Terror Behind The Walls In Eastern State Pen Opens Sept 20

PHILADELPHIA — The historic Eastern State Penitentiary is once again transforming into a haunted house for the 2019 season of Terror Behind the Walls.

Starting Friday, Sept. 20, the abandoned prison will feature terrifying attractions to get you into the Halloween spirit.

Terror Behind the Walls will be open select nights from Sept. 20 through Nov. 9.

Tickets are available online or at the door, subject to availability. Prices start at $24 and vary by night.

For its 2019 season of scares, Terror Behind the Walls is bringing back six thrilling attractions with new interactive experiences that are more immersive than ever. All six attractions are included with tickets.

Visitors can experience the attractions in an interactive way if they are brave enough. Those who opt in for true interactivity may be grabbed, held back, sent into hidden passageways, and even temporarily separated from their group. They will deal with the consequences of their decision through six long attractions.

Check out info on the attractions below:

• Lock Down: Visitors enter the looming façade of Cellblock 12, said to be the most haunted location inside the penitentiary. Zombie guards have lost control, and the chaotic scene is filled with thick fog and mangled bars. Guests are led to the second floor for an eerie view down the long-abandoned cellblock corridor, and finally through a lineup of zombies, all standing very, very still… Some visitors leave after Lock Down. It’s that intimidating.
• Machine Shop: Hidden deep inside the cellblocks is a long-forgotten machine shop. Evil pervades this space – an evil with one mind but with many bodies. Will visitors survive, or will they become just another cog in the machine? This one-of-a-kind attraction features intense startles, immersive one-on-one experiences, and gruesome industrial scenes.
• Blood Yard: Within the ruins of the prison compound, visitors discover the camp of a gruesome colony. A path marked with bones leads them deeper into the lair of the butcher, the warriors, and their ancient empress – the forgotten who now reside amongst the fragments of the lost prison. The beating of the drums becomes louder and louder, faster and faster. Finally, they reach the source – a gory site of gnawed bones and decayed flesh.
• Infirmary: Infirmary takes the fear of hospitals to a whole new level. In this highly interactive attraction, visitors encounter maniacal surgeons, orderlies, dentists, and nurses who are sharpening their scalpels for some unusual, unnatural operations. If visitors aren’t careful, they may become patients themselves.
• Quarantine: 4D: Inside Quarantine: 4D, visitors learn of an infectious outbreak, whose symptoms include hallucinations, blurry vision, distorted depth perception, and other mind-altering effects. Flat walls appear to have depth, creatures emerge from (seemingly) nowhere, and some brave visitors will be challenged to face their worst fears.
• Break Out: Just when visitors think they have found freedom, they find themselves in the middle of a prison break. Zombies surround them using every way imaginable to escape the zombie SWAT Team, including barrels, ropes, tunnels, ladders, and crates. Visitors must keep an eye out at every corner, as the undead may even be using them to aid in their attempt to gain freedom.

For fans seeking the ultimate Halloween adventure, Terror Behind the Walls offers several VIP Experiences that can be added to a guest’s visit.

• After Dark VIP Tour: The experience begins with an hour-long, guided flashlight walking tour of the penitentiary, including the cellblocks and prison hospital. Visitors learn about the history of Eastern State, including some of its famous riots, escapes, and other scandalous incidents. Following the tour, visitors are escorted to the front of the Terror Behind the Walls line and experience all six haunted attractions. Ticket includes a souvenir photo of the group and a TBTW LED flashlight. Tickets available online only.
• Fright and a BITE: The “Fright and a BITE” dinner package includes a Halloween-themed meal at a participating local restaurant, plus tickets to Terror Behind the Walls. Visitors simply make a reservation at the restaurant of their choice, and Terror Behind the Walls tickets arrive with dessert. Menus are available online here.
• The Speakeasy at Al Capone’s Cell: After experiencing Terror Behind the Walls, visitors can extend their visit at The Speakeasy at Al Capone’s Cell. Live entertainment includes a lounge singer, contortionist, and table games. Visitors also enjoy a complimentary glass of wine, Yards beer, or Coca-Cola soft drink. Ticket add-on available online or at the door

Terror Behind the Walls is located inside Eastern State Penitentiary at 22nd Street and Fairmount Avenue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Terror Behind the Walls does not affect operation of the historic site, which remains open for daytime tours seven days a week, year-round.

All proceeds from Terror Behind the Walls benefit the preservation of Eastern State Penitentiary, a National Historic Landmark.

Visit the Terror Behind The Walls website for attraction previews (which are scary themselves), VIP package information, dates and times, frequently asked questions, and ticket purchases.