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7th Street Haunt reincarnated with a touch / interactive option! |
Todd - 2017 brought us the end of the 7th Street Haunt in Louisville which was a major downer since we only had experienced it for two years. On each occasion we saw some really cool things that aren't seen often or at all (the movie theater opening was awesome). We still talk about the Reba McEntire room to this day (truly a WTF random encounter).
This year The American Horrorplex (AH) opened, brought to you by the same creators of 7th Street Haunt. In some ways, it's reminiscent of 7th Street; it even "feels" like 7th Street and in other ways it feels new with a soul of its own. There is no evident central theme outright presented, though much of it is clearly medical based. You start off in a medical examination room and then quickly find yourself wandering the halls of an asylum. Many faux doors are constructed to give the feel of an actual facility housing a number of patients. Some doors are cracked open displaying an actual ward inside; the others remain closed. Many of the patients are of course on the loose and are of course disruptive to your journey throughout. Further on you'll encounter an execution room which was pretty fun with a twist. Towards the end things lot a little more confusing. We wound up in a back alley / industrial looking area with rabid psychotics (or were they zombies?) strapped with control collars on that were full of energy. Some of them were able to contort themselves in your walking path while others ran around and popped out from various nooks. This part was a tad confusing and a bit rough. It came across as if the vision wasn't complete and time ran out so they made of it what they could.
As far as the actors go, those with presenting roles did a good job. I can still hear the thrashing screech of the nurse from the first room. How she made that shrill sound all night long is beyond me. The doctor in that same room was excellent with a mix of maniacal mannerisms and explicit carelessness of who we were or our well being - he was really entertaining. The deputy girl ahead of the execution room helped add a nice interactive element to that scene. However, the patient offering his patented "poo stew" is by far the most memorable of the night. Maybe it was just the poo stew he was actually eating that grabbed my attention but either way, he definitely made a mark. No pun intended. **Fun fact - we found out afterwards he actually makes this bizarre concoction himself. If you're so inclined, have a bite. Apparently it's both nut and gluten free.** Many of the actors, particularly the general asylum patients or the guys with the collars on didn't do much more than grunt or throw out a "Get out of here!" or similar line as we passed by. Many were in plain view so other than perhaps being somewhat intimidating, there were few scares. There were also a number of roaming actors outside, one of which was amazing (see our pictures). I don't even know how to describe him (bandaged eyes, wearing a black sun hat?) but the picture will speak for itself.
Many of the environments inside are hand-crafted and are not overly dependent on big props and flashy gimmicks to create the ambiance. One of the things I always liked about 7th Street was the inclusion of real furniture and decor to bring the scenes a level of authenticity. You'll still find that same home-brewed approach throughout AH. They have a lot of stuff packed in to this first-year haunt which is impressive and really has me wondering what will be enhanced after this season. It also sounds as if this new building provides room to grow which is always a plus!
American Horrorplex offers a touch / interactive option. While we normally take on as much full contact as possible, in this case we had planned on going through twice - once without contact and again with. Unfortunately, time was running short after our first run so we had to bow out before doing the hands-on portion. I regret that and if I had to do it over, I would definitely opt in. Though I can't speak for the interactive portion, I have no doubt it really enhances the experience.
The American Horrorplex is off to a great start. I'd say they are definitely ahead of the curve for their first year, but that's not entirely surprising given the prior experience from 7th Street. As with any first year, there will be lessons to be learned and tweaks to be made. I can't wait to see the result of which in year 2!
This year The American Horrorplex (AH) opened, brought to you by the same creators of 7th Street Haunt. In some ways, it's reminiscent of 7th Street; it even "feels" like 7th Street and in other ways it feels new with a soul of its own. There is no evident central theme outright presented, though much of it is clearly medical based. You start off in a medical examination room and then quickly find yourself wandering the halls of an asylum. Many faux doors are constructed to give the feel of an actual facility housing a number of patients. Some doors are cracked open displaying an actual ward inside; the others remain closed. Many of the patients are of course on the loose and are of course disruptive to your journey throughout. Further on you'll encounter an execution room which was pretty fun with a twist. Towards the end things lot a little more confusing. We wound up in a back alley / industrial looking area with rabid psychotics (or were they zombies?) strapped with control collars on that were full of energy. Some of them were able to contort themselves in your walking path while others ran around and popped out from various nooks. This part was a tad confusing and a bit rough. It came across as if the vision wasn't complete and time ran out so they made of it what they could.
