require an additional fee. 

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Cutting Edge Haunted House

Review Highlights

“ If people said it wasn't scary enough this year because of covid i'd love to see what it's like again in the future. ” in 6 reviews

“ If you want to skip the long lines, go on a weekday or buy the fast pass !! ” in 9 reviews

“ as for the haunt itself: it was warm, it always is unless DFW gets lucky and it's actually cold in october. ” in 18 reviews

Location & Hours

Suggest an edit

1701 E Lancaster Ave

Fort Worth, TX 76102

You Might Also Consider

The Dunham Farm

11.6 miles away from Cutting Edge Haunted House

Capybara, wallaby, giant tortoises and so much more await your visit here to The Dunham Farm Wildlife Park/ Petting Zoo. Do you want to hand feed and pet a baby capybara? Call us today to schedule your reservation. read more

in Attraction Farms, Petting Zoos

Cowtown Paints - Mobile Paint Parties

9.8 miles away from Cutting Edge Haunted House

Unleash your inner artist this holiday season! Host a festive painting party for a jolly good time. Gather friends & family for a creative celebration! Book your canvas of joy now! #HolidayPaintingParty #CreateAndCelebrate Call us… read more

in Paint-your-own Pottery, Party & Event Planning, Paint & Sip

Chuck E. Cheese

4.3 miles away from Cutting Edge Haunted House

Newer Better Birthdays

in Indoor Playcentre, Kids Activities, Arcades

Amenities and More

About the business.

Business owner information

The Boogieman B.

Business Owner

Cutting Edge Haunted House is one of the top haunted houses in the nation (year after year), as selected by Wall Street Journal, Hauntworld Magazine, Yahoo, US Airways Magazine, Fangoria Magazine, USA Travel Guide, Haunted House Ratings.com and dozens of other media sources. Cutting Edge is a two time Guinness World Record Winner for the "World's Largest Haunted House". Cutting Edge Haunted House is much more than just a Haunted House, it's a Haunted Event with entertainment starting the moment you enter the parking lot. Drumlines, Zombie Bands and Costumed Monsters roam the parking lot providing high quality entertainment. Inside the event lurk 100+ Live Actors, along with countless Special FX's and Animatronics, a Human Maze as well as a "Stomp" style drum performance. Located in a 100-year-old abandoned meat packing plant in a section of Fort Worth historically dubbed as "Hell's Half Acre," the Cutting Edge Haunted House is built upon a foundation of fear. The meat packing equipment from the Old West is still in use, but now it is a two-story human processing area. Realistic looking human mannequins are hoisted up to the second level and brought through the entire meat packing process until the conveyor system brings the butchered corpses back to the first level. The old meat-packing plant in downtown Fort Worth is a great home for fantastic special effects... …

Ask the Community

Ask a question

How much is it to get in?

Are there different levels? And do you go up stairs?

U go downstairs

Recommended Reviews

• 1 star rating Not good
• 2 star rating Could’ve been better
• 3 star rating OK
• 4 star rating Good
• 5 star rating Great

Select your rating

Overall rating

167 reviews

Hello! I am a business owner. I have been trying to reach the owner to conduct business for July. If someone could please reach out to me in regards of the event. Thanks! DT Carter 313-977-1602

Not worth the time or money now. I went about 10 years ago and have been wanting to try this haunt again. I remember it being a lot more fun and organized. The Saw room at the end back then was really a cool touch....now there is a bubble tunnel....Cost way too much to be rushed through the haunt and they put you with other people. So if you think it will be just you and your friends going as a group, nope!! They herd you in with like 10 other people. So by the time you get to a room or hallway and you are in the back or middle, the first two people have trigger the scare. Takes almost an hour to get through because there are three times you actually stop and are in a queue again waiting to continue. And the bubble tunnel and the end was dumb, we were not offered a way around it but thankfully there was already a hole through it from the previous groups. Did nothing but soak us. I would have been really mad if it was freezing that night. Try other haunts, there is one not too far from this one in strip mall that is pretty impressive.

