October 10, 2007
Terror Behind the Walls at Eastern State
Photography by Tom Bernard
Another ghoulish season of Terror Behind the Walls began Friday night at the Eastern State Penitentiary (ESP), located in the Fairmount neighborhood. Each year the ESP opens its 11-acre prison complex to the spirits of the night to provide Philadelphia residents with a 30-minute fright fest. Terror Behind the Walls has been consistently ranked among the top haunted houses in the country and is known for its innovative attractions that integrate animatronic props, digital sound, and high-tech lighting.
This was our first visit to the ESP and we were impressed by its gothic, well-preserved structure. Our appreciation for aesthetics was abbreviated, though, by the ever present guards heckling us and scaring us with their bloody faces. The designers of Terror Behind the Walls deserve praise for their use of the ESP space and their riffs on the prison theme. For example, the new addition to this year’s program was Lock Down, a series of rooms we were forced to walk through in which people were chained and moaning. The actors were very convincing, and not only were we scared, but we were worried for their health!
A particularly unnerving experience is Night Watch, in which visitors explore hallways lit only by keychain flashlights they are given at the door. Fear of every entryway and corner are inevitable, as you are bombarded by spooks at every turn.
Though it takes about an hour for your heart rate to return to normal levels, Terror Behind the Walls is an experience we highly recommend. Furthermore, it is kid friendly every Sunday night, where kids can say “Monster be good,” and the monster will abide. Off-site parking is available and includes a ride on The Ghost Bus, an open-air trolley ride accompanied by the narration of real Philadelphia ghost stories.
Eastern State Penitentiary
N 22nd St & Fairmount Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19130
Eastern State Penn
Terror Behind the Walls
(1 response)
October 10, 2007, 9:02 am
Shelly says:
Join the us a triathlon of terror the day before Halloween. Start your evening with a trolley ride to the haunted Cornerstone Bed and Breakfast, followed by Terror Behind the Walls at Eastern State Penitentiary, and finish the evening with a ghost hunt at the Philadelphia Water Works.
When: October 30, 2010
Time: 8:00 PM to 12:00 AM
Where: Trolley will pick up participants in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art
Package includes:
* Ghost stories from the inn keeper about the resident spirits at the Cornerstone followed by
light hors d’oeuvres and refreshments
* Free CD of EVP’s of the Cornerstone ghosts captured from a previous paranormal investigation
* Haunted House at Eastern State Penitentiary
* Two hour investigation of the Water Works .
Some Ghost hunting equipment (EMF meters and digital recorders provided)
Price: $80 per person
For Tickets: Call the Ferrymen Justin Dabrow at 609-206-1984 or Rob Esposito at 856-371-9143
Reservations will be taken on a first come first serve basis and must be booked before
October 29th, 2010 so CALL NOW to order!!
Must be 18 years of age or older to participate.
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