Scare City Experience 2024
Scare City Experience at the abandoned Camelot theme park just gets bigger and better each year. Following the same route as 2023, the whole show comprises of 10 different scare zones, with a food and drinks court half way around.
Each zone has a unique theme and style and the event seamlessly jumps from killer clowns, spiders and into haunted toys, with each trail through the dark full of surprises and scares.
Some of the biggest highlight of this year were the tightly claustrophobic corridor of Arakne, with spider webs everywhere, and the stunning makeover of the castle maze into the Basilica de Galgani. This was easily the highlight of the whole event with Gothic imagery throughout, eerie characters and a stunning set piece finale that brought a whole exorcism to life.
It's clear that the team have spent more money and effort on the attractions this year, and the attention to detail is evident everywhere. The pathways are adorned with light which wouldn't look out of place in a family event, but then the zones are populated by some of the most insane, and chaotic characters we have seen. Where else would you see a giant teddy bear attack you, a few minutes after being chased by a killer scarecrow? Between the indoor scare mazes such as Slaughterhouse and Infirmary, and the crazy outside zones such as Junkyard - there really was no where to hide along the route.
We must also mention the fantastic midway point which had a great array of food and drink options, and worked perfectly as a breather before heading back into the chaos. The music and live entertainment in this area created a very lively atmosphere, and we were almost too afraid to leave the comfort to go back into the scares of the main show!
Besides the costumes, sets and make up - we need to praise all the actors we met on our tour, as they all worked hard to create a number of great scares and experiences along the way.
All in - this was easily the best version of Scare City Experience we have seen, and we loved the progression the event has made since we first visited as a drive through during Covid. Hopefully the team will have use of this site for many years to come, and we can't wait to see what scary zones they come up with next!
Each zone has a unique theme and style and the event seamlessly jumps from killer clowns, spiders and into haunted toys, with each trail through the dark full of surprises and scares.
Some of the biggest highlight of this year were the tightly claustrophobic corridor of Arakne, with spider webs everywhere, and the stunning makeover of the castle maze into the Basilica de Galgani. This was easily the highlight of the whole event with Gothic imagery throughout, eerie characters and a stunning set piece finale that brought a whole exorcism to life.
It's clear that the team have spent more money and effort on the attractions this year, and the attention to detail is evident everywhere. The pathways are adorned with light which wouldn't look out of place in a family event, but then the zones are populated by some of the most insane, and chaotic characters we have seen. Where else would you see a giant teddy bear attack you, a few minutes after being chased by a killer scarecrow? Between the indoor scare mazes such as Slaughterhouse and Infirmary, and the crazy outside zones such as Junkyard - there really was no where to hide along the route.
We must also mention the fantastic midway point which had a great array of food and drink options, and worked perfectly as a breather before heading back into the chaos. The music and live entertainment in this area created a very lively atmosphere, and we were almost too afraid to leave the comfort to go back into the scares of the main show!
Besides the costumes, sets and make up - we need to praise all the actors we met on our tour, as they all worked hard to create a number of great scares and experiences along the way.
All in - this was easily the best version of Scare City Experience we have seen, and we loved the progression the event has made since we first visited as a drive through during Covid. Hopefully the team will have use of this site for many years to come, and we can't wait to see what scary zones they come up with next!
Scare City Experience 2023
Scare City Experience is back at the abandoned Camelot theme park, and this year has seen a complete overhaul of the route, with the addition of more scares along the way.
The thing that really stood out for us is how much tighter this new version of the experience is, with much less wandering around waiting for something to happen, as the different scare zones seemed to be placed closer to each other. And even the dark walkways were all filled with atmospheric lighting and smoke and a booming soundtrack.
The zones themselves are a mix of indoor scare mazes utilising the remaining few buildings on the site, accompanied by large scare zone style areas, with actors blocking that pathways and interacting closely with guests. The actors throughout used a combination of sudden jump scares alongside character improvisation, with all of the team giving suitably professional performances. They were also aided by some incredible costumes (especially the stilt walker bunny in the forest!)
Unlike many “trails” such as this, Scare City Experience breaks up the evening with a drinks and food court area located halfway round the route. There was a great choice of street vendors here and it was nice to take a pause with a bite to eat and a drink to calm the nerves, before braving the second half of the show.
