Overview: Eastern State Penitentiary is located at the intersection of 22nd Street and Fairmount Ave. This 175 year old penitentiary, once the most famous prison in the world, is the ideal setting for a haunted experience entitled, “Terror Behind the Walls.” This immense haunt is actually five integrated, but distinctly themed attractions: “Intake”- your entrance into these sinister cells; “Lock-Down”- forced to traverse a maze of electric fences it soon becomes apparent that you are not alone; “13 Rooms”- an ethereal tour of some of the ‘other’ rooms in the prison. Just what are they cooking up in the kitchen? “The Experiment in 3-D”- the walls themselves seem to want to reach and touch someone! And finally, “Night Watch”- armed only with a flashlight, you must dare to traverse the haunted prison’s halls.
Eastern State Penitentiary (ESP) is just in a different class from your average haunt. It is a huge, big budget, highly professional attraction with a dedicated staff. What does that mean for you the customer? It means that if you have never been to a top tier haunted attraction before, you should be prepared to be “wowed”! For those of you who have been around, it will come as no surprise as to why ESP is mentioned in the same breath with such haunts as Headless Horseman, Bates Motel, and Netherworld. Terror Behind the Walls will give you the fear induced adrenaline fix you seek and leave you screaming for more!
The cast at Eastern State Penitentiary is selected through a series of auditions in which each section (or zone) leader for the attraction selects actors for their zone. These selections are based on a predetermined number of slots and a specific list of characters they need filled. Their expectations are high for their actors as are ours. On this night, they did not entirely hit the mark. To be fair, the management did inform us that they had an unusually high number of absentees that night due to sickness and at least one family emergency. Consequently, their crew was operating shorthanded. This was apparent in a couple of locations, but all in all the team did a decent job of covering for one another. Beyond that, whether it was due to the additional pressure or the fact that this was their second weekend of business, it seemed that some of the actors were still trying to find their characters. Others, however, were dead on, such as the “Intake” warden and the prison cook. Great jobs!
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Undead inmates and prison guards abound! Throw in the occasional prison doctor and cook and you have the ingredients of a grisly ghoulash. The costuming and make-up are a highlight of ESP. There is not great variety in the costuming, but one has to appreciate the detail as well as the effort to have all their costuming conform to their theme. Nothing is out of place. As for the make-up, their team of artists do an absolutely awesome job. There is great make-up throughout. They utilize a variety of techniques to achieve a myriad of macabre results. Whether its a faceful of gangrenous flesh or an eyeless inmate. The make-up will make you look twice and then, maybe, make you wish you had never looked at all!
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The lengths to which ESP goes for their customers and neighbors nears obsession. No haunt we have reviewed works more on this area. We believe this piece is a huge contributor to the success of this attraction. Moreover, any haunt in the country could learn something from studying the customer service policies of ESP. Their handling of their queues is excellent. Besides their well thought out reservation system, they have some of their best actors work the queue while you wait. They are constantly working to improve their parking. They have added remote parking with a constant flow of trolley buses in an effort to alleviate the crowded parking around the attraction. For those that use the remote parking, they get a bonus of ghost stories told by their shuttle host on the trip to the haunt and back. They offer souvenir photos for sale at the conclusion of the haunt. There are concessions and a deejay spinning records. For the neighboring homes and business, they provide free passes. The staff regularly cleans the streets around the attraction. Additionally, they offer quick response to any concerns that come in from the locals. Honestly, we could go on and on. This is how customer service is done.
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What can one say about a haunted attraction inside an actual penitentiary built in 1829? Two words . . . terrifying perfection. This gothic fortress that was the nightmare of many an inmate, is the dream of haunted attraction affectionados everywhere. Intimidating, purported to actually be haunted, it really IS what every haunt endeavors to be. From the moment you drive down 22nd street and its facade appears out of the night before you, you know that this is an attraction unlike any other.
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This year, ESP incorporated more special effects than we remember in any other year. Animatronics, air guns, 3D, even numerous Tesla generators contributed to the efforts to scare. In addition, new elements of detail, particularly in “Night Watch” enhanced the already forboding feel of this facility. Nevertheless, we must say that though the additional detailing was a major plus, the special effects are not always effective.
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We love that ESP takes the risk of adding new themes and areas each year, but they never lose sight of their central theme – they are a haunted prison! This is the defining characteristic of Terror Behind the Walls. Everything else evolves from that DNA. From the individual themes of their zoned attractions- Intake, Lock-Down, 13 Rooms, The Experiment, and Nightwatch- to their costuming and characters, they strive to stay true to their theme.
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On this night, due to working with a reduced number of actors because of illness, the scares were at times a little spread out. Add to that the fact that the attraction was running at full capacity and it’s a difficult combo for most haunted attractions- more customers, less actors. Still, so many things lend to the experience of Terror Behind the Walls at Eastern State Penitentiary. You have a one of a kind atmosphere, talented actors, great themes, and a commitment to excellence. Given that this was their second weekend and they encountered some unforseen difficulties, they still filled their hallways with the delighted screams of petrified patrons. We have every confidence that when you visit there will be even more of the same.
22nd Street & Fairmount Ave, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19130