Haunted House Now and Then

Now and Then

This section looks at what effects and props have been changed over the years. It also looks at what has replaced them. Hopefully it will give you an insight to where these props and effects were in relation to the ride as it stands today.

Now	Then	Now	Then

Duel Crypt replaced the Haunted house signature stone in 2003. This can be found directly in front of Duel the haunted house strikes		The new monster like images replaced the more hammer horror style images this happened for the 2003 season	The original portraits in the foyer/ gallery. The main entrance to the ride
Now	Then	Now	Then

This is the space which used to be occupied by the moving eye portrait. Instead a monitor shows the riders how to fight the zombies	One of the moving eye portraits, again removed during the Duel change over of 2002/03	The fire back is still the same but alas no Sir Henry. Instead a fire is projected onto the area where the head used to be. This is located in the big fireplace in the drawing room queue area.	Sir Henry Alton played out in the flickering flames. He spoke many words to disturb your mind.
Now	Then	Now	Then

The Queue line into the drawing room, highlights the lack of atmosphere. Gone are the eerie portraits and and the blue glowing windows. The room is noticeably more lighter too.	The eeriness of this room added to the thrill of the ride. People used to flee this room and never actually make it on to the ride itself. The effects and the dressing of the room where so detailed. The haunted house boasted one of the best themed queue lines from start to finish.	At the end of the 2007 Season the hand had gone.	The hand as it was originally. It used to twitch it's fingers.
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Due to copyright issues the portraits had to be changed this is one of the replacements the original can be seen opposite.	This is an image of the bald headed portrait no8 situated in the drawing room in front of the hand in the bell jar.	The dressing of the window cill still remains the same to the to this day, however the eerie blue light that streamed through these window has gone.	This effect in the opening season on the haunted house 1992. Again these windows looked great because the room was much darker.
Now	Then	Now	Then

This image shows the instructional monitor that has replaced one f the iconic portraits, which can be seen opposite. Portrait no 13 is sadly missed. Note the markings on the wall paper that shows the original frame size of portrait 13.	The eerieness of this portrait scared many a rider. Seeing it looming high over the ride station door gave the unsuspecting rider a feeling of insecurity into the unknown.	Another section of portraits replaced, this is the ride station.	This is CGI of the portrait no 17 in the ride station.
Now	Then	Now	Then

This blaster sign replaced the portrait opposite	Portrait No 16 1992-2003. This portrait was above the entrance to the ride in the ride station.	The screaming bust replaced the bust opposite during the Duel change over. This bust uses strobe lighting which unfortunately highlights the workings.	The original bust in the entrance to the dining room before it was replaced. This was located in the recess before the car turns into the dining room.
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Demon No1 hidden from view by the large mirrored wall. Great effect, although the updated version of the demon looks a little ultraviolet!	The original colour scheme for the demon in the dining room.	The Zombie replaced the demonic beasts that replaced the original fingers seen opposite.	The giants fingers where replaced when the giants head disappeared. It was a nice effect that was quite dramatic. They were illuminated with black light to great effect.
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Unfortunately the zombies work on the same mechanism as the fingers which gives the zombies a uniformed movement.	The second section of fingers that burst through the windows.	These swinging zombies replaced the giant, unfortunately between the giant leaving and the duel change over the space was redundant.	The Giant was once a great effect that had its own music, but this areas was classed not scary enough so was removed early on in the haunted house history.
Now	Then	Now	Then

Female Vampire replaced Skeleton Bomb	Skeleton bomb was a part of Wardleys Skeleton Corridor, this area was set out like a hotel corridor with many skeleton scenes that illuminated as the carriage went by.	Tigger as he looks today. This effects till works and is situated just before you enter the Ghoulish Garden.	effectionately named Tigger by the staff at Alton towers, because of its colour scheme. This prop is still in working order but has changed colour some what.
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The Lunatic as he looks today, he is again in working order minus his hair, although he is sporting an LED target in the middle of his forehead like a bindie.	The lunatic pre Duel change over even he found the change over stressful how else do you account for that hair loss.	The Screaming Face as it looks today situated in a new place just as you exit Trommels tunnel. This effect is lost in its present situe and is badly illuminated which spoils the spinning effect caused by the Trommel.	In its hay day the screaming face contained illuminous demon faces that seemed to scream out as you rode by. This was originally situated in the Rock face section of the Ghoulish Garden.
Now	Then	Now	Then

The Zombie in the oil drum is the area where you would have found the rock face garden.	Another view of the demon faces hidden in the stone face.	Zombies blast you from above it was about here that the falling tree and trembling wall once stood.	The Falling Tree in the Ghoulish Garden. This is the only known picture of the tree.