Terror Behind the Walls at Eastern State Penitentiary Announces 2018 Season

WHY IT RATES: For travel agents with clients looking for a legitimate scare this Halloween, the events and attractions inside Eastern State Penitentiary add realism to the holiday.—Donald Wood, Breaking News Senior Writer.

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Terror Behind the Walls, consistently ranked among the top haunted attractions in the nation, is located inside the massive, castle-like walls of Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. To celebrate its 2018 season of scares, Terror Behind the Walls unveils a newly revamped attraction: Infirmary.

Infirmary takes the fear of hospitals to a whole new level. In this newly revamped and 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.

Terror Behind the Walls runs select nights from September 21 through November 10. Infirmary is the fourth of six haunted attractions that comprise Terror Behind the Walls. All six attractions are included with admission. Tickets are available online or at the door, subject to availability. Ticket prices start at $19 and vary by night.

Immersive Experience

Terror Behind the Walls begins with a critical decision for visitors: should they explore the prison and watch the action, or should they mark themselves to truly interact with the denizens of the cellblocks? 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.

A Massive Haunted House in a Real Prison

The setting for Terror Behind the Walls is perfect for a haunted attraction. Eastern State Penitentiary was once the most famous and expensive prison in the world, but stands today in ruin, a lost world of crumbling cellblocks and empty guard towers. This gothic structure, with soaring 30-foot high fortress walls, is intimidating enough during the day. At night, the cellblocks fall into darkness, and the building becomes truly terrifying.

No. 1 Haunted House in America

Terror Behind the Walls is consistently ranked among the nation’s top haunted attractions. The Travel Channel calls it “One of America’s Scariest Halloween Attractions,” The New York Times calls it “perfect for Halloween,” and Forbes names it #1 in the nation.

The industry commends the event as well. It was named “One of the top three must-see haunts in America” by Haunted Attraction Magazine. John Eslich, president of the Haunted Attraction Association, says, “Terror Behind the Walls is one of the best. A world-class haunted attraction.”

Terror Behind the Walls is a national and international destination for thrill-seekers and Halloween lovers. More than half of the visitors who attended in 2017 traveled to Philadelphia for the event, with tickets sold to visitors in all 50 states and 38 foreign countries.

Terror Behind the Walls has grown from a single-night event in 1991 to a 32-night event with shows selling out far in advance. It features Hollywood-quality sets, animatronics, and custom-designed soundtracks, all taking place within the walls of the prison. An elite team of 18 makeup artists spends three hours preparing the cast of 200+ performers each show night.

Is it Really Haunted?

Many people believe that Eastern State Penitentiary is haunted. As early as the 1940s, officers and inmates reported mysterious visions and eerie experiences in the ancient prison.

With the growing interest in paranormal investigations, Eastern State Penitentiary may now be the most carefully studied building in the United States. More than 800 paranormal investigators have examined the site this year alone. The penitentiary has been featured on the Travel Channel’s Most Haunted Live, Ghost Adventures, and Paranormal Challenge; Fox Television’s World’s Scariest Places; TLC’s America’s Ghost Hunters; and MTV’s FEAR. Footage captured on the second tier of Cellblock 12 by paranormal investigators during the filming of SyFy’s Ghost Hunters may be the most controversial ghost sighting in history. During the filming of Paranormal Challenge, host Zak Bagans called Eastern State Penitentiary “one of the most haunted places in the world.”

General Information

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 the 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.

Terror Behind the Walls runs on select evenings from September 21 through November 10, 2018. Tickets for Terror Behind the Walls are on sale now at TerrorBehindTheWalls.com. Buying online is always the cheapest and most convenient way to purchase Terror Behind the Walls tickets. Visitors save time and money, and purchasing in advance is the only way to guarantee entry to the event. For more information about Terror Behind the Walls, the public can visit TerrorBehindTheWalls.com.

For more information, reach out to your local travel agent.

SOURCE: Eastern State Penitentiary press release.