Security is required to prevent a gang of rebels from attacking the Creepy Caves building...
Security is required to prevent a gang of rebels from attacking the Creepy Caves building...
| Theme Park | Chessington World of Adventures |
|---|---|
| Park Area | Chessington Zoo |
| Type | Scare Maze |
| Audience | Older Families and Thrillseekers |
| Season | Howl'o'ween |
| Debuted | 2020 (replaced Creepy Caves Unearthed) |
| Retired | 2021 (replaced by Creepy Caves: Elimination) |
| Location | former Creepy Caves reptile house |
Oil drums outside the entrance to Creepy Caves
Creepy Caves Resurgence is the sequel to Chessington's award winning Creepy Caves Unearthed scare maze.
Like the original, Resurgence takes place inside the old Creepy Caves reptile house, although the route has been reversed with guests entering through the former Caves entrance rather than down a set of emergency stairs.
Before entering the maze, guests are informed that they have been hired as security to protect the site against rebels who are threatening to invade. Once inside, the group is split up as each member is called forward to stand inside one of three decontamination chambers. However, the rebels attack and get inside the building, forcing the group forward into the main body of the maze in search of a way out.
Creepy Caves Resurgence queueline
From here on in the maze is unrelenting and intense, with darkness, noise and rebels jumping out from every direction and beating sticks against the metal walls and oil drums. This is definitely not for the faint hearted. The park advise that the attraction is unsuitable for those under 10 years old, and that is certainly true. Creepy Caves Resurgence is a full-on grown-up horror maze, and even scarier than the previous version.
The rebels all wear illuminated masks, which make them look even more terrifying as they loom out of the darkness, chasing the group through the maze. The costume design is very clever, with their luminous faces cunningly providing face masks for all the actors, but also allowing some extra versatility: One of the actors lit up their mask right in front of my face, providing one of the best jump scares I have had in years.
While Resurgence is inarguably a brilliant scare maze, it doesn't manage to quite reach the heights of the original Creepy Caves Unearthed. The increase in scares and intensity is welcome, but I really enjoyed the story-led experience of the previous version which Resurgence lacks after the initial decontamination scene. Having said that, the old reptile enclosures and cave theming provide a superb backdrop for the maze, and the actors are on top form leaping all around the corridors and ensuring each member of the group gets an equal share of the terror. Creepy Caves is an upcharge attraction, with guests paying £6 (in 2021) for a run through the maze. With the standard Chessington continue to set, it is definitely worth it ... but make sure you leave young kids outside!
Creepy Caves Resurgence sign
The entrance to Creepy Caves Resurgence is opposite Smokehouse BBQ
Entrance
Timed tickets must be bought in advance
Creepy Caves Resurgence queue opposite Sea Lion Bay
Queuing at the entrance to Crrepy Caves
One of the rebel actors outside the maze
