Haunted Attraction Network

Read the news here. This week's news: 85 Haunts Nationwide will open this December; Six Flags considers closing select theme parks; Danse Macabre opens at Efteling; New Villains Land Details; Egan Escape Productions revamps The Official SAW Escape; Doncaster Fear Factory faces opposition from local council; Spirit Christmas stores to open in the Northeast U.S.

Read the news here. Universal Destinations & Experiences announces the first four haunts coming to Universal Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas; Take a sneak peak at the new animatronics for Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment at Universal Epic Universe; Transworld's Legendary Haunt Tour takes place this week; The Haunted Attraction Association will host a C.H.A.O.S. certification course before the Legendary Haunt Tour; Everhaunt will host three Behind the Screams Tours on November 16th; Ghoul Brothers Haunted House is being forced to close after losing their long-term venue; Hundred of revelers in Dublin, Ireland lined up on October 31st for a much-anticipated Halloween parade that didn't actually exist. 

Universal promises 2025 will be its biggest year ever, but are those promises genuine or distractions covering up declining park revenue? This week saw two major announcements from Universal. First, Universal’s new experiment in year-round horror, Universal Horror Unleashed, will open in Las Vegas next year – the same year as Universal’s new Epic Universe theme park. Next, Universal released information surrounding the animatronics coming to Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment at Universal’s Epic Universe in Orlando. However, Comcast posted a 5.3% decline in theme park revenue for the third quarter, citing lower attendance at domestic parks. This episode discusses what these reveals mean for Universal’s strategy, attendance trends, and how the new Vegas location could attract horror fans year-round. Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our Patreon. 

Discover how Maan Farms in Abbotsford, Canada, transformed Halloween from a simple corn maze in 2013 into one of Canada’s largest multi-attraction events. In this episode, Farmer Amir Maan shares the family’s journey, diving into the design of their signature attractions—The Slaughterhouse, The Way Down, and Homestead—and how each offers a unique level of terror. We explore the farm’s evolution and different businesses, balancing tradition with innovation and the strategic decisions behind their Halloween event’s explosive growth. Join us to uncover the business and creativity fueling the scariest corn maze in Canada.

This week's headlines: 200+ disruptive teens cause closer of Haunted Hayride; Shanghai police crackdown on Halloween celebrations; University poll says kids should stop trick-or-treating at 13; "Insidious: The Further You Fear" to visit 80 theaters in 2025; "The House on Watch Hill" extends through November 2024; Vendor applications now open for Midsummer Scream; 8 eco-friendly ways to dispose of your pumpkin after Halloween. Read the newsletter here.

We're sharing this special from our sister podcast: Green Tagged. Get Weekly bonus episodes of Green Tagged on our Patreon. We dive into Fun.com’s costume data to see how IP-driven favorites like Ghostbusters, Beetlejuice, and Inside Out define the season, showing Halloween’s unique synergy across homes, media, and theme parks. We then delve into recent haunt visits: Scott’s behind-the-scenes look at Netherworld’s stellar operations and Philip’s trip to Dark at Fort Edmonton, exploring how the event has expanded.

Get an exclusive look into the different offerings from Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group during this presentation from Midsummer Scream! NOTE: this originally aired during Midsummer Scream, and I forgot to post this earlier!

This week: New Zombie Stunt Experience Debuts at HHN Japan; Halloween Wars: Theme Parks Are Fighting for Bigger Share of Scream Economy from The Hollywood Reporter; A Haunting in Hollis shut down by NYFD; 12-year-old boy passed away after being run over by a hay ride tractor at The Haunted Hilltop; The Sunset Strip's Afterlife Transfer Trolley; ScareHouse returns in 2024 with experiences; TransWorld's Legacy Haunt Tour is Nov 8-9; Tickets are now on sale for TransWorld's Halloween & Attractions Show. Read the stories here.

ScareHouse Windsor in Windsor, Canada, offers guests full-themed dinners before the haunt opens. For an additional charge, guests can arrive 90 mins early and enjoy a three-course themed dinner, complete with live actors, before getting expedited entry into the three haunts at Scarehouse Windsor. Today – I speak with Co-Owners Shawn Lippert and Dario Silvaggi about these dinners and how they fit into the haunted attraction. Watch my walkthrough of the dinner and haunt here.

In this episode, John Murdy, Creative Director at Universal Studios Hollywood, takes a deep dive into the design process behind two iconic mazes: 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre' and 'Universal Monsters.' Learn how these terrifying experiences come to life, from concept to creation. This episode is just the beginning of our Hauntathon, where we celebrate haunted houses every day leading up to Halloween with videos, podcasts, articles, and more! Make sure you don’t miss a thing—subscribe to our newsletter for all the latest updates.

