Haunted Attraction Network

Earlier this year 13th Floor Entertainment quietly acquired another property, one very different from their other properties. Delusion, known for their immersive horror shows, joined the 13th floor brand with Jon Braver becoming the Director of Immersive Entertainment. When the largest haunted attraction company makes a move like this into immersive shows, it’s a big deal. Today on the show, we’ll...

This week's haunt news: Spirit Halloween seeks "Chief Spirit Officer"; HauntPay launches Haunt Industry Survey; Party City Plans 4X More Pop-ups; Free Haunter's Toolbox Master Class; Salem Mask Mandate; "Gators, Ghosts, and Goblins" Returns to Gatorland Orlando ; Midsummer Scream Announces Cemetery Lane; 10Best.com's Top 10 List Voting; Ferrero 31 Days of Halloween; Boo Bash Begins; USO HHN Full L...

Last week we mentioned that Universal matching 2019 attendance levels with Cedar Fair at 85%. Disney’s Q3 Earnings report is better. Stories Covered: Disney’s Earnings Report; Cedar Fair Announces 2022 Investment; 12 Hasbro-themed entertainment Centers Openings; San Francisco’s Mandates; Disney Very Merriest After Hours offerings revealed; K11 Art Mall in Hong Kong welcomes new Meme Museum; Six Fl...

Haunters Against Hate was established in the aftermath of the Pulse shooting in 2016 and raises money for LGBTQ+ organizations. Earlier this year, Haunters Against Hate became a nationally recognized 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. This past July 30-August 1st, Haunters Against Hate launched their first in-person event at the Crowne-Plaza in Louisville, Kentucky. Max went to the event and this epi...

Dent Schoolhouse Announces Haunter night; the HAA's New Resources; Morris Costumes Sold; Reaper's Realm denied rezoning; Zombie Joe's Toxic Vampyre; Fear Factory Partners with Don’t be a monster; Lego’s Halloween Special; The Food Network Halloween Programming; Pumpkin Spice Cup noodles! Read more: https://mailchi.mp/hauntedattractionnetwork.com/haunt-industry-news-aug-07 Support for the haunted a...

As China begins to shut down again, attractions in the US are fighting to stay open and working. NYC’s new mandate program for recreation is one path, while Florida’s is another. And yet, numbers released this week show Universal already matching 2019 attendance with Cedar Fair at 85%. Plus, AA shows business travel returning. The bad news: guests are grumpy, violent interactions are on the rise,...

Ever since the first Women in Haunting panel at HAuNTcon, a movement has been building to acknowledge women in the haunt industry. And now, finally, we have an industry book telling their stories. “Not Afraid to Slay: Women of the Haunt Industry” is a new book by Jan Knuth and Candi S. Cross. Coming up on today’s show, Jan joins me to discuss what she learned while writing this book and how it can...

All Hallow's Even at Winchester Mystery House; Temecula Terror Comes to Inland Empire; Fun.com's Halloween Heroes Hiring Program; Amazing JIRO's Haunted House NFT; Netherworld Haunted House's "Rise of the Netherspawn"; Spirit Halloween's flagship opening; Pirates of Emerson returns; and the LA Times misunderstands Halloween. Read More: https://mailchi.mp/hauntedattractionnetwork.com/haunt-industry...

Delta is all that’s on anyone’s mind this week, so we’re doing something a little different. We dedicate the show to what you can do no to prepare. What contingency plans can I make? How much should I reduce capacity? How will that impact staffing? Will demand go soft? All those questions answered and more.

To celebrate episode 500, we’re trying something different. Get in the car and hang out ‘mystery science theatre’ style as we go through the ‘Stranger Things: The Drive Into Experience.’

Events from all over are announcing their return including Halloweekends, Brick or Treat, the York Halloween Parade, house of spirits, and Scream n' Stream. Halloween Horror Nights - Universal Orlando, Knott's Scary Farm & Howl-O-Scream made announcements. Midsummer Scream's Awaken the Spirits announced panels, and Columbus Zoo and Aquarium will be transformed into ZOMBIEzi Bay. Read more: https:/...