Some of our highlights of our tour were the greatly expanded Fortress (which seemed to go on forever!) the terrifyingly dark Abyss section which left us fumbling through the fog and darkness to try and escape, and the impressive scrapyard collection of abandoned vehicles with the “slider” creating sparks from his knees as he raced towards us!
But nothing can match the ingenuity and excitement of Decontamination - the final zone. With a simple pre-show instruction - stop on red and go on green, who knew that a playground game could be so much fun? This final zone was so simple yet so effective, we are amazed that no-one has thought of it before. As each of us were released into the final home stretch, we were all taunted and terrorised by a huge array of zombies. With the proximity of the actors, the constant barrage of abuse from the army guys and a flame throwing rifle - this was a truly stunning finale to an amazing night!
All in we had a great time at Scare City Experience this year. The team have clearly looked at what worked and what didn't in the past, and have created a much tighter and more polished show. We loved every part of it, and can't wait to see what they do next year!
The thing that really stood out for us is how much tighter this new version of the experience is, with much less wandering around waiting for something to happen, as the different scare zones seemed to be placed closer to each other. And even the dark walkways were all filled with atmospheric lighting and smoke and a booming soundtrack.
The zones themselves are a mix of indoor scare mazes utilising the remaining few buildings on the site, accompanied by large scare zone style areas, with actors blocking that pathways and interacting closely with guests. The actors throughout used a combination of sudden jump scares alongside character improvisation, with all of the team giving suitably professional performances. They were also aided by some incredible costumes (especially the stilt walker bunny in the forest!)
Unlike many “trails” such as this, Scare City Experience breaks up the evening with a drinks and food court area located halfway round the route. There was a great choice of street vendors here and it was nice to take a pause with a bite to eat and a drink to calm the nerves, before braving the second half of the show.
Some of our highlights of our tour were the greatly expanded Fortress (which seemed to go on forever!) the terrifyingly dark Abyss section which left us fumbling through the fog and darkness to try and escape, and the impressive scrapyard collection of abandoned vehicles with the “slider” creating sparks from his knees as he raced towards us!
But nothing can match the ingenuity and excitement of Decontamination - the final zone. With a simple pre-show instruction - stop on red and go on green, who knew that a playground game could be so much fun? This final zone was so simple yet so effective, we are amazed that no-one has thought of it before. As each of us were released into the final home stretch, we were all taunted and terrorised by a huge array of zombies. With the proximity of the actors, the constant barrage of abuse from the army guys and a flame throwing rifle - this was a truly stunning finale to an amazing night!
All in we had a great time at Scare City Experience this year. The team have clearly looked at what worked and what didn't in the past, and have created a much tighter and more polished show. We loved every part of it, and can't wait to see what they do next year!
The walk from the far car park to the entrance could do with better lighting. You have to navigate the cars coming out of the main car park and there isn’t a dedicated path.
We had fast pass, and I’m glad we did as it was a busy night. Friday 13th was popular.
Some of the mazes are quite short. The longer mazes were a bit lacking in actors and scares, although there were some good effects. The outdoor portions were good and seemed to have a few more actors.
The midway entertainment and food/bar area was good. There was a stage with a fire eating and knife juggling act. There was no theming or lights on the stage and we felt sorry for the act performing in near darkness. One roaming actor was doing a good job of scaring the people having food and drinks. The dance music kind of spiked the atmosphere a bit too.
The second half was a bit livelier with a very long and disorientating smoke maze.
The highlight was definitely the last maze Decontamination, with lively actors and a fun game to finish.
We both thought the clown midway games was fun, but the distasteful joke he told spoiled it for us. If you don’t like swearing as well, this event may not be for you !
There’s quite a bit of walking on a linear path outside to get from maze to maze, stout shoes and warm waterproof clothing is a must.
Based on other attractions we have visited, Scare City gets 6/10 from us.
We had fast pass, and I’m glad we did as it was a busy night. Friday 13th was popular.
Some of the mazes are quite short. The longer mazes were a bit lacking in actors and scares, although there were some good effects. The outdoor portions were good and seemed to have a few more actors.
The midway entertainment and food/bar area was good. There was a stage with a fire eating and knife juggling act. There was no theming or lights on the stage and we felt sorry for the act performing in near darkness. One roaming actor was doing a good job of scaring the people having food and drinks. The dance music kind of spiked the atmosphere a bit too.
