The zombie apocalypse has begun. Atlanta is ground zero, and the last hope for survival is a compound located southeast of the city. You load up your car with those closest to you, avoiding zombies and other debris along I-285. You know you are there when you see the sign that reads "Atlanta Zombie Apocalypse".
Once you reach the compound, located at 4215 Thurman Road in Conley, Georgia, 30288, everything seems to be in order. There is a shooting gallery outside of the camouflaged compound with a sign that reads "Shoot the Zombie". You breathe a sigh of relief. Clearly the military has things in order if they are keeping zombies confined within the compound for a carnival-style shoot-out game.
After purchasing admission into the apocalypse haven, you wait for your military escort. Outside of the compound, security looks over the survivors to make sure no one has been scratched or bitten. Suddenly they grab someone yelling, "We've got a bite! He's infected!" An infected person was trying to sneak into the compound. They drag him off behind a tent. You hear yelling, a gunshot, and then...silence. As if tensions weren't already high, everyone is now instructed to look around and check to see if anyone else in infected. Everyone else is clean and cleared for entry.
Two trained military professionals carrying big guns are there to ensure your safety. With one heading up the group and the other at the rear, you gain a false sense of safety. But you quickly learn that the compound has been compromised; zombies are loose throughout the area. You must listen to everything your guides say. If they tell you to run, you run. You are lead through the compound and outside into post-apocalyptic society in which debauchery has no bounds. Finally, you learn the twisted truth behind the entire complex and if you're lucky, you escape with your life.
As you can see, Atlanta Zombie Apocalypse is no ordinary haunted house. It is an immersive haunted attraction. The actors work out scripted scenes and interact with the guests. There are a few sets, but the majority of the tour is built around what was actually an abandoned building. There was no soundtrack, and there were no clear paths--it was necessary to follow the guides for direction. At times, while running and dodging zombies left and right, it resembled a real-life fight for survival.
Before going through the show, I was able to sit down with one of the creators of the Atlanta Zombie Apocalypse, Jonny Rej. Rej is also the owner of the Plaza Theatre which houses such underground favorites such as the Lips Down on Dixie shadowcast of the "Rocky Horror Picture Show" and the Silver Scream Spookshow. Rej attributes Spookshow's Professor Morte, aka Shane Morton, as the mastermind behind the Atlanta Zombie Apocalypse. “Shane Morton is a long-time horror, creator, and mastermind here in town. He found this place, and it was mind blowing when we realized the possibilities. We talked about what we could do, and we wrote a script and figured out how to make this thing work.” Through the collaboration of Rej, Morton, and several other talented make-up artists and actors, the Atlanta Zombie Apocalypse was made possible in a manner of only a few months.
The acting throughout the Atlanta Zombie Apocalypse was very good, specifically from the military guides and the post-apocalyptic society actors. One thing you'll see at the Atlanta Zombie Apocalypse that you won't find at a lot of other places are talented child actors. It's funny how a beautiful young girl in a frilly dress covered in blood can be so creepy.
After surviving the apocalypse, not to mention having to watch the military guys have all of the fun shooting the zombies, you can get your turn in the Zombie Shoot. For $15, you get to use a paintball gun to shoot those wily zombies as they make their way through the arena. Keep your finger on the trigger and the sight pointed at their heads, because they will throw barrels and spare body parts in your direction to distract you.
Here's what some people had to say about Atlanta Zombie Apocalypse:
"I thought it was very cool, and I thought they had the whole theme behind it. It was very theatrical." - Dana B.
"I loved the interaction. It was definitely worth the money." - Tonya P.
"It was like being in a video game, except I was shooting zombies in real life." - David P.
This attraction will get your adrenaline pumping in a completely new way. It is nearly impossible to describe it accurately, so you'll just have to see for yourself.
Tickets for the Apocalypse are $20, and the Zombie Shoot is $15. Combo tickets are $30. 99x Freeloaders can go to 99x.com to print out a coupon for 50% off Apocalypse tickets on Thursday nights.
The Atlanta Zombie Apocalypse is open this Thursday, October 14 through Sunday, October 17, October 20 through 24, and October 26 through 31 from 8:00pm until midnight. ([Hours expected to extend as it gets closer to Halloween. The dates may also change, so please refer to the calendar on the Atlanta Zombie Apocalypse website.)
I survived the Atlanta Zombie Apocalypse, and I have the t-shirt from the gift shop to prove it. Do you think you've got what it takes to survive the Atlanta Zombie Apocalypse?
For more information, visit the Atlanta Zombie Apocalypse online, follow Atlanta Zombie Apocalypse on Twitter, and be sure to like Atlanta Zombie Apocalypse on Facebook. While you're at it, like the Atlanta Underground Club Scene on Facebook too!
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