Q&A with “Terror Behind the Walls”…and Eastern State Penitentiary
Eastern State Penitentiary was once the most famous and expensive prison in the world, but stands today in ruin, a haunting world of crumbling cellblocks and empty guard towers. Known for its grand architecture and strict discipline, its vaulted, sky-lit cells once held many of America’s most notorious criminals, including bank robber “Slick Willie” Sutton and Al Capone. Today, the penitentiary is open daily as a museum, and operates seasonally as Terror Behind the Walls, a national and international destination for thrill-seekers and Halloween lovers. Imagine being inside a 10-acre abandoned prison at night. When you arrive, you are faced with the decision to explore and watch or actually be part of the interactivity which means you could be grabbed, held back, sent into hidden passageways, removed from their group, and even occasionally incorporated into the show. Talk about “getting your scare on”! Below is my conversation with Sean Kelley, Eastern State’s Senior Vice President and Director of Interpretation.
Jackie Sonnenberg: “Terror Behind the Walls” is a completely different attraction than your regular tour. What makes it different and why not have this year-round as opposed to only during Halloween season?
Sean Kelley: Daytime historic tours at Eastern State tell stories of people who lived and worked at the penitentiary. We educate our visitors about the history of the building and how it fits into the evolution of criminal justice in America. With Terror Behind the Walls, we use the imposing castle-like structure of the penitentiary purely for entertainment. It is Eastern State’s biggest fundraiser, supporting the preservation of the historic site.
While Terror Behind the Walls only takes place 32 nights each fall, our team begins the planning process nearly a year in advance! Planning and executing this seasonal attraction is so intensive that running the haunted house year-round would be quite an undertaking, particularly given that Eastern State is open for daytime historic tours daily.
JS: Was this haunted attraction around as long as Eastern State has been or did it start at another location? Who is the creator?
SK: Terror Behind the Walls actually predates the first public tours of Eastern State Penitentiary by three years. The haunted house began back in 1991 as a single-night event to raise funds for conservation of the historic site. Fundraising through Terror Behind the Walls was, and continues to be, essential in helping us preserve the nearly 200-year-old building and support our museum programming.
At the time, the haunted house was not nearly at the caliber it is today. Now, Terror Behind the Walls is an elaborate experience consisting of six attractions with Hollywood-quality sets, costuming, and makeup. We have come a long way since Halloween 1991 to say the least!
JS: Are people mainly coming to the tours to have a scary experience or an educational one?
SK: The great thing about Eastern State in the fall is that guests can do both! Daytime historic tours allow our visitors to explore the world’s first true penitentiary. As the first prison built with the intention of instilling penitence in its prisoners, Eastern State has a special place in the history of criminal justice in America. We make those connections between Eastern State and issues of incarceration today.
Terror Behind the Walls allows us to use the building in a different capacity. It is the perfect setting to enjoy a scary haunted attraction in a safe yet authentic environment.
JS: Rumors say that the place is really haunted! Do you have people claiming to have had paranormal encounters daily?
SK: Many people believe Eastern State is haunted. As early as the 1940s, both officers and inmates reported eerie experiences. More than 800 paranormal investigators have examined the site this year alone. Some of the most well-known paranormal investigators in the country have visited the penitentiary and left with intriguing experiences. Eastern State has actually been featured on the Travel Channel’s Ghost Adventures; Fox Television’s World’s Scariest Places; TLC’s America’s Ghost Adventures; MTV’s FEAR; and SyFy’s Ghost Hunters. We like to think that if any building in America were haunted, it would be Eastern State!
JS: How does your newest haunt, Blood Yard, differ from the rest?
SK: Blood Yard is unique to Terror Behind the Walls for several reasons, the most obvious being it is our only outdoor attraction. We tell a story in each of our six attractions, and the creatures you’ll find in Blood Yard are unlike any other. Visitors discover the camp of a gruesome colony deep within the ruins of the prison compound. A path marked with bones leads them deeper into the lair of the butcher, the warriors, and their ancient empress. Blood Yard was unveiled last year, and we received a lot of positive feedback from our guests. We can’t wait to share what’s news at Terror Behind the Walls for our 2018 season! Stay tuned for more later this summer.
JS: What should visitors know about to prepare for the tour?
SK: Guests to Terror Behind the Walls can expect an experience that is fully immersive. They can opt-in to a more intense experience, allowing actors to touch and grab them, even separate them from their group, sending them down dark passageways. But if guests are not quite ready to take on Terror Behind the Walls alone, they can choose to walk through the haunted house and simply view the action.
That’s what makes Terror Behind the Walls truly unique. Visitors can tailor their experience on their own terms by choosing their level of interactivity and experiencing a Halloween fright in the truly haunting environment of a real abandoned prison.
JS: What tips do you have for others looking to have a career in the horror-haunt industry?
SK: I never imagined I would be part of the haunted attraction industry. I’m lucky enough that this unique opportunity fell into my lap! But for those seeking to break into the industry, the best thing you can do is audition and interview for positions with passion. Almost all of our upper-level managers who have been with us for 10, 15 seasons started out as actors, makeup artists, and customer service reps. What made them stand out from the crowd was their passion, wanting to give guests the best (and scariest) experience possible.