Read the stories here. This week's Headlines: Hush Haunted Attraction expands live entertainment; Fright Fest Extreme Plagued by Delayed Openings; Kings Dominion brawl described as "mass chaos" by Sheriff's Office; Peacock TV & Blumhouse debut "Overnightmare" at Stanley Hotel; EverHaunt opens Oct 5th with new experiences; Uber & Spirit Halloween partner; Ring's Great Ghost Search offers a $100,000 grand prize; Anaheim Beautiful seeks entrance for home decorating contest; Lvcrft releases "Halloween Hop" single; Creep I.E. Con returns January 31st - February 2nd, 2025.

Read the full stories here. Woods Of Terror opens largest expansion; IAAPA's Quarterly Outlook Survey; Knott's Scary Farm opens two new mazes; Dark Nights at Hersheypark creates a well-balanced Halloween Experience for all ages; The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park returns September 27th; Midnight Terror Haunted House's 10th anniversary; Cannabis Maze debuting at Fear at the Farm; Busch Gardens Williamsburg's new chaperone policy following a large fight and stabbing the first two weekends of Howl-O-Scream; The Dent Schoolhouse's chaperone policy; Movie Park Germany adds "A Quiet Place: Stay Quiet, Stay Alive"; Costume trend predictions for the 2024 Halloween season.

Read the full stories here. Dark Nights at Hersheypark opened this past weekend - featuring 5 haunts and 3 scare zones; Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Williamsburg has seen two incidents over the past two weekends: a large altercation in its opening weekend and a stabbing this past Saturday; The Haunted Attraction Association names their 50 "Top Haunts" of 2024; Embrace your inner cat-lady with this year's New York City Village Halloween Parade theme - "Meow!"; Portals of Fear Haunted Attraction will not operate during the 2024 Halloween season due to an "unforeseen real estate logistical issue"; Halloween Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary returns with a new immersive-theater-style experience; Toms River Halloween Parade celebrates its 85th annual event this Halloween; The Haunt in Atascadero celebrates its 10th anniversary with "Dr. Frankenstein's Monsters"; Haunted Little Tokyo returns to Los Angeles for its 7th annual block party on October 26th; Explore the history of the "birthplace of Halloween" with Tourism Ireland's new tourism campaign, "Home of Halloween"; Maan Farms' The Scariest Corn Maze in Canada returns select dates September 27th - November 3rd; The official trailer has been released for "Haunt Season", a horror movie filmed at Realm of Terror haunted attraction; Home haunter Marianna Peters was contacted by her local city council after neighbors complained that August was too early for Halloween decorations; A yard display by home haunter Bill Pyles gives comfort to a cancer survivor; The Glen Falls Collaborative announces their annual Halloween House Competition for local residents and businesses. 

A Jackson Wang haunted house, "Under the Castle", comes to Halloween Horror Nights 2024 at Universal Studios Singapore; Six Flags Fright Fest Extreme at Six Flags Magic Mountain suffered challenges during opening this past weekend; Eveerland and Netflix collaborate to bring "Stranger Things" and "All of Us Are Dead" to Blood City 8; a new Disney Villains show is coming to Walt Disney World's Hollywood Studios next summer; Blackpool Pleasure Beach announces two new scare zones and triple the rides for Journey to Hell: Freak Nights; a Boston, MA announces new Spooky Streets program to provide grants for Halloween block parties; the Douglas Halloween Parade for Adults seeks donors for its 26th annual event; the Vegas Theater Company will premiere the new Halloween haunt-themed musical "The House on Watch Hill" on September 27th; Ames Haunted Forest to close after 25 years of fears; Niles Scream Park returns for its 51st season; Freakling Bros. Horror Shows returns in a new location for 2024; "Onionhead's Revenge" returns to the Mall of America starting September 27th; Meow Wolf's Halloween experience, "Cosmic Howl" will return to each of its locations this Fall; City officials have halted construction of a popular home haunt display in Ortilla, Ontario; Ghost of Glamis returns to the landmark 650-year-old castle for 2024 with new child-friendly storytelling tours; Freaklings Bros. Horror Shows now hiring scareactors for this season; The Canadian Haunters Association hosted their 10th annual awards ceremony this past weekend.

Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando Resort opened to mixed reviews this past weekend; Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood announces "Late Night with Chucky" live talk show; Go behind-the-scenes of HHN's "A Quiet Place" and "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire" with Theme Park Insider and Attractions Magazine; Six Flags Magic Mountain will implement a chaperone policy for Fright Fest Extreme; The Broadway Halloween parade needs a hero sponsor by September 6th or its 2024 event may be cancelled; Coffin Creek cancels their 2024 event; Dinosaur World hosts its first-ever Halloween after-hours event; The Ghost Train is returning to Tweetsie Railroad this Fall; Alton Towers announces two new Scarefest attractions - "Compound" and "Amigos in the Afterlife"; Freeform announces its "31 Nights of Halloween" lineup; American consumers are planning to spend more on Halloween candy, food, and costumes than 2023. Read the news here.