As far as the actors go, those with presenting roles did a good job. I can still hear the thrashing screech of the nurse from the first room. How she made that shrill sound all night long is beyond me. The doctor in that same room was excellent with a mix of maniacal mannerisms and explicit carelessness of who we were or our well being - he was really entertaining. The deputy girl ahead of the execution room helped add a nice interactive element to that scene. However, the patient offering his patented "poo stew" is by far the most memorable of the night. Maybe it was just the poo stew he was actually eating that grabbed my attention but either way, he definitely made a mark. No pun intended. **Fun fact - we found out afterwards he actually makes this bizarre concoction himself. If you're so inclined, have a bite. Apparently it's both nut and gluten free.** Many of the actors, particularly the general asylum patients or the guys with the collars on didn't do much more than grunt or throw out a "Get out of here!" or similar line as we passed by. Many were in plain view so other than perhaps being somewhat intimidating, there were few scares. There were also a number of roaming actors outside, one of which was amazing (see our pictures). I don't even know how to describe him (bandaged eyes, wearing a black sun hat?) but the picture will speak for itself.
Many of the environments inside are hand-crafted and are not overly dependent on big props and flashy gimmicks to create the ambiance. One of the things I always liked about 7th Street was the inclusion of real furniture and decor to bring the scenes a level of authenticity. You'll still find that same home-brewed approach throughout AH. They have a lot of stuff packed in to this first-year haunt which is impressive and really has me wondering what will be enhanced after this season. It also sounds as if this new building provides room to grow which is always a plus!
American Horrorplex offers a touch / interactive option. While we normally take on as much full contact as possible, in this case we had planned on going through twice - once without contact and again with. Unfortunately, time was running short after our first run so we had to bow out before doing the hands-on portion. I regret that and if I had to do it over, I would definitely opt in. Though I can't speak for the interactive portion, I have no doubt it really enhances the experience.
The American Horrorplex is off to a great start. I'd say they are definitely ahead of the curve for their first year, but that's not entirely surprising given the prior experience from 7th Street. As with any first year, there will be lessons to be learned and tweaks to be made. I can't wait to see the result of which in year 2!
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The Louisville haunt world has regained a missing soul: The American Horrorplex! |
Paul - There was a big piece of the Louisville haunt community missing in 2018. 7th street haunt closed its doors due to some leasing issues and took the year off. This year the lunatics behind 7th street, along with some help from their friends at Asylum scream park, have created an all new attraction called The American Horrorplex (AHP). They have moved into a really cool old building just west of downtown Louisville, not more than a few hundred feet off of I-64, and they're back for more insanity!
Walking up to AHP was a little creepy in itself due to the surrounding neighborhood. It seems to be an old industrial area from what I could see in the dark, and it honestly felt like a place where you'd want to have a haunt! Once you pass through the gate you'll see one reason why this location was chosen; the lot where the queue line forms is awesome! There are tons of things to look at, a bunch of roaming actors, a really cool photo op area, and the ticket booth. It really starts to get you pumped up for what you're going to see inside.
And inside is of course the main attraction! AHP Is a collection of experiments gone wrong and you'll encounter scene after scene of the doctors' failures through this journey of terror. There are two choices on the haunt you want to experience; you can do the normal haunt, or you can do the Invasive Surgery version where you'll be touched, poked, prodded, probed, and processed. We intended to try both versions the night of our visit, but due to a scheduling conflict on our part we were unable. Hopefully next year we'll be able to do both because the normal haunt was so good, the invasive version has to be pretty epic!
For a majority of the time we spent moving through the haunt it was a little bit hard to believe that it was a first-year build! The sets were super detailed and gave plenty of good hiding places for their actors, the actors were super interactive and had extremely creative dialogue, and there were scares around every corner, with just enough comedy thrown in to make you drop your guard for the next failed experiment to dig its claws into you. The only part that seemed a bit strange to me was the end. It was kind of a zombie scene that just seemed like it may have been kind of thrown together for opening night. Still creepy as hell, just missing some of the detailed effects we saw everywhere else prior. I can't knock them too much for that though because the rest of the haunt was super impressive!
