As we stand in line outside of the Rockville, Maryland strip mall, our stocky host gives a dramatic appraisal of the situation. “This,” he explains, “is a very dangerous place, and you will be very, very lucky to make it out alive.” Already I’m excited, and I can feel my adrenaline level rising. Our host, now our survival guide, brings my friends and I up to date on the “situation.” Something is horribly wrong inside this building, and it is up to us, the brave and adventurous explorers that we are, to find out what happened. A government program for studying the effects of nuclear radiation on humans, canceled long ago, has fallen into the wrong hands. The result is housed in the warehouse before us. Our job is to check the situation out. We’re not sure what went wrong, but as our survival guide finishes his speech, he lowers his sun glasses for dramatic effect. Below his eye. A bite mark. Our survival guide is in the early stages of zombie infection.
Robertino Bogart/Broadside
At Hallow Inc’s The Warehouse: Project 4.1, your experience begins the minute you line up outside the building. From that point on as you enter the lobby, climb the broken escalator, buy your ticket and line up to enter the maze, enthusiastic costumed employees will get you primed to enter the maze.
For those eager to capture the excitement and spirit of Halloween, a visit to Hallow Inc’s The Warehouse: Project 4.1. will do the trick and then some. This indoor haunted house features a labyrinthine maze filled with anywhere between 60 – 75 zombies at one time. Each zombie is an actor carefully decorated with lots of fake blood, ripped clothing and all manner of gruesome accessories. In the maze, the zombies engage in convincing jerking and twitching movements accompanied by deranged, bloodcurdling screams. One walk through the maze with these things jumping, following and surprising you in the dim light is more than enough to shake the confidence of the stoutest nonbeliever. I, myself, formerly a doubter, am now convinced that the Department of Homeland Security needs to do something about Project 4.1. I jumped and screamed many times.
The maze is constructed of about 25 themed rooms and hallways. Memorable ones included the “dog cage” room, office cubicles and a science lab. Dim lighting, colored lights and scary zombies will give you little time to absorb the complexity, color and detailed decorations of the room.
Outside of the maze entrance, people are encouraged to write their “last words” in chalk on a wall, a projector runs an antiquated movie of the nuclear explosion that gave rise to Project 4.1, and employees joke with you about making it out of the maze alive. All of these details contribute to a very fun and enjoyable atomosphere. Entrance to the maze is staggered so that only several people enter at one time, and this creates a very personal experience.
The maze is open every night from Oct. 24 through Nov. 3 from 7 p.m. until either 10 p.m. or 12 a.m. depending on the day. Admission is $32, which is a bit overpriced since you will be in and out of the maze in less than 30 minutes. However, Thursday, Oct. 25 is student discount night with a valid student ID and admission will be $22.
Getting There and Away:
Metro: Hallow Inc is located several blocks from the White Flint Metro stop, (around 2 hours from campus)
Driving:
Hallow Inc can be reached from campus via I-66 and I-495 (around 40 minutes, 22.5 miles). But If you choose to take this route, be wary of rush hour traffic.
The employees at Hallow Inc create a fun, customer friendly atmosphere that will guarantee you a good time, but the price of admission is a bit expensive for a half hour in the maze.
Comments