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Sounds

Each and every maze assaults each and every sense, with music and sound being another important element. It helps set the story, the theme and also can be used to enhance emotions.

. Hellgate sound effects 11 sound stores of music 35 audio tracks used 2 air blasters 2 slamdown effects 45 speakers 1 bass bin

Hellgate in particular uses a complex soundtrack to bring the maze to life, and uses an in-house sound system broadcasting to 45 speakers, most of which are Bose.

Incredibly, the sound system is possibly one of the most complex in the world in use on a maze, perhaps being even more advanced than those on Universal’s mazes in terms of zones, function and output.

Music and sound effects are stored on 11 sound stores, which are MMC cards that fit into a rack. Each MMC card contains MP3s of music, ambient background noise, sound effects and announcements.

To give you an idea of how complex the sound system is, the ambient background music on the attraction plays continuously to ten different zones, with each zone being different. On top of this, there are five additional sound effects which can be triggered by buttons operated by actors, by switches operated by trap doors throughout the attraction, and by motion sensors elsewhere.

In addition to this, the operator has the ability to play recorded announcements, such as in the event of a shutdown or emergency, while some announcements can be triggered automatically such as when the fire alarms sound.

. Hellgate audio 'zones' 1. Queueline 2. Entrance tunnel 3. Loading area 4. Libary scene 5. Ghost corridor 6. Tunnel (trommel) 7. 2nd ghost corridor 8. Dungeon 9. Coffin corridor 10. Bedroom

Asylum has a far more simplified sound system as the attraction takes place in a single room. The soundtrack is a melee of sirens, screams and clanking chains, and compared to Hellgate is extremely bass-heavy with just six very large speakers and four even bigger bass bins concealed throughout the predominantly chicken-wire maze.

Other methods of aural attack include the use of air – there are air hammers, also known as ‘slam downs’, and air cannons

Air hammers are positioned above the pathway and make a short, sharp bang, much like the sound of a guillotine.

There are two of these on Hellgate alone, both triggered by hidden optical sensors and work by using air to power a hammer-like device into a hard surface creating a loud bang.

Using similar technology are air cannons, which build up compressed air, and are again triggered by optical sensors, blasting a sharp gust of air at ankle height making a thud as it does.

Other Senses

You can close your eyes and plug your ears, but there are still other senses that can be taunted. Smell is one such sense, and on Hellgate there are two places where aromas are used to great effect.

When you enter Hellgate, as your eyes adjust to the darkness, your nose adjusts to a musty smell, while deeper into the attraction there is the scent of charred wood.

This effect is created by two Dale Air ‘Vortex’ units, each of which fill 1000 cubic feet of air with select aromas. Each unit works by heating a cup of fragranced oil, a cup of which will last approximately a week. It is similar, if far a far more robust version of the plug-in air fresheners that you can now buy from shops, with the smells of choice employed by Thorpe Park being ‘musty’ (as you enter) and ‘burnt wood’ by the fireplace entrance into the revolving tunnel.

The sensation of touch is also one that is taunted, especially on Hellgate. Hessian, a frayed canvas-type of fabric forms curtains and is suspended from the ceiling, offering an uncomfortable feeling such as that when you get a cobweb tangled across your face.

While air cannons blast air at your feet, there is also a set of ankle ticklers, which are triggered by sensors and operated by air. They consist of a row of rubber strips that are blown by a pop of air at ankle height across the path of a group of guests that creates the impression that somebody is trying to grab their ankles.

Actors, meanwhile, have many tricks up their sleeve with a hidden maze of cubbyholes and corridors that mean they can often remain hidden, making their presence known through various concealed trapdoors by clawing for people and using other techniques to jump out at guests.

Construction

Construction for Fright Nights starts in late summer. Although both Asylum and Hellgate are permanent mazes, left throughout the summer, it is never a case of simply unlocking the front door and letting 25,000 people through. Every year improvements are made and broken scenery and effects are fixed.

Don’t underestimate the amount of effort that goes into even established mazes – wear and tear throughout even the short period they’re open can cost thousands to fix. Furthermore, effects such as the smoke machines need servicing and preparing for weeks-worth of use having stood unused for months.

Often audio systems need to be re-wired, and this year the whole electrical system on Asylum has been replaced. New house-lighting has been installed, while strobe lighting needs servicing having not been used for 11 months.

On Hellgate, meanwhile, many improvements have been made. Broken scenery has been replaced, new lighting installed, new effects have been added while you can expect to encounter a lot of new scenery throughout the five-minute maze.

As previously mentioned, new for this year is Se7en, based around the seven deadly sins. Many have been concerned by the lack of construction, but the two week construction schedule is well advanced and on schedule.

Unlike the other two mazes, Se7en is only a temporary maze, and will be stored elsewhere at Thorpe Park outside the Halloween season. The maze is already fully constructed within the marquee, and, like Universal’s mazes, is constructed out of a 4x2 wooden structure, with plyboard walls which then have theming styles applied to them.

Almost like a giant puzzle, Se7en was installed in almost its complete entirety over the last week, with the set pieces and props already in place. Although many were concerned that Se7en wouldn’t be completed by opening, all that is left to do is install the internal ceiling, lighting, audio before the actors can finish rehearsing in the final maze.

As we conclude this technical overview of Thorpe Park’s Fright Nights mazes, we can look forward to the event starting in earnest on the 13th of October. Hellgate is almost finished, Asylum is well advanced, and Se7en should be finished in just a couple of days.

While there’s light at the end of the tunnel, there’s still a lot tunnel left. Coaster Kingdom will be there to see the finishing touches made to the mazes with more volumes of Magazine throughout the month.