I went there on Saturday 10-17-09 with 12 friends and relatives, ranging from 10 to 60 (yes, including me that makes 13 of us). It was coldish, raining, and completely dreary, the perfect atmosphere to go to an indoor haunt.

We previously purchased tickets, and we arrived 15 minutes before our scheduled entrance window, so were able to get right in line. The pre-purchased tickets were a good thing, because, while walking by the ticket office at 6:45pm, we heard that the only entrance time available that night was 12:30AM. When we left the site later, we heard the ticket office telling people that there were no tickets remaining, and that they'd have to come another day.

In line, a number of zombie policemen were walking (stalking) the lines, getting the crowd into the mood. Once the entrance time was reached, our line quickly moved and we were allowed through the front gate.

Inside the front gate, we were asked to sign a waiver. Of the group, only one person, the 10 year old, used his real name on the form. The people collecting the form didn't even look to see if they were signed, let alone wanted to see ID to show it was you. The waiver was printed in tiny type, and it was dark, and raining, so it had no effect whatsoever on the scare factor. Had the waiver said, in big type, "WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR DEATH IN THE PRISON" or something equally sinister, it might have added something...

We were then frisked, as if we were being let into a real prison. Handbags were searched for contaband. The reason for the frisking and searching was not explained to the people going in, so it was a minor annoyance to some, and added little or nothing to the overall theme.

We then posed for the obligatory picture. The people doing the photography were supposedly professionals, but they clearly didn't understand how a flash diffuser worked, and they cut off feet of half our party. But, I'd cut them some slack as they were huddled under umbrellas trying to keep dry in a light rain. They should have invested in a line-up board with heights, and a variety of number boards, in order to stay in the theme.

Once inside, we were put in a queue that had TVs showing a short film about the penitentiary, and an offer to come back during the day time to take the regular tour, with the stub of our admission ticket being a $5 off coupon, and a reminder that half the price of the ticket is considered to be a tax deductible donation. There was also something about AOL thinking this was the #1 haunt in the country. They should have stayed in theme, and played a tape explaining your impending captivity. Disney, they aren't.

The short queue snaked around the outside, where we went through "cleaning tents" (fog) with a few actors who popped out to startle the unexpected. Again, the purpose of the tents wasn't explained. Then, into the prison itself, with a big sign that said "Intake". There, a dirty guard told us (as we stared into bright lights) that were were not to touch actors; the actors would not touch us; we were not to use profanity; and we should refrain from touching walls because they're either dirty or crumbling.

I won't spoil the major part of the haunt by doing a room-by-room, but suffice it to say that there were 2 rather gory rooms (operating room and morgue), a more-or-less standard flourscent hallway and dot room (which they gave you 3D glasses to wear while touring), a lot of fog (some, IMO, much too dense), and a lot of drop panels and startles as you walk through the prison.

At the end, we were let out into courtyard, where they had the photo pick-up, a concession stand, and a souvenier stand. They had music piped in. While standing there, a number of girls were startled to find that the statue they were standing next to was actually a person. And that guy could dance. He did hip-hop by himself and with a member of the audience. He did salsa. He did a brief tango with a girl from the audience. I don't know where they got him, but he was clearly professional level.

To exit, one went through the normal gift shop, and then through part of the normal tour area. We were handed more coupons to use on a day tour on our way out.

From the time we did the waiver to the time we hit the street was almost exactly one hour. In recap, we all agreed that the haunt was NOT scary. Not one iota. It was a little creepy, if only for the authenticity of the crumbling ruin. The startles ranged from unexpected to "please go away, you're not scary". I probably insulted one actor by re-stating his line in a boris karloff voice. He, in turn, made a comment, completely out of character, about the black fedora I was wearing to keep my head dry as an attempted insult, which I demonically laughed about as I left his area. I don't know if the actors are paid or donate their time, but, having been open a month, you'd think they'd be as good as they'd ever be by now, and, as a whole, they weren't that good.

Our group was much more interested in the building than the haunt, so it is likely we'll go back in the spring for a tour of the facility.

So, my report card:
Creepy: B
Scary: F
Actor Make-up: C (Amateurish)
Actor Quality: C (Amateurish)
Value: C
Do-it-Again-Factor: Unlikely
Cost: $30 per person, with half being a tax deduction. There are discount days, where admission is $15-$25.