Knott's Scary Farm announces two new mazes for 2024; Sci-fi, Fantasy, Gaming, & Anime fans unite during Universal Studios Hollywood's new "Universal Fan Fest Nights"; SCarowinds will not require a separate ticket for 2024; Six Flags Great America announces three new IP-based mazes for 2024; Get a sneak peak of Six Flags' Texas Chainsaw massacre attraction; Go behind-the-scenes of the creation of this year's Disneyland Haunted Mansion Holiday gingerbread house; Pumpkin Spice season comes to Starbucks earlier than ever before; Horror director Darren Lynn Bousman presents a new immersive horror experience in Kansas with "EXILED: Crooked Rose Woods"; Tim Burton's "Nightmare Before Christmas" comes to the New York Botanical Garden this Fall; Read all the stories here.

Jimmy Fallon and NBCUniversal introduce Jimmy Fallon’s Tonightmares this Halloween season at Rockefeller Center; Tickets are now on sale for Delusion: The Red Castle; The Vampire Circus returns to Hollywood, CA, September 19th - October 6th; Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay celebrates its 25th anniversary with new haunts, scare zones, and entertainment; Deadmonton Haunted House announces its three maze themes for 2024; HalloweenCostumes.com and Distortions Unlimited are collaborating to release an officially licensed Deluxe Alien Xenomorph collectible mask. Read the stories here.

Disney Experiences announces a new Disney Villains-themed land coming to the Magic Kingdom park in Walt Disney World; Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood unveils it's final house of the season, "The Weeknd: Nightmare Trilogy"; Halloween Horror Nights Orlando announces its final scare zone of the season, "Enter the Blumhouse"; Sea World San Diego's Howl-O-Scream will feature 4 new scarte zones, 3 new Vile Vignettes, and an all-new show; LEGOLAND Florida Resort announces all-new aerial drone show for Brick-or-Treat; Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party began at Walt Disney World Resort this past week; Netherworld haunted House unveils its two themes for its 28th Season of Screams; Silicon Valley Haunt Investors acquires 50% ownership of All Hallows Eve Terror Town to create "Cincinnati Fear Fest"; CBS's "Ghosts" will partner with Creep LA to create a new 60-minute immersive experience; Field of Screams Maryland announces new attractions and a special event weekend; The Mystic Museum hosts a Crypt Keeper Homecoming Dance on August 31st; Zombie Joe's Underground Theatre Group presents "Urban Death Tour of Terror" select nights September 27th - November 1st; Dreadwor5ks Haunted House comes to Surrey, BC this Fall; The Hershey Company announces new Halloween products for 2024; Retailers are rolling out Halloween merchandise earlier than ever before. Read the stories here.

This week's News: Universal Japan's First ALL-NIGHT Halloween Party; New scare zones Halloween Horror Nights Orlando; New villains for Oogie Boogie Bash; Castle Dark returns Sept 20th - October 27th with new VR Maze; DETAILS: The Queen Mary's Dark Harbor 2024; Fear Farm & Keys2Fear Productions debut new attraction; New maze and theatrical experience for Los Angeles Haunted Hayride; Delusion's new location & new storyline; Spirit Halloween stores open across the U.S.; Pale Night Productions' Perma-Blood is now available at Spirit Halloween. Read the stories here. 

A cast of all-female monsters comes to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Halloween & Universal Orlando Resort with "Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines"; Universal Studios Hollywood announces "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Legacy of Leatherface" house and "Luchadores Monstuosos" scare zone; this year's Fright Fest at Six Flags Magic Mountain will feature 11 haunts and 9 scare zones - including haunts based on "Stranger Things", "The Conjuring Universe", "SAW", "Army of the Dead", and "Trick 'r Treat"; Howl-O-Scream at Sea World Orlando will feature 4 new haunts, 3 new scare zones, and 2 new themed bars; "Yours Cruelly, Elvira XXperience" comes to Knott's Scary Farm; Knott's Scary Farm's preview event, Nightmares Revealed will take place on August 22nd - tickets on sale August 5th; The Haunted Mansion at Disneyland will re-open three weeks ahead of schedule; Fuji-Q Highland's "Labryinth of Fear - The Ward Lurking in the Darkness" reopens with new scares and lengthened "long hallway"; Los Angeles Haunted Hayride season passes are now on sale; Check into your worst nightmare at the Winchester Mansion with "Unhinged Hotel"; Zombie Joe's Underground Theatre Group presents "The Exorcism of Sophia Grace"; depaolEVENTs presents "I Put a Spell on You Masquerade" inside Salem's Old Town Hall; Antoni Zioni presents "Dark Ritual & Tales of the Ancient East" at The Crooked Path in Burbank, CA; The Best Halloween Store Ever hosts its grand openeing on August 3rd; Starbucks' 2024 Fall Menu is set to launch on August 22nd. Read the news here.