Halloween is just around the corner – do you have your plans set? There will be plenty of parties on campus, but if you really want to get in the spooky Halloween mood you need to check out Terror Behind the Walls at Eastern State Penitentiary!
Terror Behind the Walls is America’s largest haunted house and Philadelphia’s premier haunted house experience.  For the past 22 years, this spooky attraction has been consistently ranked as one of the best in the country. Just last month, Forbes listed Eastern State as one of its Top Ten Halloween Haunted House Attractions Across the U.S., so it’s kind of a big deal!
Eastern State Penitentiary is a creepy abandoned prison, the perfect location for a terrifying haunted house.  Built in 1829, Eastern State was one of the first penitentiaries of its kind and went on to house some of the country’s more notorious criminals.  The huge stone walls and rusty jail cells are enough to give you chills, even without the zombie guards stalking you through the halls! Â
If you’ve been to Terror Behind the Walls before, you may think you’ve seen it all, but this year they really stepped up their game.  This attraction is still split into six sections, each with a unique and creepy theme that is sure to get your heart racing.  However, a large portion of the haunted house has been redesigned and improved to make this year the scariest show yet.  You also now have the option to wear a “tracking device,” a glow-stick necklace that gives the actors permission to touch you.  If you wear this necklace, the actors will try to grab you, direct you down different paths and even try to separate you from your group!  I decided to wear the tracker and it made the experience much scarier. I definitely recommend it.
Eastern State Penitentiary is located on Fairmount Avenue between 22nd and 21st Streets.  That’s only 1.5 miles from the residence halls, so you can easily take a cab or just walk if it’s a nice night.  The price of admission varies depending on what night you want to go; it could be anywhere from $13 to $39.  To get the best deal, go on “Student Night,” every Sunday after 7:30 p.m., and you’ll get half-priced admission with valid student ID!
Check out the website to buy your tickets and watch a creepy preview video.