Fort Amherst Halloween Horrors - 2012 Review
Halloween Horrors has been running at Fort Amherst for years and has been run by a number of different operators with varying degrees of success. We first visited in 2006 when it was designed by Spacemonkeys, but after they left enthusiasm for the event from both organisers and the public started to wane. In early 2012, some of the volunteers who had helped in previous events, decided to create their own consortium and pitch that they take over and restore the event to its former glory. Fortunately the charitable trust at this historic Fort, saw faith in this team and so this year. Halloween Horrors is back with a bang!
Fort Amherst itself is a 300 year old Napoleonic fortress cut into the hillside overlooking the River Medway and the town of Chatham. The building us supposedly one of the most haunted locations in Kent and even with the lights on, the place looks like something out of a horror movie. Even some of the rock work looks like a Hollywood special effect as due to strange volcanic activity in the past some of the walls look like congealed brain material.
The tours start at the lower level and slowly make their way up to the top of the fort. On the way we encountered impenetrable smoke filled passages, detailed scenes and sets, a myriad of monsters and all manner of quick short impact scares. Each room had its own particular storyline with killer clowns, red necks , zombies etc but the way we experienced it is like no other attraction.
Guests enter Halloween Horrors in large groups and this actually created half the fun of the event as there was undeniably a feeling of mass hysteria in some of the rooms with screams coming from all angles. We and others were getting scared by just the sheer anticipation of what we could hear coming ahead of us or behind us!
Add in the sheer number of monsters in each scene and it would seem that no-one was safe once an attack started. And "attack" is the right word - we were pushed, pulled, grabbed and mauled from every angle. Any rules about touching are thrown out the window at Fort Amherst and the sheer audacity of a show that could rip a group apart and split people up so effectively has to be applauded. These scenes were easily some of the most terrifying things we have ever experienced and with some of the creatures brandishing weapons, were also the most realistic scares ever achieved in a UK scare attraction. The attacks were sudden, long, brutal and completely exhilarating and left all of us fighting to get to the exit door.
By the time we made the long climb up the final stairs and burst out into the moonlight we were all panting for breath and shaking with fright. Once outside we were expecting one big final scare in the woodlands and we all looked around nervously to see if anything was hiding in the trees. Unfortunately (or fortunately!) the walk back to the car park was uneventful and soon we were in the Fort's cafe having a cup of tea to calm our nerves (but wishing for something a lot stronger)
All in, Fort Amherst Halloween Horrors is like nothing else in the UK. It truly is a terrifying experience and would test even the most seasoned scare enthusiast. The volunteer team have really brought the flailing event back to life and the reactions of the crowds were testament to the good work they have achieved. If you love being scared then you would be a fool to miss this.
Fort Amherst itself is a 300 year old Napoleonic fortress cut into the hillside overlooking the River Medway and the town of Chatham. The building us supposedly one of the most haunted locations in Kent and even with the lights on, the place looks like something out of a horror movie. Even some of the rock work looks like a Hollywood special effect as due to strange volcanic activity in the past some of the walls look like congealed brain material.
The tours start at the lower level and slowly make their way up to the top of the fort. On the way we encountered impenetrable smoke filled passages, detailed scenes and sets, a myriad of monsters and all manner of quick short impact scares. Each room had its own particular storyline with killer clowns, red necks , zombies etc but the way we experienced it is like no other attraction.
Guests enter Halloween Horrors in large groups and this actually created half the fun of the event as there was undeniably a feeling of mass hysteria in some of the rooms with screams coming from all angles. We and others were getting scared by just the sheer anticipation of what we could hear coming ahead of us or behind us!
Add in the sheer number of monsters in each scene and it would seem that no-one was safe once an attack started. And "attack" is the right word - we were pushed, pulled, grabbed and mauled from every angle. Any rules about touching are thrown out the window at Fort Amherst and the sheer audacity of a show that could rip a group apart and split people up so effectively has to be applauded. These scenes were easily some of the most terrifying things we have ever experienced and with some of the creatures brandishing weapons, were also the most realistic scares ever achieved in a UK scare attraction. The attacks were sudden, long, brutal and completely exhilarating and left all of us fighting to get to the exit door.
By the time we made the long climb up the final stairs and burst out into the moonlight we were all panting for breath and shaking with fright. Once outside we were expecting one big final scare in the woodlands and we all looked around nervously to see if anything was hiding in the trees. Unfortunately (or fortunately!) the walk back to the car park was uneventful and soon we were in the Fort's cafe having a cup of tea to calm our nerves (but wishing for something a lot stronger)
All in, Fort Amherst Halloween Horrors is like nothing else in the UK. It truly is a terrifying experience and would test even the most seasoned scare enthusiast. The volunteer team have really brought the flailing event back to life and the reactions of the crowds were testament to the good work they have achieved. If you love being scared then you would be a fool to miss this.
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