Long before Universal Studios Singapore became the go-to theme park on our tiny isle, there was one that was all the rage, and in some instances, drew rage from unsuspecting visitors. Whatever you do, keep your kids away from Haw Par Villa, unless you wanna scar them for the rest of their impressionable lives. Filled with grotesque statues depicting Chinese folklore – gory torture dioramas, freaky anthropomorphic deities, and deformed nudity are just an inkling of the horrors you’d find here – this terrain of nightmare fuel has gotten even scarier since its attractions were shut down and it adopted the façade of an abandoned theme park. Sounds great, doesn’t it?!
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If you’re not squeamish whatsoever and are intrigued by our brief PG-13 overview, you’ll be happy to know that there’s now another – relatively accessible – reason to pop by. Real Life Escape Game masterminds, Lockdown Singapore, are reinvigorating the haunting territory of Haw Par Villa, turning it into a massive labyrinth of puzzles where you have to tackle mind-boggling mysteries. Dubbed Journey to the End and Back, visitors are split into small groups, and are dispersed to solve the grisly scenario of a ‘school outing gone wrong’, which, without spoiling, involves themes of ghosts, death, and reincarnation. Follow clues and crack riddles, as you take a tour of this mystical park that’s aged, in our opinion, beautifully.
Each round only takes about an hour, but we’re sure this otherworldly experience will stick with you for a lifetime. Good luck going through the infamous 10 Courts Of Hell. We won’t judge if you curl into a ball and cry.
Journey to the End and Back by Lockdown Singapore, Haw Par Villa, 262 Pasir Panjang Road, Singapore 118628. Dates and timings vary, so refer to the Facebook page of Lockdown Singapore for updates.