Fort Amherst Halloween Horrors 2017
We have always loved Halloween Horrors at Fort Amherst and this year has seen a management changeover in the volunteer team that run it. Created as a charity event, over 35 years ago, the tours have always been chaotic and genuinely scary - but what would the new team bring for this year?
First up was a complete, re-route around the venue. Starting at the exit and working our way down through the fort was already a different dynamic to before. Next, we realised that many of the "stop the group here then attack them on a particular sound cue" scenes had been taken out. Granted there were several remaining and yes we somehow ended locked up in a coffin again, but this year felt less repetitive.
There were also some more theatrical scenes including the creepy church scene with the demons and the whole army section trying to protect us from the zombies. Add in some more confined corridors and a hooded rope section, and it was clear that the new team are looking for some variety.
All in - it's still an event that is really hard to talk about unless you have experienced it yourself. The whole venue, audience dynamic and themes, all worked perfectly to create a completely unique experience that has to be seen to be believed!
First up was a complete, re-route around the venue. Starting at the exit and working our way down through the fort was already a different dynamic to before. Next, we realised that many of the "stop the group here then attack them on a particular sound cue" scenes had been taken out. Granted there were several remaining and yes we somehow ended locked up in a coffin again, but this year felt less repetitive.
There were also some more theatrical scenes including the creepy church scene with the demons and the whole army section trying to protect us from the zombies. Add in some more confined corridors and a hooded rope section, and it was clear that the new team are looking for some variety.
All in - it's still an event that is really hard to talk about unless you have experienced it yourself. The whole venue, audience dynamic and themes, all worked perfectly to create a completely unique experience that has to be seen to be believed!
Fort Amherst Halloween Horrors 2016
Fort Amherst Halloween Horrors has been a long standing favourite of the ScareTOUR team. It’s always been an exercise in unrestrained terror, and due to the large group sizes, the feeling of mass panic in each of the scenes is palpable. Sadly over recent years, the attraction had started to repeat the same style of scare over and over, and although the team were still able to scare us each time, the attraction started to lack some originality.
Roll on 2016, and it would seem that the team have their mojo back, as the first half of this year’s event was new and different – playing out more like a maze style scare attraction with a trip down Amherst Mine. The actors were as lively as we would expect from Amherst with no qualms about touching and grabbing. Of course – it’s this physical content that makes the event stand out and in the later rooms (which started to follow the old pattern of attack) the actors weren’t afraid to get very up close – even if that meant dragged us off into a coffin!
The fact that this attraction is manned by volunteers who are giving them time for charity, is amazing as they are all very dedicated and very active in their roles. They clearly seem to be having fun (point in question – the 6ft 7 werewolf that decided to tickle us for an extended period in one room.) It was the closest we have ever come to a Code Yellow in an attraction!
Another great thing to see this year was the enhanced security presence, and when a group of people in our tour were noisy and disrespectful, they were immediately escorted out the experience. If only more attractions had the courage of their convictions in this regard. We know most safety spiels threaten expulsion, but it was great to see it in action, which meant we could enjoy the show in peace.
All in – it was great to see the event had made so many changes and we left the fort with a massive grin on our faces.
Roll on 2016, and it would seem that the team have their mojo back, as the first half of this year’s event was new and different – playing out more like a maze style scare attraction with a trip down Amherst Mine. The actors were as lively as we would expect from Amherst with no qualms about touching and grabbing. Of course – it’s this physical content that makes the event stand out and in the later rooms (which started to follow the old pattern of attack) the actors weren’t afraid to get very up close – even if that meant dragged us off into a coffin!
The fact that this attraction is manned by volunteers who are giving them time for charity, is amazing as they are all very dedicated and very active in their roles. They clearly seem to be having fun (point in question – the 6ft 7 werewolf that decided to tickle us for an extended period in one room.) It was the closest we have ever come to a Code Yellow in an attraction!
Another great thing to see this year was the enhanced security presence, and when a group of people in our tour were noisy and disrespectful, they were immediately escorted out the experience. If only more attractions had the courage of their convictions in this regard. We know most safety spiels threaten expulsion, but it was great to see it in action, which meant we could enjoy the show in peace.
All in – it was great to see the event had made so many changes and we left the fort with a massive grin on our faces.
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