Jason Voorhees is back for Middle Tennessee's Halloween season, and this time guests get to call some of his shots. Nashville Nightmare has unveiled three all-new haunted experiences for 2026, including an officially licensed Jason Universe walkthrough that puts fans face to face with the Friday the 13th slasher.
The Jason-themed experience has two versions. The first, Survive the Night, is billed on the attraction's own site as “an officially licensed Jason Universe walkthrough haunted attraction,” according to nashvillenightmare.com, putting guests in the path of “Jason Voorhees, the world's most feared slasher from the Friday the 13th franchise.” The second, Director's Cut, is brand new for 2026 and turns visitors into part of the storyline: four buttons inside the attraction are labeled Panic, Slash, Strike and Stalk, letting guests choose how Jason's next attack plays out.
A New Way to Steer the Slasher
The interactive format is notable because it marks new territory for licensed horror attractions. Dread Central describes the collaboration as adding interactive elements that let guests influence how Jason's story unfolds, noting that visitors can experience two distinct versions of the attraction — Survive the Night and Director's Cut, per dreadcentral.com. The site also calls the overall collaboration a first-of-its-kind licensed Jason Universe attraction.
The Jason Universe experiences were created through a partnership between Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group and Horror, Inc. The experiences are scheduled to appear this Halloween season at select attractions in Denver, Austin, Houston, San Antonio, Phoenix, Green Bay, Minneapolis, New Orleans and Nashville, as a first-of-its-kind licensed Jason Universe attraction.
Three New Haunts Plus a Returning Favorite
Beyond the Jason additions, Nashville Nightmare has unveiled three brand-new haunted experiences this season. Fan favorite Fairytale Hell is also returning, bringing back one of the attraction's established crowd-pleasers.
The haunt's 16th season runs on select nights from September 12 through November 13, with tickets available starting at $19.99 on those select nights.
Escape Rooms and Location Details
Alongside the walkthroughs, Nashville Nightmare also offers Mini Escape Games, which give groups just five minutes to use clues and riddles hidden throughout the room to complete their objective. The attraction is part of a larger company footprint — Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group operates more than 15 haunted house locations across the country, according to the Nashville Nightmare site.
The attraction is not recommended for children under 12, the Williamson Source notes. Free parking is available behind the Madison Square Shopping Center, according to the attraction's own location page.