This was a very good haunted house. I loved it. It was very scary and the actors were doing amazing. Also when you go through the tiny space were it has clothes hanging it was like I was gonna suffocate. The live rock band was outstanding in all lines, waiting in the haunted house for too bad with the clowns. They are chainsaws chasing you really cool and things just hissing and popping out at you at the end. I don't recommend the bubbles get soaked, and you have to cover your eyes mouth and nose because you're going to get them in your eyes and you almost can't breathe, but I was all fine I do recommend this to ages 13 and up.

Cutting Edge is the best haunted house I've gone too. Such great theatrics and different things that you definitely don't see in other top of the line haunted houses such as Halloween Horror Nights in Orlando. Unfortunately my girlfriend and I had 3 immature ass teenagers that were literally screaming "Donald Trump save us" and making "meow" noises the ENTIRE house right behind us. I get people will be teenagers but GOD DAMN. Literally the ENTIRE time. If it wasn't for that I'd give 5 stars but they should have security for losers like them that ruin it for the rest of us!

If you're planning to go, make sure to buy your tickets online ahead of time. We booked our tickets about four days in advance. The time slots between 8-10pm on a Saturday were completely sold out. Parking was $15 per car. I recommend carpooling if you're going in a big group. Once you park, you will have to check in online or via text. There will be a notification of when to head to the haunted house, which was roughly three minutes for us. You will have to sign a waiver before proceeding. Once you stand in line, it's an additional 30 minutes to reach the entrance. (FYI: The last person in the group gets to wear a glow in the dark stick.) Watch out for the chainsaw man; he's out and about. The DJ will be playing music the entire time to entertain while everyone waits. If you're lucky, you may see the skeleton drummers marching around. Throughout the whole experience, the music was very loud and upbeat, giving this fast paced vibe. Honestly, it might be creepier to play eerie, slow music. The best scenario would be to keep it completely silent, which is nearly impossible with how popular and crowded this place is. There are parts with nothing much going on. The group in front of us was walking pretty slow, so we kept on bumping into them. Nevertheless, we could hear them scream and shriek ahead of us. My advice is to try to isolate from the group before you as much as possible to minimize spoiling surprises or upcoming scares. At the end, there is the option to either go through the foam or bypass it. I recommend holding hands with people in your group if opting for the ruthless foam. As you advance, it gets difficult to breathe, comparable to the sensation of drowning for 10 seconds. You will get soaked on this last part! Overall, it was a fun group activity. I wasn't as scared as anticipated. It is a little on the pricey side for the experience.

TUNNELS!!! The actual haunted house was amazing the only problem was at the end with the bubbles. They have someone standing there just telling you go that way but what they really need is someone on either end and then letting a few people go through at a time and communicate when someone goes in and when that same person comes out and then send more people through. They send everyone in as they get to the end and causing a big commotion inside the bubbles and people running back out where they come in or turning around halfway through running into people and pushing around making others fall. It is already very hard to breathe while inside the bubbles and you get completely soaked walking through it doesn't help when they let 50+ people in all at the same time and the lady telling you to go in is more worried about if you pull your phone out than making sure that people aren't turning around and running back out of the bubbles knocking others over.

was fine until very end. bubbles are had me almost passed out. there was no way to breathe even when I tried to cover my mouth eith my sleeve because clothes were wet. atrocious

This place was so fun! It had a band in between haunted houses that was amazing. It had just the right amount of people jumping out at you. It had a bubble maze at the end that scared my boyfriend more than the entire haunted house. Remember not to panic when you accidentally breathe in the bubbles.

