It’s like clockwork. Every year a few weeks before Halloween one of our friends asks – or should I say, begs – to have us accompany them to a haunted house, prison, factory, etc. Some of our friends reply immediately with a firm no and then there are others, like me, who fearfully agree to go.
The process really doesn’t take long and always ends the same. I read the group e-mail, think “oh it’s just people dressed up to scare you how bad can it be” and reply YES – while simultaneously trying to convince myself that it’ll be fun.
This year was no different, except that our friend’s sister Jackie– who doesn’t scare easily – was the initiator. She wanted to check out the Fright Factory in South Philly and was looking for people to tag along. After a few emails back and forth it became quite clear that I was the only one from our group that she would be able to rope into going. It wasn’t that big of a surprise considering that I probably wouldn’t even be able to get our friends to watch Ghostbusters if I tried. They’d probably say that the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man gives them nightmares.
Anyway, I digress.
Jackie and I finally picked a date and sent one last email to the group, which resulted in two additional yes’s. That was good news, it meant instead of just frantically hiding behind Jackie the entire time I’d now have two more people to hide behind. Everyone knows that there is strength in numbers when you go to these type places.
The day had finally arrived. It was yesterday. Coincidentally the same day the Eagles played the Giants and everyone in the city was glued to their televisions – leaving the Fright Factory empty and hungry for petrified patrons.
We drive into South Philly – which on a normal day can scare me – turn onto Snyder Avenue and make our way to Jackson Street where the directions say the factory is located. However, the only things greeting us there were desolate streets, unmarked buildings and a lone Jomar store. Whoever picked the location for this haunted attraction knew what they were doing because I was scared before even getting to the ticket counter.
Speaking of the ticket counter, don’t be naive like me thinking you’ll be off-limits to the creepy characters while making your purchase. I was there less than five minutes and a guy with a mashed up face found me. And by “found me” I mean scurried up behind me with a bloody syringe and started talking to me in one of those scary voices. Luckily I was able to run from him quickly after our tickets were validated.
We proceeded to the entrance where we waited in line and watched a tall freaky looking zombie figure wander around startling groups of people. Oh and when that got boring there was always my new, syringe carrying friend – who somehow made his way over to my part of the line – to keep us entertained. I swear they can smell the fear on you. Maybe it’s a prerequisite for working at these places.
When we got to the actual door we were greeted by another creeper who was asking the two girls in front of us how many people they had in their party. The girls quickly looked at us and screamed PARTY OF SIX. We were more than happy to have them join us. Like I said, there’s strength in numbers.
Our party of six started experiencing the factory’s terrifying tactics immediately after turning onto the first dusty hall – yes it is dusty like a factory and you do walk into cobwebs (whether they’re real or fake, I don’t know). We didn’t even get more than three steps before we were grasping for each other’s arms and running from the creepy characters that appear out of nowhere and literally breathe down your neck.
Every corner we turned had something new pop out and there are multiple sections. And unlike places like Eastern State Penitentiary, the Fright Factory is all indoors. That means you don’t get any breaks walking outside, which I found scarier. Another difference is that you can’t choose to be touched at this attraction. However, the characters still get awfully close and definitely interact with you. And believe me, they’re creepy and get pretty attached. In fact, guess who showed up halfway through our visit inside just to see me again – that’s right, my syringe carrying friend.
All in all I have to say that, although I was scared and grasping my friends for dear life, it was worth the visit. And anyone who says they walked through that factory without trembling is either lying or my hero.
P.S. In the gift shop at the end, right before walking out, there’s a machine with a video camera that lets you manipulate one of the figures to pop out at patron walking through the factory – how cool!
For more information on the Fright Factory, click here.
