Haunted Escape Room in Ohio | Joyce's Dollhouse at Crooked Cottage
Most haunted escape rooms are designed to feel spooky. Joyce's Dollhouse at Crooked Cottage is different — the haunting came first, and the escape room was built around it. This is a paranormal investigation set inside a real historic building where unexplained things continue to happen. You've been warned.
Who Is Joyce Babcock?
When we were renovating the Crooked Cottage building, workers discovered something tucked inside the walls of what would become our dollhouse room — an address card bearing the name Joyce Babcock. We didn't put it there. We don't know how long it had been inside the wall. We don't know who Joyce was or when she lived here.
What we do know is that this room has had the highest concentration of unexplained activity in the building since we opened. Joyce Babcock is the name we've given to whatever — or whoever — hasn't left. The escape room experience is built around investigating her presence. Whether you believe in hauntings or not, something in this room doesn't behave the way it should.
Documented Unexplained Activity
These are not atmospheric effects we've engineered. These are things that have actually happened in this room since we took ownership of the building.
- Security cameras have triggered motion alerts at night with no one in the building — and captured footage of nothing visible causing the trigger.
- Guests and staff have reported apparitions in the dollhouse room on multiple separate occasions.
- iPads and phones experience unexplained technical glitches in this room at a rate inconsistent with the rest of the facility.
- The room runs measurably colder than the rest of the building — consistently, regardless of season or HVAC settings.
- An address card for Joyce Babcock was found sealed inside the wall during renovation. It had not been placed there by anyone on our team.
We're not claiming to know what any of this means. We're telling you what has happened.
About the Experience
Joyce's Dollhouse is a paranormal investigation escape room. Your group enters the room as investigators tasked with uncovering the truth about Joyce Babcock and the history of the space she still occupies. The puzzles are woven into the investigation — solving them means going deeper into the room's history, not around it.
The room seats up to six players and runs as a fully private booking. Your group is private. We never put you with strangers. Every booking is exclusive to your group — no one else will be added to your session regardless of room capacity.
Our Other Rooms
If Joyce's Dollhouse sounds like too much — or not enough — we have four other themed rooms at Crooked Cottage, each with its own atmosphere and challenge.
Crabtree Manor
A Victorian murder mystery. Dark, gothic, and deeply atmospheric — but without the paranormal element.
Up to 12 players
View roomHouse in the Woods
An isolated cabin with a troubling past. Tense and immersive — great for groups who want suspense without the supernatural.
Up to 8 players
View roomMayan Temple
Ancient puzzles and hidden chambers. Adventure-forward with no horror element — a great palate cleanser after Joyce.
Up to 6 players
View roomWizarding University
Opening July 2026. Something magical is being built in this historic space.
Up to 6 players — booking opens soon
Pricing
Starting at $43.00 per person for 2 players, $39.00 per person for 3–4 players, and $35.00 per person for 5 or more players.
Want to give it as a gift? Crooked Cottage gift cards are available.
Looking for something for a larger group? View all five rooms — we can accommodate up to 38 players across the full facility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Joyce's Dollhouse actually haunted?
We found a real address card bearing the name Joyce Babcock sealed inside the wall during renovation. Since then this room has had more unexplained activity than anywhere else in the building — motion triggers on empty cameras, cold spots, electronics glitching, reported apparitions. We're not telling you what to believe. We're telling you what has happened.
How scary is it — really?
We rate Joyce's Dollhouse a 6 out of 10 on scare level. It's dark, genuinely unsettling, and atmospheric in a way that builds rather than jumps. There are no actors, no sudden loud noises designed to startle you — the unease comes from the room itself. Most adults handle it fine. Guests who are sensitive to darkness or tight spaces should be aware before booking.
What is the Raggedy Ann doll about?
The room features a prominent Raggedy Ann doll — a deliberate nod to the famous Annabelle case, in which a seemingly ordinary doll became associated with documented paranormal activity. Whether you read it as atmosphere or as something more is entirely up to you.
Are bookings private?
Your group is private. We never put you with strangers. Every booking is exclusive to your group — no one else will be added to your session regardless of room capacity.
Do you accept walk-ins?
Online booking required. We do not accept walk-ins. Book in advance at the link above to reserve your time slot.
Can we book Joyce's Dollhouse alongside other rooms?
Yes — if your group wants to experience multiple rooms, we can coordinate back-to-back or simultaneous bookings across the facility. Contact us before booking for larger multi-room events.
Where are you located?
Crooked Cottage is in Delaware, Ohio — about 25 minutes north of Columbus via US-23. Full address and parking details are included in your booking confirmation.
Is this appropriate for children?
Joyce's Dollhouse is best suited for teenagers and adults. The darkness and paranormal atmosphere can be genuinely unsettling for younger children. For family-friendly options, our families page has recommendations on which rooms work best for mixed-age groups.