We got a sneak peek of the coolest new haunted house, and it’s something to crow about. Crow Manor is a crow-themed murder mystery inside a historic Northeast Portland home, where people are disappearing and the crow population keeps growing. Something is decidedly fowl. Step inside to explore the mystery, with tiny surprises tucked throughout the house and plenty of reasons to look twice.
There’s a lot to love here, even if your family prefers its spooky season without the scares. Think a beautiful old house, a community of creative volunteers, and an October outing that benefits Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. There’s even a gentler option for little kids, too.
Choose your level of spooky
For families with younger children — or anyone who would rather admire the atmosphere than brace for fear — the Matinee Experience offers brighter lighting, quieter sound and no actors, scares or storytelling. Matinees run Sundays, October 11, 18 and 25 and November 1, with entry windows from 4–4:30 pm and 4:30–5 pm.
Have teens who want the full haunted-house treatment? The Haunting Experience includes live actors, improvised scares and unpredictable encounters. There’s also a Narrative Experience, with actors performing scripted scenes for visitors who want to follow the mystery.
Tickets for each experience are $20 for adults and $10 for ages 5–17; children ages 0–4 enter free. Choose your experience and arrival window on the Crow Manor ticket page. And with proceeds benefitting Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, this is a splurge to feel good about.
Visit Crow Manor: 2116 NE 18th Avenue, Portland. See dates and reserve tickets. Each ticketed guest needs a completed waiver; a parent or guardian must sign for minors.
Look closely, the crows are in the details
One of our favorite things about the sneak peek was how much there was to discover, even in this early phase. Look for crows tucked into paintings and tiny, unexpected details you could easily miss on a quick walk through. This is a place to take your time and let the kids point things out.
There will even be an Easter egg hunt with a crow-approved twist: kids can search for eggs filled with sparkly things a crow might like to collect. A fire pit and photo props add to the fun, and the gift shop at the end will have snacks and trinkets. Budget a little extra time for browsing, and a few dollars if your kids are collectors of shiny things, too.
Make it a whole crow-themed October
Portland is having a crow moment, and Crow Manor grew right out of it. Its connection to the Wildwood: Follow the Crows art trail is especially sweet: John McCulloch and his mother, artist Sue-Del McCulloch, painted Flying Fields Forever, the crow statue at Director Park. You can visit their sculpture at Director Park and see the first spark of inspiration that led to Crow Manor.
Portland has enough crow activities this year to give your entire October a theme. Start with the free art trail, where you can spot 30 artist-decorated crow sculptures around Portland through October 30. Visit Crow Manor at your family’s preferred scare level, then catch LAIKA’s Portland-set Wildwood (PG-13), opening in theaters October 23. For an all-ages finale, the trail’s crows gather at Darcelle XV Plaza for a free farewell weekend October 31–November 1.
We appreciate a city that commits to a theme.
A historic house worth saving
Part of what makes Crow Manor special is the house itself. This 1907 Irvington home was designed by architect John Virginius Bennes and later became the Peace House, a place of refuge and community. New owner John McCulloch stepped in to save the building when demolition threatened its future, and he’s doing what he does best: giving a historic house new life and bringing the community together to raise money for a good cause.
It’s easy to get excited about a new Halloween outing. It’s even easier when that outing gives people a reason to gather inside an architectural treasure that might otherwise have been lost, and the gift of knowing these evenings of fun are also benefitting Doernbecher. This project carries that community spirit forward, with neighbors, theater folks, and other volunteers helping bring Crow Manor to life.
Help bring Crow Manor to life
Want to be part of the fun? Crow Manor is looking for scare actors and volunteers to help with costumes, makeup, sets, props and tech. No experience is needed, just enthusiasm and a willingness to pitch in.
The volunteer gathering is Sunday, September 27, at 4 pm at 2116 NE 18th Avenue, Portland. Can’t make it? Email info@mccullochconstruction.com to ask about other ways to help. Main cast and technical roles require a commitment to all or most performance dates, while other roles offer additional ways to participate. Volunteers receive perks including complimentary tickets for friends and family, dinner and snacks — and the chance to make something wonderfully strange with their neighbors.
