After taking a year off of scaring locals and visitors alike due to the pandemic, the scare team at Eastern State Penitentiary is gearing up for a Halloween season like no other. Noted as one of the nation’s best haunted attractions, the historic prison’s Terror Behind the Walls, two miles from your 1213 Walnut apartment, opened last month and will keep the Halloween fun going through mid-November. So if you haven’t been before—or just missed this renowned attraction in its absence—make sure to get your tickets today before they sell out!

Terror Behind the Walls is such a hit for a lot of reasons—with the primary one likely being that it’s a real former prison, whose crumbling walls and dimly lit corridors provide a spooky backdrop even on the brightest of days. During Terror Behind the Walls, however, the prison is decked out in full haunted house attire—actors stationed to pop out and chase you, suspenseful music, strobe lights and more, all that are themed around a storyline.

This year, experience a record 15 different attractions, including two expansive haunted houses that make good use of the prison’s winding hallways and cellblocks. If you’re not too into the scary stuff, opt instead for a few of the walk-through, immersive experiences that are more focused on history than haunts. Stop by a few different performance spaces or visit one of the four themed bars and lounges, including The Speakeasy, tucked away in the real former cell of mobster Al Capone, where you can grab a drink (the first one’s complimentary!) and take in live entertainment at the same time.

With a visit to Terror Behind the Walls at Eastern State Penitentiary, Halloween is about to get scary fun!

Terror Behind the Walls

2027 Fairmount Ave.

Philadelphia, PA 19130

215-236-3300