Haunted Attraction Network

Last week we aired the two-part special “Flattening the Curve: Aftershocks for the Attractions Industry,” which was taken from the first industry keynote to discuss the pandemic’s impact on attractions. That panel was moderated by Scott Swenson. Today I’ve bringing Scott back to discuss how he’s planning for this upcoming season. Scott also previews another upcoming panel that he’s moderating with Fear Expo.

What's it like to run a haunt from your apartment parking spot - while in a gated community during COVID? Today we’ll hear all about it from Charlie and Graciela of Dead Last Drive In. These first-time haunters used the pandemic as the push they needed to start a budget friendly experience, setting an example for anyone dreaming of becoming a haunter.

The industry professional's weekly dose of important Theme Park news in 30 minutes.This week on Green Tagged, we discuss two new industry reports. First IAAPA released a study showing the impact of COVID-19 on the industry. Thinkwell’s study is the ‘2021 Guest Experience Trend’ and focuses on artificial intelligence.

This week we explore the avalanche of reopenings and new openings happening worldwide. Sit back and relax for this feel-good episode that shows light at coming at the end of the summer. Stories covered: “More than 40 U.S. theme parks set 2021 reopening dates,” “Disney World visitors may be wearing masks through 2021,” “Reopening guidance issued for New York amusement parks,” “Hong Kong theme parks resume operations with changes,” “New section to open at Energylandia in Poland, in 2021,” “Yerevan Park set to open in spring 2021 in Armenia,” “Bath, England, to see debut of Mary Shelley museum,” “Harry Potter exhibition planned for 2022,” “Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart now open at AREA15 in Las Vegas,” “HOLOGATE WORLD planned for Germany,” “Disney California Adventure Park to debut ticketed food and entertainment event in March; 1,000 employees to return to work.”

This is Part 2 of our trip into the past reflecting on the changes in the attractions industry. If you’ve not listened to the previous episode stop and go back. In part 1 our panelists mainly discussed the impact on your attraction’s operations. There’s a new normal we’re operating in, and it’s something you must account for when planning this season. Its not just the social distancing. It’s understanding how the entertainment landscape and guest expectations have changed. In this part, we look at the predictions our panelists made and see what held up.

This week we passed the heartbreaking marker of 500,000 official deaths from COVID-19 here in the US. The entire entertainment industry was thrown into chaos, and every haunt has had to adapt. And yet, there is hope: by mid-year, we should have enough doses to vaccinate our entire population. This mid-year mark shows itself also in the reopening announcements from attractions across the US. For us haunters, that means hopes are high for this year’s Halloween. Therefore, we’ll be spending the next few months on helping you plan for this season. But this week, where we stand at the intersection of heartbreak and hope, let’s spend some time reflecting.Our team produced the attraction industry’s first virtual conference called Virtually Prepared on March 28th and 29th 2020. Back then, we never could have imagined what awaited us. And yet, many of the insights we discovered then still hold true for our planning now.Today I’m playing pieces of the Keynote Panel called “Flattening the Curve: Aftershocks for the Attractions Industry” which went live at 9AM on March 28th 2020.Join me in this trip into the past to reflect on planning our future.

Keeping everyone safe in 2020 yielded a new scare system concept at Dead City Haunted House in Salt Lake City Utah that was so effective, it will continue to be used long after the pandemic subsides. Owner Timothy Riggs conceived and engineered a new system for actors to operate props safely from a distance while above patrons. Nicknamed "The Puppeteers", each of these actors operated dozens of unique scares from a single bridge out of sight. The puppets movements were very startlingly scary and also a very cost-efficient use of actor staffing. Design methods are not expensive or complex and can be fabricated with the skill set of the average haunter. Listen to learn more about the design of this new prop puppeting system as well as how it was implemented. Thank you to HAuNTcon for allowing us to broadcast this education. HAuNTcon returns in 2022 and you can be the first to find out by signing up for their newsletter at hauntcon.com

I’m sure you know Brian’s work, but this episode explores everything Brian has been up to. This episode originally aired on the WrestleHorror Podcast, and if you want the full interview grab it from their feed. When Brian started out, there were far fewer resources for haunters. Brian first started his blog Scary Visions. Then he met Darryl and started HaunTopic Radio to both learn and teach other haunters. And now, he's developed the membership site Haunter's Toolbox.

Sir Henry's Haunted Trail in Plant City Florida is running a Haunted Valentine Event “Love’s Revenge” this weekend Feb 12-14. Tickets begin at $25. Zach is opening all three outdoor trails and adding some new elements for the overlay.