It feels good to have AHP open in Louisville. It's almost like having a close friend move back into town after being away for a while and things are back to the way they should be. It makes you a little happier just knowing they're nearby... or in this case, it has you checking your closet before you fall asleep at night
Walking up to AHP was a little creepy in itself due to the surrounding neighborhood. It seems to be an old industrial area from what I could see in the dark, and it honestly felt like a place where you'd want to have a haunt! Once you pass through the gate you'll see one reason why this location was chosen; the lot where the queue line forms is awesome! There are tons of things to look at, a bunch of roaming actors, a really cool photo op area, and the ticket booth. It really starts to get you pumped up for what you're going to see inside.
And inside is of course the main attraction! AHP Is a collection of experiments gone wrong and you'll encounter scene after scene of the doctors' failures through this journey of terror. There are two choices on the haunt you want to experience; you can do the normal haunt, or you can do the Invasive Surgery version where you'll be touched, poked, prodded, probed, and processed. We intended to try both versions the night of our visit, but due to a scheduling conflict on our part we were unable. Hopefully next year we'll be able to do both because the normal haunt was so good, the invasive version has to be pretty epic!
For a majority of the time we spent moving through the haunt it was a little bit hard to believe that it was a first-year build! The sets were super detailed and gave plenty of good hiding places for their actors, the actors were super interactive and had extremely creative dialogue, and there were scares around every corner, with just enough comedy thrown in to make you drop your guard for the next failed experiment to dig its claws into you. The only part that seemed a bit strange to me was the end. It was kind of a zombie scene that just seemed like it may have been kind of thrown together for opening night. Still creepy as hell, just missing some of the detailed effects we saw everywhere else prior. I can't knock them too much for that though because the rest of the haunt was super impressive!
It feels good to have AHP open in Louisville. It's almost like having a close friend move back into town after being away for a while and things are back to the way they should be. It makes you a little happier just knowing they're nearby... or in this case, it has you checking your closet before you fall asleep at night
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This was one whirlwind tour of the asylum full of freaky mental patients, doctors, experiments, and zombies. It's scary-amusing how much fun this is! |
Teresa - The American Horrorplex is a brand new haunt for 2019 from the twisted minds behind The 7th Street Haunt and Asylum Haunted Scream Park. Those of you in the Louisville community will no doubt have heard of these. So, even though this is technically a first-year haunt, it is full of great sets, experienced actors, and some really creepy costumes. The theme is a lot of fun. The bare bones gist of it is that some doctors have gone mad and are abusing and experimenting on the patients in their asylum. The rest you will have to learn (and see) for yourself.
There is a big sign on the building visible from I-64 heading west toward New Albany and you'll find free parking on-site. There is a nice big courtyard to wait in, with refreshments, souvenir photos, music, and photo ops. My favorite part outside is the wandering queue actors. One, who I later found out was called 47, was beyond creepy. He was wearing a hat and his face was wrapped in bandages, so you couldn't see his eyes. He was wearing all kinds of chains and straps -- a look I might describe as Marilyn Manson-esque Nightmare-chic. The best part was he was drooling black goo and when I posed with him for a photo, he drooled it all down my sleeve. Seriously, you should go just to see this guy alone! Ticket prices are very reasonable, and the upgrade to VIP is only $10 more and comes with a souvenir photo, so it isn't at all hard to justify. Also, they offer an "Invasive Surgery" option, which allows the actors to touch you, pull you away from your group, and give you extra "treatments". Sadly, we didn't have time for this, but I'm guessing it's pretty fun. Hopefully, we can do it next year! One last note about tickets...be sure to follow them on Facebook, as they offer discounts there. Or check out the website for a number you can text to get a coupon, as well.
