Hocus Pocus Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hocus Pocus Hall |
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| Attraction type | Themed walkaround | ||||||||||||
| Designer | Tussauds Studios / Rex Studios | ||||||||||||
| Theme | Magic | ||||||||||||
Hocus Pocus Hall was a fun, spooky walk-through attraction at Chessington World of Adventures Resort. It was located in southwest London, England. This attraction was like a house of mirrors but with a magical, gothic theme. It opened in 2003 inside an old building called Burnt Stub Mansion. After many years of exciting visitors, Hocus Pocus Hall closed in 2018. It was then changed into a new adventure called Room On The Broom: A Magical Journey.
Contents
History of the Mansion
Burnt Stub Mansion's Past
The building where Hocus Pocus Hall was located is very old. It is called Burnt Stub Mansion. It was first built way back in 1348 in Chessington. During the English Civil War, which was a big fight in England many years ago, this mansion became a place where people who supported the King would stay. Later, the mansion was badly damaged by the army of Oliver Cromwell. This is how it got its name, "Burnt Stub," because parts of it were burned or destroyed.
About Hocus Pocus Hall
What Was Inside Hocus Pocus Hall?
Hocus Pocus Hall was a special "4-D" walk-through adventure. This means you walked through different rooms, and there were extra effects like sounds, smells, or even things that moved. There was no age limit, so everyone could enjoy it!
The attraction was full of magic and mystery. You would see moving figures called animatronics, like a wise wizard and mischievous goblins. There were also hallways that seemed to spin around you and cool 3D paintings. For a while, you could even wear special 3-D glasses to make the paintings pop out!
The Adventure Begins
Your journey started in the main hall of the mansion. Here, a wizard would greet you. He would tell you about the naughty goblins causing trouble in the Hall. Suddenly, the room would change right before your eyes! It would fill with goblins and glowing eyes everywhere. Then, a secret bookcase would slide open, leading you into a library corridor.
Through the Magical Rooms
Next, you would enter a spinning tunnel called a "trommel tunnel." It made you feel like you were tumbling through space! After that, you reached a generator room. More goblins were here, making a mess and causing chaos. Some were animatronic statues, and others were like ghostly projections. Guests could press buttons and stand on pressure pads to interact with the scene. You could even put your hands into holes for a fun surprise!
The adventure continued into the wizard's bedroom. Here, you would see the goblins playing around the sleeping wizard. The floors in this part were uneven, making it feel even more magical and a bit wobbly.
The Mirror Maze Finale
The grand finale was a tricky mirror maze. This maze was designed to look like a magical garden. It was easy to get lost as you tried to find your way out. Goblins would suddenly appear through the glass, giving you a fun fright! The attraction ended right after you found your way out of the mirror maze.
Special Events and Closure
In 2013, during Chessington's Halloween event, Hocus Pocus Hall got a special makeover. It was called "The Mystery of Hocus Pocus Hall" and had new decorations and music.
In October 2018, it was announced that Hocus Pocus Hall would close. It was then redeveloped into a new attraction. The new ride is based on the popular children's book, Room On The Broom, by Julia Donaldson.
See also
