Explore 6 Terrifying Attractions At Eastern State Penitentiary's Terror Behind The Walls

How could a nearly 200-year-old semi-ruined, stone, Gothic designed prison with 30-foot high walls become even more terrifying?

By turning the entire place into a massive haunted house of course.

Since 1995, the Eastern State Penitentiary on Fairmount Avenue in Philadelphia has transformed from eerie to absolutely terrifying with the Terror Behind The Walls haunted house. This year, those brave enough to enter the prison will be treated, or tricked perhaps, to two new features.

The first is a spin on the classic "Lock Down" attraction that has been revamped to raise the stakes. Now, Lock Down" The Uprising" throws guests into cell block 12, where rioters and guards have all been taken over by unknown creatures from the underworld. "They are agile, ruthless, and hungry for flesh. They have no law, no chain of command, no concept of confinement," the website says about the creatures. "The challenge is simple: make it through Lock Down: The Uprising alive."

Another new feature is "The Hex Challenge." Anyone brave enough – and willing to pay an additional fee – can partake in the challenge, which places visitors into rooms before each of the haunted house's six attractions where they are "dared to step further into the story, to become part of the action, to take on challenges, to join forces with the zombies, and ultimately, to escape the massive haunted prison."

Other attractions in the prison are the mind bending "Quarantine 4D," the industrial madness that is "Machine Shop," the labyrinthine and pitch black cell block of "Detritus," the psychotic "Infirmary," and the inmate-riddled "Breakout."

While the scares at Terror Behind the Walls are for fun, Eastern State has a history of alleged hauntings. "As early as the 1940s, officers and inmates reported mysterious visions and eerie experiences in the ancient prison," the prison's website says. "And the ghost sightings have only increased since Eastern State was abandoned in 1971." Due to it's paranormal history, the prison has been featured on several paranormal-focused TV shows such as Ghost Hunters and MTV's Fear.

With a history of ghastly activity, you might not know if you're being scared by a masked person or a specter.

Terror Behind The Walls has been named one of the top haunted house and Halloween attractions by the Travel Channel, the New York Times, and Forbes, according to its website.

Tickets range from $19 to $50 depending on the day and whether tickets are purchased online or in person. Children under 7 years old are not permitted entrance and anyone under 18 years old must have a parent or guardian complete a waiver form, which must be completed by anyone wishing to enter the haunted house.

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.

Photo via Dave Ginsberg