PENNSYLVANIA – Manayunk's Lincoln Mill Haunted House has quickly become one of Philadelphia's most talked-about haunts, known for its intricate storyline and high-quality production. But the story behind the scares is just as fascinating, involving a college friendship, a devastating hurricane, and a shared passion for haunting.
The venture is a partnership between Brian Corcodilos, CEO of Designblendz and owner of the historic Lincoln Mill building, and Jared Bilsak, a licensed architect and the creative mastermind behind the haunt's design and narrative. The duo first met as fraternity brothers at Philadelphia University (now Jefferson University). Their shared history includes creating and running a successful charity haunted house, "Ravenkill Mansion," in a historic campus building during their college years.
Years later, Corcodilos purchased the former Mad River building in Manayunk. Disaster struck when Hurricane Ida flooded the property to historic levels, leaving the future of the space uncertain. It was then that Corcodilos recalled their college haunting days. He reached out to Bilsak, who initially hesitated due to the flood risk.
"They decided to use their biggest fear, the potential of another flood, to their advantage," the press release states. The flood became the central theme for Lincoln Mill Haunted House's debut backstory in October 2022, which garnered immediate critical acclaim.
Since then, Corcodilos and Bilsak have expanded beyond the traditional Halloween season, using off-season pop-up events like a Christmas haunt, a Valentine's event, and now the Star Wars-inspired "Darkness Rising" (May 3, 2025) to explore different facets of the Lincoln Mill story.
"The Lincoln Mill story is continuing to evolve and we use our off-season events to tell different parts of this story," explains Bilsak.
Lincoln Mill Haunted House stands as a testament to entrepreneurial spirit, creative vision, and the ability to turn a potential disaster into a unique and thrilling success story, continuing to scare and entertain Philadelphia with imaginative events like "Darkness Rising."