The second half was a bit livelier with a very long and disorientating smoke maze.
The highlight was definitely the last maze Decontamination, with lively actors and a fun game to finish.
We both thought the clown midway games was fun, but the distasteful joke he told spoiled it for us. If you don’t like swearing as well, this event may not be for you !
There’s quite a bit of walking on a linear path outside to get from maze to maze, stout shoes and warm waterproof clothing is a must.
Based on other attractions we have visited, Scare City gets 6/10 from us.
Scare City 2022 - by Park n Party
We were recently invited to attend the press launch of the Scare City Experience located in the abandoned Camelot Theme Park near Chorley. This event, hosted by Park N Drive, has seen two different iterations - a drive-through attraction during the COVID pandemic and now a walking version that promises to be the ‘longest walkthrough in Europe’. But does longest mean best? Let’s take a look.
We arrived on site and were welcomed with a huge LED screen promoting a Halloween version of Swizzels sweets, the event’s sponsors. Waiting in line, there is absolutely no view of what’s to come - a long marquee structure concealing the secrets that lay beyond - it’s safe to say the anticipation was rising with us both. Before we entered, we had to sign a waiver. Whenever you go to an attraction and have to fill these out, you cannot help but wonder what lies beyond the turnstiles. If you’re reading and correlating waivers to ‘extreme’ experiences, do not fear - we truly believe the reason for this is the fact that the site itself is an abandoned theme park with outbuildings and uneven surfaces throughout.
Waivers signed we were sent on our way in a group of two… yes, TWO. You know what they say, ‘safety in numbers and all of that…. There is something intrinsically scary about wandering through abandoned spaces. Now add to the mix, dense fog, spooky sound effects and roaming scare actors, and you have a recipe for fright. En route, the experience had us passing through different areas and themes, all of which were throwbacks to the rides that used to be in the park, which we loved. The walk took us from the car park right up to the top of the site, where we passed a host of derelict buildings, old sideshow games, large photo opportunities and sets that were filled with actors taunting and intimidating you. We came across a true star performer in the ‘carnival’ area, we had great interactions with him, and he truly stood out!
Each area was superbly lit with layered audio creeping from the dark forest; the atmosphere was truly alive. At this point, we must offer a little constructive criticism - due to the huge lengths of walking between ‘scenes’; it sometimes felt a little sparse with scare actors. Sometimes this worked to their aid as it built suspense, but often it felt like we were just waiting for things to happen… that didn’t. Quite a lot of the performance elements relied on the same style - the actor standing motionless in the pathway that perform a jump scare as you passed by, which on such a long walk became really repetitive. Just a few notes for the team to work on to really elevate the experience.
The highlight of the event was the castle itself which used to be occupied by Children’s play equipment, now occupied by a meandering maze adorned with graffiti and a heavy bass soundtrack. This element alone was longer than a lot of other scare attractions in the UK, and it only formed a tenth of the whole experience, which just shows you how long the event itself is!
Halfway… we made it. The team have created such an amazing halfway hub that feels separate to the rest of the show. Usually, these spaces are at the end, but having it in the middle made us catch our breath before heading through the second part of the walkthrough and to the car. This hub had a bar, eateries (great halloumi fries!) and a couple of up-charge experiences such as a 360º video booth and picture spot.The music was blaring 80’s hits, and the whole area was filled with a party vibe… with a few scares through in from the wandering scare actors.
After a quick snack and drink, we ventured into the second half of the tour, which took us back from the top of the site to the car park (on a very meandering route!). Fans of Camelot Theme Park would really appreciate the second half as it passed some of the iconic buildings and structures that we all knew and loved. One great section was a short tunnel space filled with fog and strobe lighting to create a very disorientating walk - which the scare actor used to her advantage!
We passed through graveyards and redneck ranches, carnivals and a Satanic cult’s altar during this 45-minute walkthrough (excluding the time spent in the bar), and we had a thoroughly enjoyable evening. Both of us agreed that with a few tweaks, this event could be a real standout from anything in the UK - it has such a different vibe than anywhere we have visited before.