I hadn't been to this place in a very long time. I think my daughter may have been a preteen & she is 26 now, so that will give you an idea. The prices certainly were not 50.00 per person & they didn't have iPads for you to sign you legal rights away on before entering the place that's for sure. We went Halloween night in the slotted time of 730-800pm. The line went very fast to get us in. My boyfriend & I brought his 14 yr old daughter since she was in town just to try something fun. I don't think she was impressed though. I remember it being way more scarier & now it's very predictable. This best part to me was about 1/2 way through you got to stop & take a break to listen to some guys that were totally jamming on these glowing drums. It was wild. Don't take pics in there! Someone came & hit me in the face with a balloon! Then as I was walking out of that corridor she tapped my nose twice! I tapped hers back! The other fun part is the bubble room. You can bypass it if you would like, but I wouldn't. You are totally immersed in bubbles to the point you have to close your eyes & your mouth. You have to feel your way out! When you do get out you're soaked like a sponge of dawn fixing to do the dirty dishes! I haven't laughed that hard while having a semi-anxiety attack at the same time! Summary not scary... pricey.. Don't ever touch your customers especially over a picture! Omgoodness! Don't bypass the bubble room.

The demon drum line inside and outside was badass, but there was only 1 time I got startled me. They say it takes 45 minutes to an hour to go through... I only took 30 minutes. Way over priced for what you got... There are way better haunted houses for way cheaper

85 other reviews that are not currently recommended

Corky’s Gaming Bistro

22.3 miles away from Cutting Edge Haunted House

Daniel B. said "Imma be straight up with y'all, I walked in and didn't know how to feel. However, I knew I could t pre judge. And now I feel kinda bad. I came in on Friday night, and was greeted by this young guy named Louis. The man made me feel…" read more

in Escape Games, Arcades, Axe Throwing

AMC Palace 9

1.3 miles away from Cutting Edge Haunted House

Janice R. said "After reading other reviews I was hesitant to purchase tickets for Top Gun: Maverick today. My concern was unfounded. The theatre was clean, the lobbies were clean, the bathrooms were well-stocked and clean, sound and auditorium…" read more

Collections Including Cutting Edge Haunted House

Halloween happenings in Metro Fort Worth

By Yelp Fort Worth T.

Who's ROTD?! I'm ROTD!

By Christine C.

People Also Viewed

Moxley Manor Haunted House

Hangman’s House of Horrors

Texas Scaregrounds

Pumpkin Nights

Dark Hour Haunted House

Smash N Bash

Forest of Fear

Texas Frightmare Weekend

Fixation VR

Rooftop Cinema Club - Downtown Fort Worth

Browse Nearby

Pumpkin Patches

Bike Rentals

Haunted Houses Near Me

People found Cutting Edge Haunted House by searching for…

Date Night Ideas Fort Worth

Fun Date Ideas Fort Worth

Fun Places For Teens Fort Worth

Late Night Activities Fort Worth

Scary Places Fort Worth

Stuff To Do Fort Worth

Teen Dance Clubs Fort Worth

Other Haunted Houses Nearby

Find more Haunted Houses near Cutting Edge Haunted House

• Change Region

Secondary menu

• Organizations: Login
• Organizations: How to post to KOAA lists and calendars
• Organizations: Register a new User ID / account
• Organizations: Advertising on KidsOutAndAbout
• Parents: Login to manage parent bulletin board posts
• Parents: How to post to Parent Bulletin Board
• Parents: Register a new parent bulletin board User ID

Ft. Worth's online guide to everything for kids, teens, & families!

Search form

Cutting edge haunted house 2020, cutting edge haunted house, organization:.

