Haunted Attraction Network

This week's news: The next Haunters Toolbox Masterclass is scheduled for Wednesday, February 16th and will feature Cynthia MacDonald of Zombie Farms; HauntPay highlights six ways to fund your haunted attraction; Monsterpalooza announced their exhibitor list; Transworld's Halloween & Attractions Show posted the official floor plan; The Ohio Haunters Association will hold an in-person meeting at Hel...

Jack O’ Lantern Journey ( https://jackolanternjourney.com/) has been popping up everywhere over the last several years. Sometimes as a single photo op like at the Winchester Mystery House and sometimes as a full-scale event. I’ve been so curious how it all works. Today, we hear all about the process from CEO Debbi Katz and Creative Director Bill Bywater. If you want to meet Jack o Lantern journey...

This week we discuss SeaWorld offering to buy Cedar Fair, Bob Iger’s exit interview with the NY Times, and what it all says about the attention economy. Notes: SeaWorld’s offer ( https://www.inparkmagazine.com/sseaworld-offer-for-cedar-fair/) and Bob Iger’s Exit Interview ( https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/27/opinion/sway-kara-swisher-bob-iger.html ?). Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/hauntedattraction...

Haunts across the country are rolling out the blood-red carpet to welcome couples for an evening of treats. The first haunt to open was The Haunt in Atascadero, which opened last night and will run their scary tales on 5 select nights through February 14th ( https://www.thehauntinatascadero.com/) . We’ll go on-location to experience their Valentine’s Scary Tales Revisited. Featured in this episode...

Home Haunting is where most haunters begin; it starts with lavish decorating and evolves into something that eventually takes over the house and neighborhood. But no matter the size of the haunt, all haunters have one thing that ties us all together – a love for Halloween and entertaining the community. Wilson Halloween House in Ironton Ohio decided this year to move from a yard display to walkthr...

Scott discusses the importance and benefits of people in the Haunt Community joining and participating in various organizations. View our list of organizations here: https://hauntedattractionnetwork.com/haunted-attraction-associations-groups/

CAMELOT RISES is the brand new horror event coming to the abandoned Camelot Theme Park in Lancashire ( https://www.parknpartymcr.co.uk/camelot-rises/) . Drive your car through the fully immersive zombie experience and watch your favorite horror movies! Mikey interviews Russell Feingold, Events Director, all about the brand new event. Scaretrack: https://scaretrack.co.uk

Transworld's Halloween & Attractions Show has posted their seminar lineup; Haunted Overload announces their 2022 Halloween schedule; Phantasmagoria presents "Hauntingly Romantic Tales" on select February dates in a variety of central Florida locations- including Dinner Theatre style performances; Self-guided flashlight tours return to the Winchester Mystery House this February; West Coast Hallowee...

This is the first episode of our vendor showcase series, in partnership with the Haunted Attraction Association ( https://hauntedattractionassociation.com/) . In this series, we’re showcasing HAA member companies are participating in the annual auction happening at this year’s Transworld Halloween & attractions show ( https://haashow.com/) . In this episode, Scott Tater Lynn explains the new scent...

This week we delve into the deluge of opening announcements from attractions around the world and look at two museums are pivoting. Openings: EPIC Universe, Iron Gwazi, Emperor, Pantheon, Peppa Pig, the NFT Museum, Studio Ghibli Theme Park, Avengers Campus in Paris, Animax’s new China Facility, Universal Studios Beijing’s Chinese New Year Celebration, EPCOT’s Flower & Garden Festival, & Legoland N...

This is the final part of our mini-series covering some of the haunt friendly programming from this year’s IAAPA Expo in Orlando. We’ve already covered vendors, events, and networking, but there’s a final large part of the IAAPA experience – Education. New this year, were the EDUTalks. Presented live on the trade show floor’s EDUTalk Stage, these 15-minute sessions featured tips, tricks, and insig...

This is 4th part of our mini-series covering some of the haunt friendly programming from this year’s IAAPA Expo in Orlando. Coming up, we’ll hear how Reaper’s Revenge ( https://reapersrevenge.com/) used dynamic pricing and employee retention to increase profitability in a tapped out market. See what you’re missing with a free demo ( https://gantom.com/demo) . Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/hauntedat...