This is not to take away from the event whatsoever - the production quality on offer with lighting, sound, and atmospheric effects is truly brilliant to see and difficult to achieve in outdoor spaces. Still, the team have managed to nail it. With some alterations to the performances and a little more interaction, it could be something worth shouting about. We wish the Park N Party team a great season and look forward to their events in the future.
We arrived on site and were welcomed with a huge LED screen promoting a Halloween version of Swizzels sweets, the event’s sponsors. Waiting in line, there is absolutely no view of what’s to come - a long marquee structure concealing the secrets that lay beyond - it’s safe to say the anticipation was rising with us both. Before we entered, we had to sign a waiver. Whenever you go to an attraction and have to fill these out, you cannot help but wonder what lies beyond the turnstiles. If you’re reading and correlating waivers to ‘extreme’ experiences, do not fear - we truly believe the reason for this is the fact that the site itself is an abandoned theme park with outbuildings and uneven surfaces throughout.
Waivers signed we were sent on our way in a group of two… yes, TWO. You know what they say, ‘safety in numbers and all of that…. There is something intrinsically scary about wandering through abandoned spaces. Now add to the mix, dense fog, spooky sound effects and roaming scare actors, and you have a recipe for fright. En route, the experience had us passing through different areas and themes, all of which were throwbacks to the rides that used to be in the park, which we loved. The walk took us from the car park right up to the top of the site, where we passed a host of derelict buildings, old sideshow games, large photo opportunities and sets that were filled with actors taunting and intimidating you. We came across a true star performer in the ‘carnival’ area, we had great interactions with him, and he truly stood out!
Each area was superbly lit with layered audio creeping from the dark forest; the atmosphere was truly alive. At this point, we must offer a little constructive criticism - due to the huge lengths of walking between ‘scenes’; it sometimes felt a little sparse with scare actors. Sometimes this worked to their aid as it built suspense, but often it felt like we were just waiting for things to happen… that didn’t. Quite a lot of the performance elements relied on the same style - the actor standing motionless in the pathway that perform a jump scare as you passed by, which on such a long walk became really repetitive. Just a few notes for the team to work on to really elevate the experience.
The highlight of the event was the castle itself which used to be occupied by Children’s play equipment, now occupied by a meandering maze adorned with graffiti and a heavy bass soundtrack. This element alone was longer than a lot of other scare attractions in the UK, and it only formed a tenth of the whole experience, which just shows you how long the event itself is!
Halfway… we made it. The team have created such an amazing halfway hub that feels separate to the rest of the show. Usually, these spaces are at the end, but having it in the middle made us catch our breath before heading through the second part of the walkthrough and to the car. This hub had a bar, eateries (great halloumi fries!) and a couple of up-charge experiences such as a 360º video booth and picture spot.The music was blaring 80’s hits, and the whole area was filled with a party vibe… with a few scares through in from the wandering scare actors.
After a quick snack and drink, we ventured into the second half of the tour, which took us back from the top of the site to the car park (on a very meandering route!). Fans of Camelot Theme Park would really appreciate the second half as it passed some of the iconic buildings and structures that we all knew and loved. One great section was a short tunnel space filled with fog and strobe lighting to create a very disorientating walk - which the scare actor used to her advantage!
We passed through graveyards and redneck ranches, carnivals and a Satanic cult’s altar during this 45-minute walkthrough (excluding the time spent in the bar), and we had a thoroughly enjoyable evening. Both of us agreed that with a few tweaks, this event could be a real standout from anything in the UK - it has such a different vibe than anywhere we have visited before.
This is not to take away from the event whatsoever - the production quality on offer with lighting, sound, and atmospheric effects is truly brilliant to see and difficult to achieve in outdoor spaces. Still, the team have managed to nail it. With some alterations to the performances and a little more interaction, it could be something worth shouting about. We wish the Park N Party team a great season and look forward to their events in the future.
Camelot Rises by Park n Party - Review
Following a successful run of interactive drive in cinema screenings during lockdown, the team from Park n Party have set their targets much higher, as Camelot Rises takes over the abandoned Camelot them Park in Chorley.
The park itself has been deserted for ten years and very little remains of its original purpose. The rides have all been removed, and a decade or urban exploring and the like has left many of the buildings run down and covered in graffiti. It is therefore a perfect setting for an apocalyptic zombie invasion.