Dead City Haunted House debuted a valentine’s day event for the first time in 2020, and the team is attempting to pull it off again this year despite the pandemic. Owner Tim Riggs discusses the differences between the two events, the COVID precautions, and how he’s planning out 2021. “Love Bites” is February 12 & 13 at Dead City Haunted House in Murray Utah.

While the basics of crisis response have not changed, the pandemic has impacted the nature frequency of haunted attraction incidents. From queue management to scaling security, and from bag searches to staff training, the veteran haunters on this panel will discuss concrete examples from their 2020 season. While we can't predict what 2021 will look like, we can help you make a safer plan. This episode was adapted from the Live HAuNTcon panel on January 19, 2021. Panelists include: Spencer Terry from Fear Factory SLC, Alexis Garcia from Soul Screams, Willie Mae from Deadly Dopamine and Eddie McLaurin from Woods of Terror. Go to HAuNTcon.com for updates on 2022's show.

Scott discusses ideas and creative options for Dark Haunts. This question was submitted via the 'A Scott in the dark' Facebook group; join today to participate in the discussion.

Green practices are a growing concern for all attractions, but what can haunted attractions do? Scott discusses options for scare attractions that are both eco-friendly business savvy. Reduce cost and go green!

Scott discusses ways to "mash up" supposedly unrelated stories and locations to create a new and unique guest experience.

This week on Green Tagged we cover the controversy surrounding Ocean Park in Hong Kong and then discuss other news that impact the guest experience worldwide. Stories covered: “Ocean Park in Hong Kong to overhaul business model,” “Ocean Park must show its will to survive,” “JRA partners with Holocaust & Humanity Center to present new AI exhibit,” “Disney's Jungle Cruise Attraction is Getting an Update,” “What 'vaccine passports' mean for your summer vacation,” “Lower House OKs ¥19 trillion extra budget despite criticism of virus measures.”

What are the voices bringing your haunt to life? Coming up on today’s show The Voice From Hell discusses the importance of voice work and how you can craft creepy characters.Dick Terhune is infamous in the haunt industry, and I’m sure you’ve heard him around. He’s all over the normal world as well, appearing in everything from games to pharmaceuticals. Some of his premier characters include “Transformers: Cyberverse,” “World of Warcraft,” and “Little Caesars.”This interview with Dick is from Episode 71 of the WrestleHorror podcast, and it was so good I wanted to share it with you. If you enjoy it, show Donnie and Jim some love over at wrestlehorror where they explore the intersection of wrestling and haunted attractions.

This week on Green Tagged, we dedicate the entire show to pivots happening across the industry. Stories covered: “Disneyland in California to host COVID-19 vaccination site,” “LVHN setting up mass COVID-19 vaccination site at Dorney Park,” “IAAPA Expo Asia 2021 to take place in Shanghai,” “Show Up: A New Social Convention for FECs,” “ADG creates neighbourhood FECs from Moscow’s Soviet cinemas,” “Pawprints and lion-ripped jeans: Struggling zoos and aquariums in Japan offer unique gifts for donations,” “Al Ain Zoo launches new mountain biking experience,” “Ocean Park in Hong Kong to overhaul business model.”

Todd Cox and Paul Meredith from Haunted House Tour.com discuss their 2020 Award Recipients. Haunted House Tour is a private group of haunted house enthusiasts based in Cincinnati, OH who make a yearly tour of haunted attractions around the tri-state area. The group has toured for over 26 years and visit haunts large and small. Read more about the recipients here: https://www.hauntedhousetour.com/2020_awards.html

While masks have become the new norm at the grocery store, you may be thinking there’s no way they belong on the monsters in your haunt but they are a necessary evil to keep guests and actors safe. Alisa Kleckner, owner of Scared of My Shadow, LLC, a boutique purveyor of hauntingly beautiful leather masks, headdresses and accessories, will share tips, tricks and a design approach that incorporates masks into your actors' costumes seamlessly. Keeping folks safe doesn't need to derail your scenes or detract from your scares!

During this live keynote event, our panel of operators and consultants will talk through how changes made because of the pandemic crisis can improve the haunt industry in the future. Hear about innovations in everything from ticketing to training, from costuming to caution tape, from sanitizer to storytelling. As the name suggests, this session will share success stories of practices that no one thought would ever work. Out of adversity comes innovation and out of chaos comes art! Panelists: Scott Swenson of Scott Swenson Creative Development; Justin Fix of JFI Productions; Teresa Ryan of DARK at Fort Edmonton; Alex Crow of ZooTampa. Register FREE for hauntcon at: www.hauntcon.com