Once you've taken your photos, been drooled on, and it is your turn to go in, you will be locked in a cell where you will be briefed on what to expect. Inside, you will be greeted and warned about the doctors and patients in the facility. And honestly, I don't know who is crazier! You see all kinds of insane patients, most of whom want to harm you, some even attacking you on sight. Others may meow at you, offer you gross things to eat (poop stew, anyone?), complain about butthole ants, or scream for help. It's scary and entertaining, all at the same time. These costumes and the makeup are great! One guy bandaged up on crutches followed us for a while, and he was really unnerving! He looked like he wasn't quite human and he moved fast! And on that subject, I don't know where they get these actors, but some of them can really contort their bodies! One girl was lying upside down on a table, perfectly still, looking too contorted to be anything other than a prop...until she started moving. Yikes!
The props are also quite good, with my favorite being a guy strapped to the wall, looking like something Dr. Frankenstein may have created. And speaking of doctors...look out for the one who created this madness. You'll want to avoid him. Besides the asylum, there's a prison-esque vibe to some areas, with a cop asking you to pull the lever to electrocute someone. How messed up is that?!! You'll also find a graveyard, church, spiders, hell, and some zombies wearing malfunctioning control collars. One of these zombies was so unnerving! He followed us everywhere, just giving us the most malevolent stare! In another part, you find yourself standing on a piece of Plexiglas looking into some kind of hell-pit. Hope you aren't afraid of heights, because this maniac came running and jumped next to me on the glass, as I had visions of the glass cracking, sending me crashing into the pit.
This was one whirlwind tour of the asylum full of freaky mental patients, doctors, experiments, and zombies. It's scary-amusing how much fun this is! Please do the "Invasive Surgery" option and tell us about it on our Facebook page!
There is a big sign on the building visible from I-64 heading west toward New Albany and you'll find free parking on-site. There is a nice big courtyard to wait in, with refreshments, souvenir photos, music, and photo ops. My favorite part outside is the wandering queue actors. One, who I later found out was called 47, was beyond creepy. He was wearing a hat and his face was wrapped in bandages, so you couldn't see his eyes. He was wearing all kinds of chains and straps -- a look I might describe as Marilyn Manson-esque Nightmare-chic. The best part was he was drooling black goo and when I posed with him for a photo, he drooled it all down my sleeve. Seriously, you should go just to see this guy alone! Ticket prices are very reasonable, and the upgrade to VIP is only $10 more and comes with a souvenir photo, so it isn't at all hard to justify. Also, they offer an "Invasive Surgery" option, which allows the actors to touch you, pull you away from your group, and give you extra "treatments". Sadly, we didn't have time for this, but I'm guessing it's pretty fun. Hopefully, we can do it next year! One last note about tickets...be sure to follow them on Facebook, as they offer discounts there. Or check out the website for a number you can text to get a coupon, as well.
Once you've taken your photos, been drooled on, and it is your turn to go in, you will be locked in a cell where you will be briefed on what to expect. Inside, you will be greeted and warned about the doctors and patients in the facility. And honestly, I don't know who is crazier! You see all kinds of insane patients, most of whom want to harm you, some even attacking you on sight. Others may meow at you, offer you gross things to eat (poop stew, anyone?), complain about butthole ants, or scream for help. It's scary and entertaining, all at the same time. These costumes and the makeup are great! One guy bandaged up on crutches followed us for a while, and he was really unnerving! He looked like he wasn't quite human and he moved fast! And on that subject, I don't know where they get these actors, but some of them can really contort their bodies! One girl was lying upside down on a table, perfectly still, looking too contorted to be anything other than a prop...until she started moving. Yikes!
The props are also quite good, with my favorite being a guy strapped to the wall, looking like something Dr. Frankenstein may have created. And speaking of doctors...look out for the one who created this madness. You'll want to avoid him. Besides the asylum, there's a prison-esque vibe to some areas, with a cop asking you to pull the lever to electrocute someone. How messed up is that?!! You'll also find a graveyard, church, spiders, hell, and some zombies wearing malfunctioning control collars. One of these zombies was so unnerving! He followed us everywhere, just giving us the most malevolent stare! In another part, you find yourself standing on a piece of Plexiglas looking into some kind of hell-pit. Hope you aren't afraid of heights, because this maniac came running and jumped next to me on the glass, as I had visions of the glass cracking, sending me crashing into the pit.
This was one whirlwind tour of the asylum full of freaky mental patients, doctors, experiments, and zombies. It's scary-amusing how much fun this is! Please do the "Invasive Surgery" option and tell us about it on our Facebook page!