• Share on Facebook
• Tweet Widget
• Free Events Today
• Free Events This Weekend
• Free Events Next Weekend
• Free Places to Take Your Kids
• Master Guide to Holiday Fun
• Today's Events
• This Week's Events
• All Events This Weekend
• All Events Next Weekend
• Activities for Babies & Toddlers
• Activities for Preschoolers
• Activities for kids in Early Elementary School
• Activities for 'tweens
• Activities for Teens
• Activities for the Whole Family
• Private Schools & Charter Schools
• Preschools & Day Care
• Indoor Play Centers
• Local venues with memberships & season passes
• Music Organizations
• Performances & Movies
• Local Theater
• Dance Organizations
• Dance Performances
• Visual Arts Organizations
• Nature Centers & Zoos
• Amusement Parks
• Winter Fun: Skating
• Get Active: Sports & Fitness
• Local Gyms & Rec Centers
• Sports Education
• Sports Teams
• Special Needs
• Parenting Hacks
• Local Reviews
• Vacation Reviews
• Product Reviews
• Book, Music, & Games Reviews
• Event Reviews
• Fall Break Camps
• Holiday Break Camps
• A Week-by-Week Guide to Summer Camps
• General Day Camps
• Overnight Camps
• Sports/Fitness
• STEM, Language, and Culture
• Visual Arts
• Cooking & Crafts
• Virtual/Online Summer Camps
• All Classes by Subject
• Sports & Fitness
• Exercise & Health
• Horseback Riding
• Martial Arts
• Performing Arts
• Hands-on (Arts & Crafts & Cooking)
• Sign Language
• Academic (Science, Tech, Writing, History, Test prep, etc)
• Virtual/Online Classes
• Exhibits - current & upcoming
• Story times at libraries & bookstores
• Organizations focused on STEM or Culture
• Homeschool Groups & Programs
• 101 Ideas for Holiday Family Fun
• Christmas Tree Farms
• Subscriptions Boxes: Gifts That Keep on Giving
• Where to visit Santa
• FREE Holiday Events
• Christmas Activities
• Lightbulb Day
• New Year's Eve Activities
• Holiday concerts and performances
• Master Guide to Winter Fun
• Ice Skating
• Zoos and Nature Centers
• Master Guide to Summer Fun
• Master Guide to Fall Fun
• Halloween Fun
• Fall Festivals
• Pumpkin Patches
• Upcoming online events
• Virtual/Online Learning Resources & Classes
• 24/7 virtual experiences
• Top 20 Places to Take Kids in Ft. Worth
• 101 Family Day Trips from Ft. Worth
• Blog of publisher's weekly column: Notes from Deb
• This Week's Newsletter
• Sign Up For Our Weekly E-newsletter
• Advertise in Our Weekly E-newsletter

• Manage Account
• Election Day
• World Series
• Top Workplaces
• Things to Do
• Public Notices
• Help Center

This event has ended.

Cutting Edge Haunted House

At cutting edge haunted house oct 1, 2023 - nov 3, 2023.

• Official website

Event Type:

• Haunted Houses

Did we get anything wrong? Do you have something to add?

Let us know here.

More Things to Do

Fun things to do this weekend and beyond in dallas-fort worth, holiday highlights: events and attractions to check out this week, movies in north texas theaters on nov. 23 and coming soon, where to see the top christmas lights and holiday displays in dallas-fort worth, festivals, parades and tree lightings kick off the holidays in dallas-fort worth.

Cutting Edge Haunted House is located at:

1701 E. Lancaster Ave., Fort Worth, Texas 76102

(near the intersection of I-30 & I-35W)

Heading WEST on I-30

• Exit SOUTH RIVERSIDE DR. (exit Number 16A)
• Merge onto RIVERSIDE DR.
• Turn right onto E. LANCASTER AVE.

Heading EAST on I-30

• Take the US- S/TX-180 exit towards LANCASTER AVE.
• Keep RIGHT at the fork in the ramp
• Stay straight onto E. LANCASTER AVE.

Parking ranges from $15-$20. Parking lots close 15 mins prior to show close.

Closing Times

Gates close 15 mins after final time slot opens.

Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More

Continue in Browser

Get hyperlocal forecasts, radar and weather alerts.

Please enter a valid zipcode.

Spooky season: A guide to haunted houses in the DFW area

DALLAS — ‘Tis the season of Michael Myers, Freddie Krueger, Pennywise and horror lovers in search of what nightmares are made of as Halloween approaches. It’s spooky season and if you’re looking for a scary good time, the Dallas-Fort Worth area has some good haunts for the whole family.

Cutting Edge Haunted House

1701 E Lancaster, Fort Worth, Texas

First up, one of the largest and most popular ghostly attractions sits right in Fort Worth, Texas, in a 100-year-old abandoned meat packing plant. The Cutting Edge Haunted House was voted Best Haunted House in the Nation by USA Today for a second year. Get ready to cover your eyes and ears as you explore the multistory, multi-themed frightening attraction.

