Historic Prison Prepares for Fall Season Scare-Fest

The historic Eastern State Penitentiary site, in the Fairmount section of Philadelphia, is preparing for its biggest fundraiser of the year -- "Terror Behind the Walls."

KYW 's John McDevitt reports that one of the first visible signs that the annual haunted house is getting ready to open at the former prison is the two, six-foot-high, 300-pound, smoke-breathing gargoyles being raised into position above the main entrance.

Jason Ohlsen, creative director of "Terror Behind the Walls" (wearing black baseball cap in photos) was on a 27-foot vertical scissor-lift today, helping to put the ferocious looking creatures (nicknamed Carson and Frank) on their perches:

"I think this is year five, so they are five years old.  And in gargoyle years I think it's 200."

"Terror Behind The Walls" runs on selected nights between September 17th and November 6th. For more information, go to easternstate.org.

(Photos by KYW's John McDevitt)