After hosting five seasons of “The Ugliest House in America,” comedian Retta knows a thing or two about dated, disgusting, and unfortunate homes. But what about the spookiest?
Just in time for Halloween, Retta is hosting “Scariest House in America.” In this new series, she travels the country, touring horror movie-worthy homes in search of one that she can deem the heebie-jeebiest.
Ultimately, the scariest house wins a $150,000 renovation from celebrity designer Alison Victoria—which may or may not please the spirits.
Curious about what icky surprises Retta has seen so far in the mysterious mansions and haunted houses? Here are some of the spookiest and scariest from the first two episodes.
A scary elevator ‘tops’ our list
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One house from the premiere episode, “Nightmares in the Northeast,” is scary for two reasons.
One, homeowner Jeremy believes the spirit of the builder and previous owner of this home still resides within the walls.
Two, the 1950 home, located in Saunderstown, RI, is full of death traps.
Yes, actual death traps. There’s a pit in the living room, a catwalk with a 15-foot drop, and an extremely small elevator made from scrap parts. (No, thank you!)
“Now, the concept of having an elevator in your home, I would be, like, ‘Baller!'” Retta says. “Until you told me it was this one.”
An authentic jail
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Another creepy house from the first episode is a building with a dangerous past.
The front half of the 1895 building is a charming Victorian, while the back is shockingly filled with old jail cells.
Yep, the building in Bedford, PA, operated as the local county jail until 1996.
Homeowners Doreen and Jon use some of the cells for storage, but they don’t go near them at night—and it’s no wonder why. (We do not want these walls to talk, thank you!)
Even during Retta’s quick tour, she hears a mysterious clank from the back of the old cellblock.
“Hearing the clanking? I’m out!” she proclaims.
Passthrough closet—to the great beyond?
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In Episode 2, “Mysterious Midwest,” Retta meets Judy and Steve, who own a spooky Brumley, MO, home built in 1855.
Retta ends up declaring this house the scariest in the Midwestern region (qualifying it for the finals) for a great reason: The house comes with a graveyard.
Perhaps that’s a great idea because four of the previous owners died in the house, and another died elsewhere on the property. There’s also a passthrough closet with a door that the owners have caught on camera opening on its own—yikes!
A room full of dolls
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What’s a haunted house without a room full of creepy dolls just waiting to animate and stab you? Judy and Steve also show Retta a child’s room filled with toys that recall movies such as “Chucky” and “Annabelle.”
“Are you trying to make it scary?” Retta asks. “Look at this. Children are scary, as are dolls.”
When the she is done touring the house, she seems eager to leave.
“If I could get out of here pretty soon, that’d be great,” Retta says.
A room dedicated to a ghost
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The third house in this episode is an 1880s building in Atchison, KS. Homeowners Camille and Thomas say it is definitely haunted.
Six deaths were confirmed in the house, Camille says, calling them her “honorary roommates.” (Okaaay.)
The house is filled with scary stuff, including an unmarked grave. But perhaps the weirdest is the “offering room” in the basement.
Camille explains that one psychic made contact with a ghost down here, who “asked for his boots back.”
Now, Camille and Thomas reserve this room for him to hang out in (naturally).
“We leave a chair for him to relax in and cigarettes and whiskey to keep him comfortable,” Camille offers.