In part 3 of our mini-series covering some of the haunt-friendly programming from this year’s IAAPA Expo in Orlando, we’ll hear how the Kirby Family Farm Scary Train ( https://www.kirbyfarm.com/scarytrain) capitalized on last year’s momentum to have their best year ever. See what you’re missing with a free demo ( https://gantom.com/demo) . Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/hauntedattractionnetwork

This is the 2nd part of our mini-series covering some of the haunt-friendly programming from this year’s IAAPA Expo in Orlando. Coming up, we’re talking with three vendors who all have expanded into new business models, and they’re helping you to do the same: ZTAG ( https://www.ztag.com/) , Mind Games ( https://mindgames-productions.com/) , and CFX ( https://www.compositeeffects.com/) . See what y...

Nominations for Haunted Attraction Association Board Members are being accepted through February 8th; The Cleveland Haunt Club announced their 2nd Annual Half-Way to Halloween Flea Market will take place on May 28th; Niles Scream Park awards 5 scholarships to area seniors; Arizona students at the Academy of Building Industries High School received $4,000 for their contributions to Scream in the Da...

The IAAPA Expo in Orlando is the largest trade show for the attractions industry. From networking to education, tours, and a massive show floor – it can be so overwhelming that you miss a lot. But fear not, we rounded up some of the haunt specific programming from this past expo just for you. This is the first part of our mini-series covering some of the haunt friendly programming from this year’s...

This week we’re discussing Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard and what that means for the Themed Entertainment Industry. Plus, how 2 large attractions are combating staffing issues. Participate in the Haunted Attraction Benchmark Survey here ( https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HAAHANSurvey) . Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/hauntedattractionnetwork

This past Halloween was crazy. Between the staffing shortages and varying restrictions, it was a challenging year for most haunters. During our Countdown to Halloween, we partnered with The Scare Factor to get as many on-location interviews with haunters as possible and gauge how each was dealing their local issues. As you can imagine, things also got a little crazy for us. We couldn’t air all the...

Disney’s Haunted Mansion inspires many haunters, and the Nightmare Before Christmas is an annual watching tradition. So in 2001, when Jack Skellington took over the haunted mansion in Haunted Mansion Holiday – it was glorious. Today – we’ll hear the story behind this holiday takeover. Disney tapped Garner Holt to bring Jack Skellington’s Nightmare to life, and although he had a background in haunt...

This is the fourth and final episode in our mini-series covering some of the haunt friendly wholesalers from this year’s Halloween & Party Expo in Las Vegas. Coming up, we’ll hear from three vendors with very different perspectives on what’s important for Halloween: Ghoulish Productions ( https://ghoulishproductions.com/) , Savvi ( https://savvistuff.com/) , and Fight Face ( https://fightface.com/...

The Haunted Attraction Association and Haunted Attraction Network launched their industry-wide Benchmark Survey; Nominations for the Haunted Attraction Association's OSCARES Awards now accepted through January 23rd; Salem, MA considering expanding the city's Safety Enhancement Zone for Halloween 2022; Tickets now available for Midwinter Ghost Stories at Ed Gannon's Chambers of Terror; Park N Play...

This is the third episode in our mini-series covering some of the haunt friendly wholesalers from this year’s Halloween & Party Expo in Las Vegas. Coming up, we’re chatting with Tony Zagone, owner of Zagone Studios ( https://zagonestudios.com/) about why he thinks this Halloween will be one of the best ever. See what you’re missing with a free demo ( https://gantom.com/demo) . Subscribe to our fre...

Scott Swenson led this Haunt Master Class for the Haunters Toolbox members, covering: saving money on design, creative brainstorming, and the 2022 mindset. To listen and view this entire Master Class, become a Haunt Master member at www. HauntersToolbox.com

This week we explore stories about how attractions keep the guests flowing. From combating low staffing to setting attendance records, Half a Billion Dollar Renovations and new seasons of fun – this week we’re showing the resilience of attractions. Take the Haunted Attraction Benchmark Survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HAAHANSurvey

This is the second episode in our mini-series covering some of the haunt-friendly wholesalers from this year’s Halloween & Party Expo in Las Vegas. Coming up, no series would be complete without the iconic Morris Costumes ( https://www.morriscostumes.com/) . With tens of thousands of products and a history spanning 60 years, Morris has perspective on the industry. In this episode, Sean Morris join...