This week we’re giving updates on industry staffing and then discussing new openings that focus on blending IP with the natural world to refurbish existing attractions. Stories: Disney Cruise Line to resume Bahamian voyages from Florida in August; multiple layers of safety measures added; IAAPA Supports the Robust Resumption of Visa Processing; Ohio's Coney Island offers new incentive for seasonal...

Your Weekly Haunt Industry News! LA Reinstates Mask Requirements; Eastern State Penitentiary Reimagines Halloween Event; The ScareHouse Celebrates 20 Years; Texas Haunters Convention is THIS WEEKEND; Knott's Scary Farm announces dates; Halloween Horror Nights - Universal Orlando announces new mazes; Zombie Joes Underground Theatre Group at ZJU Theater has a new event; FearExpo announces new dates;...

While France and LA are adding new mandates, new attractions are opening in time for the Fall Season. This week: LA County’s mask mandate; France’s tourism pass; Disney’s new campus; Halloween Nights at Eastern State; よみうりランド Pokemon Hunt; Universal Osaka’s Demon Slayer partnership.

This weekend - July 17th & 18th, 2021 – Haunters and Halloween fans alike will gather at the Mesquite Convention Center for the Texas Haunters Convention. This two-day cash & carry style Halloween convention is open to the general public and has a wide variety of exhibitors, classes, and activities geared to everyone from haunt owners and industry professionals to enthusiasts, families, and trick-...

At the end of episode 57, Scott mentioned the importance of staffing and retention for the 2021 season. This episode was inspired by that off-the-cuff comment and explores the issue in greater depth.

Universal Studios Hollywood announced the return of Halloween Horror Nights on select nights September 9th - October 31st. The event will feature the new "The Haunting of Hill House" maze based on the popular Netflix series. Fans will encounter many of the show's sinister spirits including William Hill - The Tall Man, The Ghost in the Basement, and The Bent-Neck Lady. The Haunting of Hill House wi...

Stories covered: The Travel industry has a blueprint for reopening international travel; A congressional update from IAAPA; IAAPA Awards are open; The Theas are now free to stream; Universal Hollywood and Disneyland announce Halloween events; Lego’s NY Store has upped the retailtainment game; and Hans Christian Andersen museum opens in Denmark.

Despite the rising Delta Wave, surveys show that Americans are ready to go out. We’ll discuss recent travel surveys and look at new business opportunities for attractions. This week: Surveys from Morning Consult and AnyRoad show a return to events; Marriott on bleasure trends; parades return to Orlando; NCAA ruling; Knott’s Releases Official Podcast; Great Wolf Resorts Moves into Animation with ‘T...

A build season check in with Brimstone Haunt in Wilmington, OH. Brimstone offers 4 attractions: Hayride, Forgotten Forest, Psychosis, and Zomebie Assault.

This week Japanese specially effects makeup artist Jiro premiered a mobile immersive haunted experience, Mugan (or "No Face" in English). Starting July 2nd the single trailer truck experience will visit various areas in Tokyo, Okinawa, and Kagoshima. This short 5-minute experience utilizes surround sound technology and high-end special effects makeup. Groups of up to 5 people can experience the at...

Carnage Haunted House in Columbus Ohio started in 2017, and things were going well. So well, the team decided to get a larger building. They found an old bowling alley and began converting it, but turns out that’s a little tougher than it seemed at first. Then the pandemic came along, and slowed everything to a crawl. So finally, after two seasons of delays, Carnage Haunted House is previewing the...

David Fachman, owner of The Scarefactory, Inc. plead guity to one count of willful failure to pay over tax to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). According to court documents, for at least four years, Fachman withheld and collected the trust fund portion of the employment taxes from his employees’ paychecks but failed to file timely and to remit the payment to the IRS. In total, Fachman failed to...

This week: American cancels hundreds of flights; Knoebels and Seaworld Orlando add incentive programs for new hires; Disney resumes college program in time for 50th anniversary; Royal Caribbean discourages unvaccinated guests from sailing.

This week we’re following up on trends impacting the day to day and the near future. Stories covered: California is reopen; prices for travel services are surging; Universal opened sales for HHN30; the Boo Bash is selling out; Midsummer Scream’s Awaken the Spirits; Dorney reduces summer days due to staffing shortage; and Universal hints at the future of Epic Universe.