Shocktoberfest PA 2021 Review
September 18th the HRC kicked off week 2 of reviews with a trip to Shocktoberfest!
This years show is their 30th season and includes 3 main attractions. “Unknown 3.0” was our first stop. We noticed that there is no longer a theatrical introduction. They have instead reworked the flow of the attraction and placed actors in new unassuming locations. The use of their props and quality sets lent to an on-edge feeling as we navigated through the darkness. The actors in here were by far our favorites of the night. They were so in character and seemed to exude all the energy we have missed in the off-season. You can tell that they didn’t reinvent the wheel with this one, but they changed just enough to give us a new show and new surprises. Next, we took the bus over to their “Prison of the Dead” this place was built to perfection. The scenes are ridiculous. Again, the beginning has changed from the seasons prior. We are no longer given a long seated speech by a guard. Instead, we are sent into our doom immediately. They use catwalks, air compressors, smells, and just the right amount of ghouls and chain saws to leave you running for it. There were a few places where we sort of felt like we were safe because it was just darkness, and then BOOM, an animatronic or actor, would go off at the right time. The tunnels in there seemed to go on forever. It felt like they added a lot more to the show, which when you have a 50,000 square foot prison, you don’t need to, but wow, are we happy they did.
There is a lot of going inside to out, and somehow it all stays perfectly in theme and perfectly zombie-infested. As our member Rich said: “The prison is the crown jewel of Shocktoberfest.” We always enjoy it. Our final attraction of the night was the “Zombie Safari Hayride.” Among the tall trees, you see the silhouettes of branches hiding the buildings and flesh eating zombies within. The storyline is a good one and in this day and age, who knows maybe a foreshadowing of life among the zombies should they escape containment! It was a great time overall. If you happen to check them out, please let them know the Haunt Review Crew sent you!