Dark Hour Haunted House

701 Taylor Dr., Plano, Texas

Now heading slightly north of Dallas in Plano, Texas, is another popular attraction sure to give you nightmares. This year’s theme is “Beware of the Thirteen,” a frightening journey that leads those who dare enter into the darkness of ancient evils and witches. There is a warning that this attraction may be too intense for those under the age of 10, according to the haunted house’s website.

Junkyard Haunted House

2700 Sylvan St., Dallas, Texas

Sitting in the heart of Dallas, in South Dallas’ historic Oak Cliff neighborhood, is the Junkyard Haunted House. The terror of this attraction lies within its location being in an actual abandoned junkyard. The affordability and accessibility of this haunted attraction is a motivating factor to bring the whole family with free parking and only a $20 entry fee. Ages 5 and up are welcome.

Haunted Shadows Lake Trail in The Colony

7801 North Main St., The Colony, Texas

If you’re seeking a less traditional haunted house and something more immersive that gives you the opportunity to roam, a haunted trail may be more your thing. The Haunted Shadows Lake Trail provides a “Blair Witch Project” style trail just along the whatever goes bump in the night in the woods of Lake Lewisville. Groups must pick their way in the dark through the winding trail as they meet ghoulish figures of the night. This attraction offers a PG version of the trail, upon request, for those who want to bring small children. 

Home About Contact

MetroGuide.Network > VenueGuide > Dallas Venues > Cutting Edge Haunted House Profile Page

Cutting Edge Haunted House

This Profile Page is brought to you courtesy of the VenueGuide Network service. Cutting Edge Haunted House is located in Fort Worth.

To check hotel rates and availability for major events, click here .

For a complete list of up-to-date area events, try: EventGuide

Sage-Answer

Just clear tips and lifehacks for every day

Is there an age limit for Cutting Edge haunted house?

Table of Contents

• 1 Is there an age limit for Cutting Edge haunted house?
• 2 Can actors in haunted houses touch you?
• 3 What is a scare actor?
• 4 What’s the longest haunted house?
• 5 When do you need to be an actor for Haunted House?

NO CHILDREN UNDER 12 admitted WITHOUT A GUARDIAN.

How old do you have to be to work at a haunted house in Texas?

In order to be eligible for paid and volunteer spots you must be at least 16 years of age, have reliable transportation, and work all seasonal nights.

Can actors in haunted houses touch you?

Whether it be a response to fear or another influence, haunted house workers say it’s not unheard of for customers to touch or injure actors on the job. Cortney Collia, an actress at Haunt Park inside of the Kalamazoo Speedway, said it’s rare for customers to have a physical reaction to fear.

Where is world’s longest haunted house?

Dragon’s House of Horror at Expo New Mexico is one of the state’s top-rated haunted house. It currently holds the official Guinness World Record for the longest ever — and this year, you can expect more scares.

What is a scare actor?

While there are always a variety of roles available, ideal Scare Actors are outgoing individuals who show up on-time ready to go, can think quickly on their feet (and in character), and handle the physically demanding environment inside the attractions.

How long is scream world?

Enjoy the fear. How long does it take to go through all the attractions? Depending on how busy it is and how long you wait in line, usually 45 minutes to an hour.

What’s the longest haunted house?

Where is the haunted house in cutting edge?

When do you need to be an actor for Haunted House?

What are the jobs of a haunted house?

Privacy Overview

• Bahasa Indonesia
• Slovenščina
• Science & Tech
• Russian Kitchen

Moscow’s 9 most unusual houses

Ship House. 2, Bolshaya Tulskaya Str. // Built in 1981 by the USSR Ministry of Atomic Industry, this is one of the few buildings in Moscow that can withstand a nuclear explosion. The foreman who oversaw its construction spent his entire life building only nuclear reactors, which left its mark on this house. To prevent it from “folding up” in the event of an explosion, there are no 90° angles in this seismically stable house — only 87° or 93°; the thickness of the glass panes is a unique 0.23 inches. It is called the “Ship” because of its huge size (1312 feet long, 164 feet high) and encircling balconies that resemble decks.

