The 7th Street Haunt (Louisville, KY)
“Two Worlds Collide”
By Noah Wullkotte: Jollypumpkin@aol.com
A menacing Grim Reaper leads the way to The 7th Street Haunt at Expo 5. An old woman named called Nana walks the grounds as she shows off her big wood D and her invisible chainsaw. The 7th Street Haunt is new and improved for the 2015 season. The haunt has expanded to 25,000 square foot and now includes two different attractions. These are Ft. Harmony’s Revenge and The Experiment. They’re polar opposites, but compliment each other quite well.
Ft. Harmony’s Revenge focuses primarily on acting and story while The Experiment focuses more on high tech props and set design. We recommend that you purchase a combo ticket to experience both attractions. You can make it a night of fright.
Ft. Harmony’s Revenge begins as you meet the mayor of Fort Harmony and the ghost of Elvis who hides behind a portrait. Ft. Harmony’s Revenge has so many scenes that it’s difficult to remember them all. There’s a lot of variety in this high quality attraction. The 7th Street Haunt may still be looked at as an old school haunt, but it’s definitely bone chilling to say the least.
Ft. Harmony’s Revenge features rooms such as a body bag filled gas chamber, the pits of Hell, an immersive graveyard, a mesmerizing séance, a mineshaft and more. The students have taken over in the new Schoolhouse and you better watch out for Gary in Gary’s auto repair shop. He loves to sniff panties and stroke his poll. Ft. Harmony’s Revenge has some very creative rooms. One that particularly stands out is the live puppet show. Where else will you see a poor woman who’s been turned into a human marionette doll? The confrontation with the witch doctor is also quite memorable.
The acting is great and many of the costumes are handmade. My personal favorite is the bug man and one of the standout actors is Lucian Tomes who plays the carnival barker in the twisted circus. The 7th Street Haunt (Ft. Harmony’s Revenge) has improved greatly over the years and has cemented itself as one of the best haunts in Louisville. The tour time is around 18 minutes.
The Experiment is an assault on the senses. Nearly every room is full of high tech animatronics. Much of the haunt is themed after St. Mary’s Hospital and includes some crazy scenes. One of the most startling scenes features a doctor who rips the head off one of his patients and throws it at people as they walk through the room. You’ll explore many parts of the hospital like the maternity ward, insane asylum, the morgue and more. The story revolves around Dr. Jenkins who used to own a doll factory and has gone insane.
A scene that creeped me out featured an old woman in a wheelchair holding a candle. She was known as mother and kept getting closer and closer. The Experiment has impressive props everywhere you turn. Doors open by themselves, dolls spring to life and there are some horrifying sights like a woman being cut in half by a huge circular saw.
It’s amazing to think that The Experiment used to be a home haunt and this is the first year that it’s gone pro. This is a well made haunt with great set design and props. Tour time is around 13 minutes long. It really depends on how long actors interact with you. We had a few that tormented us.
General admission is $18 per attraction and $25 for a combo ticket. You can purchase tickets online for only $15 per attraction. The Last Ride is $5 a ticket and you can watch your friends on a TV monitor as they get buried alive. For $2 more you can experience the Institutionalized challenged where you’re strapped to a wheelchair as you’re wheeled through the haunt. The challenge is only available on Sundays. There are plenty of concessions available onsite such as pop, snacks, costumes and much more. You might even want to have your future told at the tarot card table.
Ft. Harmony’s Revenge and The Experiment are two opposite worlds, but you’re definitely going to have a great time at both. You’ll be entertained the moment you arrive. If the clown holding a rat doesn’t give you the willies then the horrors inside sure will.
Ft. Harmony’s Revenge: Length-8 Design-8 Props/Animatronics-8 Acting-9 Scare Effect-8 Final Stab: 8.2
The Experiment: Length-7 Design-9 Props/Animatronics-9 Acting-7 Scare Effect-8 Final Stab: 8.0
www.7thstreethaunt.com