Behind the Scenes of the Viral Jail-Bat House From HGTV's 'Scariest House in America'
HGTV producers weigh in on what filming inside the 8,000-square-foot Jail-Bat home was like.
TRAVIS NEELY, Travis Neely
Exterior view of the Jail-Bat home, as seen in Scariest House in America, Season 1.
We couldn't shake an uneasy feeling after watching HGTV host and comedian Retta tour an actual jail-turned-home (!) on a recent episode of Scariest House in America. While on her super-scary house hunt, Retta stopped in Bedford, Pennsylvania, to meet college sweethearts Jon and Doreen Bartczak, owners of said "Jail House." Unsettling events ensued. Here, HGTV producers weigh in on filming the episode and more.
The Journey of the Jail-Bat House Couple
Native New Yorkers Jon and Doreen left the comforts of their home state to buy a promising five-bedroom mansion. The caveat: The house operated as the Bedford County Jail from 1895 to 1996.
“Our house is broken up into two halves — the front half is a Victorian-style house; the back ... it’s prison cells,” Jon revealed during the episode. The home is nearly 8,000-square-foot total — 3,880 of those square feet make up a living space (where the sheriff and his family used to live), while a two-story, 4,000-square-foot prison — equipped with 18 jail cells — sits adjacent.
Always ones for hosting large family gatherings, Jon and Doreen were initially drawn to the house for its bedrooms, real wood floors, seven fireplaces and cathedral roof (which allows for exposed chestnut ceiling beams inside). “It was a great opportunity,” Jon said.
TRAVIS NEELY, Travis Neely
Homeowners Jon and Doreen show Retta around the prison cells inside their house.
Since purchasing the home, however, he and Doreen have run into issues, including haunting sounds and a bat infestation. In fact, during the episode, Jon pointed out repellent devices and nets the couple uses to catch and deter bats.
As frightening as bats can be, the jail section of the home is even more fear-inducing. With solid steel walls, floors and ceilings, the jail side of the property emits a chilling, echo-y vibe. “We don’t come in here at night,” Jon admitted. “No, no we do not,” Doreen emphasized.
Behind the Scenes With HGTV: Retta's Jail-Bat Reaction
According to Scariest showrunner Rob Zimmerman, producers give Retta absolutely no details about any of the homes before she enters. "As a reality TV producer, I love a good surprise. Retta, not so much," says Rob. "Not only was this house previously a jail, but it also had the bat infestation ... so, Retta thought the bats were why she was there. I’ll never forget her reaction when she finally pieced together what was really going on."
Of course, Retta isn't the only one put-off by the creepy abode — many viewers are, too.
"On a scale from zero to Satan, exactly how haunted is that place?" one fan asked on Instagram.
"Nope. Dark energy trapped," someone else commented.
"That’s cool but I’d be worried about mold and asbestos and all kinds of other junk in there," another Instagram user wrote.
Those filming the episode on set were also scared. Producer Matthew Matsumoto tells HGTV: "Filming can really be a challenge, especially when all the scary sounds come from behind you.”
How to Watch Scariest House in America
Will the Jail House end up being the scariest house in America, earning a $150,000 renovation by Alison Victoria in the process? Keep tuning into Scariest House in America to find out. New episodes air Friday nights at 9|8c. The series is also available to stream the same day and time on Max and discovery+. To keep up with all things Scariest House in America, visit HGTV.com and follow @HGTV and #ScariestHouse on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok and Threads. Follow Retta (@unforettable) and Alison (@thealisonvictoria) on Instagram.