Upon entering the event - we were greeted by armed guards and told to follow just a few simple rules. Stay in the car at all time and to just follow the route at a low crawl. As we would our way through the park we started to see the remains of some of the castle themed buildings alongside crashed cars and other signs of struggle. As we ventured deeper into the atmospherically lit park, we started to see movement in the darkness and this was when the zombies started to attack.
These attacks all seemed to range from banging on the windows and the roof, to full on opening doors and trying to grab people out their cars. In the video POV below, at one point a zombie is pulling at the seat belt pinning us to our seat just inches from its hungry face! As we continued through the park- zombies appeared from nowhere at times, until we eventually made it back up to the quarantine and safe zone at the end.
Once in the safe zone, we were directed to our viewing area to watch the movie, and with time to spare we walked around the site to check out the catering options. In the refreshments area was a bar selling Zombie beer, and a number of different food options including burgers, chips pizzas etc. With so much choice available the site also has seating areas where guests can eat their food (especially if you don't want to stink your car out) and there are photo opportunity walls and plenty of toilets available.
The screens for the main movie were some of the biggest we have seen at a drive in event and the soundtrack was played through an FM transmission directly to our car radios. Whilst waiting for the film to start - footage from inside the main attraction alongside promos for upcoming films kept us entertained. On press night we were treated to a showing of the zombie classic 28 Days later but there are plenty of different movies planned over the next few weeks.
Of course - this wasn't the end of the live zombie apocalypse, and there is one last surprise during the movie which caught us off guard and added a bit more tension to the screening itself!
All in - we had a great time at Camelot Rises and at the price of a ticket (£50 per car) we would recommend filling a car with friends and going along. It really is a great evening out in an incredible setting.
The park itself has been deserted for ten years and very little remains of its original purpose. The rides have all been removed, and a decade or urban exploring and the like has left many of the buildings run down and covered in graffiti. It is therefore a perfect setting for an apocalyptic zombie invasion.
Upon entering the event - we were greeted by armed guards and told to follow just a few simple rules. Stay in the car at all time and to just follow the route at a low crawl. As we would our way through the park we started to see the remains of some of the castle themed buildings alongside crashed cars and other signs of struggle. As we ventured deeper into the atmospherically lit park, we started to see movement in the darkness and this was when the zombies started to attack.
These attacks all seemed to range from banging on the windows and the roof, to full on opening doors and trying to grab people out their cars. In the video POV below, at one point a zombie is pulling at the seat belt pinning us to our seat just inches from its hungry face! As we continued through the park- zombies appeared from nowhere at times, until we eventually made it back up to the quarantine and safe zone at the end.
Once in the safe zone, we were directed to our viewing area to watch the movie, and with time to spare we walked around the site to check out the catering options. In the refreshments area was a bar selling Zombie beer, and a number of different food options including burgers, chips pizzas etc. With so much choice available the site also has seating areas where guests can eat their food (especially if you don't want to stink your car out) and there are photo opportunity walls and plenty of toilets available.
The screens for the main movie were some of the biggest we have seen at a drive in event and the soundtrack was played through an FM transmission directly to our car radios. Whilst waiting for the film to start - footage from inside the main attraction alongside promos for upcoming films kept us entertained. On press night we were treated to a showing of the zombie classic 28 Days later but there are plenty of different movies planned over the next few weeks.
Of course - this wasn't the end of the live zombie apocalypse, and there is one last surprise during the movie which caught us off guard and added a bit more tension to the screening itself!
All in - we had a great time at Camelot Rises and at the price of a ticket (£50 per car) we would recommend filling a car with friends and going along. It really is a great evening out in an incredible setting.
Links:
You Review
Have you also visited this or any other attractions recently? - tell us what you thought here
Scary
Really good fun . All staff / zombies / guards were spot on . Something different and all family came away Happy. Really immersive experience. Well thought out and executed . At 50 quid a car it's not a rip off either if you fill it . Enjoyed it and would recommend 👌
Really good fun . All staff / zombies / guards were spot on . Something different and all family came away Happy. Really immersive experience. Well thought out and executed . At 50 quid a car it's not a rip off either if you fill it . Enjoyed it and would recommend 👌
|
All the latest news, stories, review and gossip can be found on the ScareTOUR social media pages - the hottest presence in the UK for Scare Attractions!
|
|
|
|
|