Asylum now Halloween attraction
WESTLAND, Mich. — A closed and abandoned Michigan asylum, already said to be haunted, has been turned into a high-tech, immersive horror-themed Halloween attraction.
Located in Westland, Eloise Asylum has now been made into two haunted walk-throughs using two of the world’s 20 Cold Spark Pyrotechnic Simulators. The attraction will also feature Advanced Projection Mapping Technologies often used at theme parks like Disney World and Universal Studios.
“It took a year of planning to do this, and in terms of actual construction to make this happen, we started at the end of March,” said Jay Kays, operations manager of Eloise Asylum. “It was a super aggressive build schedule.”
The first walk-through attraction takes place on floor one of Building D and is being called Eloise Asylum. The second attraction is in the basement of the same building and is called Sub Level 1.
“We’re bringing a theatrical storyline to the attraction,” added Kays. “The first storyline is welcoming you to Eloise, touring the property and seeing the different treatments going on there. Some great, some not so great. As you go the basement, you’ll see some of the medical patients from upstairs being used as test subjects for a nuclear experiment.”
Millions of dollars were poured into this project to not only preserve the building, but to make the property into a sustainable business as a haunted attraction for years to come.
“This experience is very much cutting-edge and hightech. … Because of the mapping technology, it’s very immersive. It’s like a haunted art museum, but we also encapsulate what is a traditional haunt, so prepare to be scared like at a haunted house. We just sprinkled some extra magic into it.” Tickets are $40 each and include access to both haunted attractions. VIP tickets are $65. The horror walk-throughs each last 35 to 40 minutes.
The haunted attraction will take visitors through Building D, also known as the Kay Beard Building. It’s one of just a few buildings remaining out of about 70 on the entire complex.
Eloise was founded as a poorhouse in 1839 before it became one of the largest public health care facilities in the U.S. At one time, it was once one of the largest hospital complexes in the country, if not the largest.
The first inmate of the asylum was admitted in 1841, Bridget “Biddy” Hughes. She remained there until her death in 1895.
Built in 1931, Building D once housed 409 patients. Psychiatric care ended at Eloise in 1979. The general hospital closed in 1984. Most of the complex’s 75 buildings were razed by the mid-80s.
Eloise pioneered many treatments for the mentally ill including electroshock therapy, insulin shock therapy, television therapy, recreational, music therapy and occupational therapy.