Egg House. 1/11 Mashkova Str. // Moscow has always been famous for its crankiness and sweeping gestures, including architecture. One of the most striking and outrageous examples is the “Egg House”. Originally planned to be built in Bethlehem as a maternity ward, it was eventually put up in Moscow. Outwardly, it resembles a giant copy of a Fabergé egg. It is the only such house in the world.

Arseny Morozov Mansion (Reception House of the Russian Government), 16 Vozdvizhenka // This house was built in 1899 by order of young millionaire, dandy, and merchant family heir Arseny Morozov on a plot of land given to him by his mother on his 25th birthday. Even at the construction stage, the house, which was executed in a Moorish style unprecedented for Moscow, became the butt of ridicule and criticism. When it was finished, legend has it that his vexed mother’s words were: “Only I used to know that you’re a fool, now the whole of Moscow will know!”

Nautilus Trade Center, 25 Nikolskaya Str. // In the early 2000s, this mall became Moscow's new “Morozov Mansion” — lambasted by everyone for its vulgarity. The pretentious postmodern architecture seems to jut out of an edifice on one of Moscow’s oldest streets, but the place once sited the Vladimir Gates of the Kitai-Gorod Wall and the Chapel of St. Panteleimon — buildings that were also rich in gaudy architectural details. Furthermore, the region was always a hotbed of commerce, for which reason a shopping center is quite apropos. Who knows, maybe in future Nautilus — like Morozov’s house before it — will become a feature of classic Moscow architecture.

Copper House, 3 Butikovsky Lane. // Built within the “Golden Mile,” historically the most expensive area of Moscow, this three-block residential house of 20 apartments was admitted to the Moscow Museum of Architecture’s collection of finest buildings in 2003-2004. It is faced with prepatinated copper plates and is one of the most expensive blocks in Moscow.

Stolnik House, 5 Maly Levshinskiy Lane. // Stolnik stands among the old lanes of Arbat Street, still home to places where Pushkin once resided. This residential house made of glass and metal literally explodes the architectural environment. However, there is something vaguely classical about it, namely the three-part symmetric layout and “Corinthian column” motif.

Kitezh Business Center, 3-7 Kievskaya Str. // This business center resembles the Titanic. The unique shape is the result of the complex internal structure — many of the shafts and stairwells are inclined and curved. Such a project would be beyond many architects, but Dmitry Bush has been building stadiums and ice rinks in Russia for many years.

Melnikov House, 10 Krivoarbatsky Lane. // This single-unit house, built by the great Soviet avant-garde architect Konstantin Melnikov for his family, is today an architectural monument of national significance. It is unique for its shape — two intersecting cylinders each truncated by a third of its radius — and its hexagonal window apertures encircling the entire circumference of the building. There are 60 windows in total, while the apertures in the walls number more than 130 — all stuffed with brick and construction debris (not a single wheelbarrow of waste was removed from the site!), but able to be unblocked to create a new window anywhere in the walls. Melnikov placed such windows in all the walls so that his hand never overshadowed a blueprint in his studio. The internal area of the house is very modest — a mere 2691 ft². Melnikov’s descendants live here to this day.

Department for Brain Research of the Neurology Center under the Russian Academy of Sciences, 5-7 Obukha Lane. // Built in 1914 in the era of art nouveau, this building is a former Evangelical hospital for the poor. In Soviet times, it housed the Brain Institute, which primarily studied the brains of prominent (and deceased) state and public figures: Lenin, Mayakovsky, Landau, Sakharov, Michurin, Gorky, and others. Of all the houses in Moscow, this building most resembles a gloomy castle from a gothic novel or vampire legend, especially in overcast weather.

All rights reserved by Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

to our newsletter!

Get the week's best stories straight to your inbox

This website uses cookies. Click here to find out more.