The Dark Carousel Podcast

After 27 years in the haunt industry, Punx the Clown’s passion runs much deeper than the scares. From Nightmare on the Ridge in Auburn, Maine, his story is about dedication, creativity, community, and finding that fire again even when it starts to fade. Behind the mask is a haunter who truly loves what he does and the people who make this industry feel like home. 🎃🤡

Halloween isn’t just a season. For some of us, it’s a way of life.On this episode of The Dark Carousel Podcast, we welcome Halloween Haunts 365 for a conversation that goes far beyond haunted attraction reviews.Behind the cameras and reviews are two individuals who share a genuine love for the haunt industry. They’re not just there to rate attractions or tell you where to spend your money. They’re there to build relationships, support fellow haunters, share stories, and become part of the community that makes this industry so special.We dive into their journey, the friendships they’ve built, the experiences that have shaped them, and what it truly means to be a haunter.Because at the end of the day, it’s not about who’s got the biggest haunt or the scariest attraction. It’s about the people behind the masks, the passion that brings us together, and the family we find along the way.We’re not just haunt fans. We’re haunters. And this carousel will never stop spinning. 🎠

Eddie McLaurin, better known as Bone Daddy, is the owner and mastermind behind Woods of Terror and McLaurin Farms in Greensboro, North Carolina. For more than three decades, Eddie has helped transform his family property into one of the most recognized haunted attractions in the country.Now heading into the 2026 season, Eddie continues pushing Woods of Terror into new territory, including the arrival of Dee Snider’s Strangeland.Haunter. Creator. Leader. Man of faith. And still finding new ways to make people afraid of the dark. 🌲💀

This one got deep.We sat down with Allen Hopps to talk about his journey through the haunt industry, but the conversation became so much more. Allen opened up about his perspective on haunting, life, helping others, and what keeps him constantly moving forward.An extraordinary man with a massive heart for haunting, creating, teaching, and helping others.This wasn’t just about what Allen has done. It was about why he does it. 🎠This carousel will never stop spinning.

If you love talking haunt shop, this is the episode for you! The Dark Carousel Podcast sits down with Sammy Taylor, better known as Chainsaw Sammy and host of Into the Fear, to trace her journey from where it all began to where her passion has taken her today. We dive into her years in the haunt industry, the experiences that shaped her, the love behind everything she creates, and just how insanely busy she will be this haunt season. This episode is about the people, the memories, the hard work, and the passion that keeps the haunt community alive. Two podcasts collide for an honest conversation about the journey and why haunting becomes so much more than something we do every October.