While some seek festive warmth during the holidays, Netflix and other platforms offer a chilling deep dive into the world of extreme haunts. This exploration of McKamey Manor will reveal how a single Tennessee location became the subject of intense cinematic scrutiny and legal controversy.

The dark corners of reality television often highlight destinations that most people would actively avoid during their winter vacations.

Netflix's Dark Tourist covers the infamous McKamey Manor in the final episode of Season 1, Episode 8, titled Back in the USA. In this episode, host David Farrier investigates extreme tourism, including the notorious haunted house, meeting its owner, and experiencing part of the ordeal  

McKamey Manor remains open and continues to operate its controversial survival horror tours in Summertown, Tennessee, as of late 2025, as stated in the Hulu documentary, Monster Inside: America’s Most Extreme Haunted House. While the original San Diego location closed years ago, owner Russ McKamey confirmed the attraction is still active despite an ongoing investigation by the Tennessee Attorney General.

"We’re known for no quitting, and no safe word,” owner Russ McKamey stated in the Hulu documentary regarding the extreme nature of the experience, according to reporting from the New York Post. He continues to operate the site despite the ongoing state investigation and intense national backlash from former guests.

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The documentaries showed a clear history of why government officials and the public are demanding a permanent closure. What happened to tourists is more horrific than any true-crime documentary.

According to reporting from the New York Post, McKamey Manor is currently under investigation by Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti. This probe follows years of complaints regarding violence and inhumane treatment of visitors who enter the Summertown property.

Participants must sign a forty-page waiver that mentions potential risks such as tooth pulling, head shaving, and finger breaking. Activists have organized online petitions with tens of thousands of signatures, labeling the attraction a torture chamber in disguise rather than a haunted house.

The controversy reached a new peak after claims surfaced that visitors were waterboarded and trapped in boxes with no way to escape. While the owner maintains his innocence, the legal pressure continues to mount as more individuals share their stories of physical and mental trauma.

For those seeking a more comprehensive analysis, the 2023 documentary Monster Inside: America’s Most Extreme Haunted House is currently streaming on Hulu. This film provides an in-depth look at the controversial practices through interviews with participants who describe their harrowing experiences.

The manor also features prominently in the 2017 documentary film Haunters: The Art of the Scare, which is accessible on various video-on-demand platforms. These productions collectively document the rise of a destination that many critics now view with significant concern.

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Do you have guts to watch the Netflix documentary, Dark Tourist and know the reality? Let us know in the comments below.