Haunted Attraction Network

Halloween is bigger than ever! The NRF puts spending at a record $13.5 billion this year, with 74% of Americans celebrating and 49% starting their shopping in September or earlier. And gore isn't driving any of it: the top ways people celebrate are handing out candy, costumes, decorating, pumpkins, and scary movies. In this week's double issue: why family Halloween is having a moment (go spooky, not scary, and plan for dwell time and food), why the K shape is still a thing as premium sells out from Tribeca to Osaka, and what Universal Studios Japan's Resident Evil house does with real doors. In this issue: - Halloween Spending Heads to $13.5 Billion - Six Flags Permanently Retires X2 After Brain-Injury Lawsuits - Enchanted Parks' First Halloween - Blood Manor Charges $350 To Make You a Monster - Spirit Halloween's 11 Costume Trends for 2026 - IAAPA's Brass Ring Awards Close Oct 16 - Tim Burton's Labyrinth, Harry Potter Drones, and DUNE: The Experience

Fall is officially here, and we're only 35 days away from Halloween. By this weekend, every major theme park Halloween event in the U.S. is open, Alton Towers, Movie Park Germany, and Disneyland Paris are open in Europe, and our tracker shows more than 30 haunts opening tonight and tomorrow alone. This is crunch time, and all of us are in the middle of shows. So I'm giving you permission: take care of yourself, and enjoy some of it. If anyone disagrees, tell them I said it was OK. Also this week: why Six Flags is building Fright Fest for passholders instead of competing on mazes, what the record Top Haunts list is actually for, and why a plain corn dog doesn't cut it anymore.In this issue: Knott's Scary Farm Opening Weekend: Every Maze on Video Six Flags Magic Mountain Fright Fest Review: Why Passholders Win Haunted Attraction Association Certifies a Record 74 Top Haunts Woods of Terror Remembers Laurie Erebus Debuts Primordium Tulleys' Shocktober Fest Turns 30 The Lemp Mansion Is for Sale, but Stays Open…

At HHN this year, the premium tiers sold out first. Premium Scream Night, a capacity-capped evening at $399 a head, sold out on both of its dates. The R.I.P. guided tour, at $469, has sold out outright, and the only way left to buy that experience is a private booking for $5,000. Six Flags is making the same premium bet with The Conjuring: Beyond Fear while playing the value side at the same time: a low gate for the passholder, scarcity on top for the guest who wants more. Thirteenth Floor is running the haunt-scale version with its Jason walkthrough in nine cities. Operators on both ends have learnings here. In this issue: Halloween Horror Nights 35 Houses, Ranked Premium Scream Night: What It's Like and Whether It's Worth It HHN 35 Food Menu: Every Item, Ranked, With Prices Unmasking the Horror Tour: A Lights-On Look Inside Three Houses John Murdy Breaks Down HHN Hollywood's Sinners House Tim Curry, the Original Pennywise, Has Died at 80 Movie Park Germany Adds the First Jason Universe Haunt Outside the…

It's Pumpkin Spice Week, and the theme park season is nearly all open too. In this week's newsletter: every major U.S. theme park Halloween event is either running or opens within the next three weeks, and haunted houses are the roller coasters of fall, the dedicated attractions that give the theme park industry its pricing power. Meanwhile, Thirteenth Floor is running a licensed Jason walkthrough at nine haunts, a bigger footprint than Six Flags has with the same brand, and The Scare Factor launched a free tool that re-ranks every haunt around each guest's preferences. In this issue: - Haunted Houses Are the Roller Coasters of Fall: The Hard-Ticket Holiday - A Jason Haunted House Is Coming to 9 Cities This Halloween - Find the Best Haunted Houses for You With The Scare Factor's Haunt Advisor - Oogie Boogie Bash Opens With Madame Leota's Swinging Wake - Knott's Scary Farm Announces 2 New Mazes and 2 New Shows - Six Flags Makes Its Halloween Bet - A Petrified Forest Adds Five Original Attractions for Chaos…

Movie tickets broke records this summer, showing that people are still paying to go out. They're choosing cheaper formats, and a haunt ticket sits much closer to a movie ticket than to a theme park vacation. In this week's newsletter, we break down what that demand means for haunts this fall, the sensory Halloween food trend hitting national shelves, how Kennywood and HHN are monetizing assets by day, and what Ocean Park's shrinking house count says about the classic IP trap. In this issue: - Villains Land's Story Details Revealed - The Fortnite Era: The Game Is at Disney and Universal at Once - Ocean Park Reveals Its Full 2026 Halloween Fest Lineup - Hotel Transylvania Comes to SeaWorld Orlando's Spooktacular - Kennywood Turns Its Dark Ride Into a Day-and-Night Walkthrough - Dollywood's Harvest Festival Returns With Two New Additions - Alton Towers Scarefest Adds the Final Exhibit Maze - Evil Intentions Won't Open for 2026 After Elgin Move Falls Through - Fall Food Roundup: Hershey, IHOP, Chick-fil-A's…

Between Midsummer Scream and earnings week, this issue is dense. Disney, Six Flags, and United Parks dropped earnings, and the news is positive overall for our industry. Universal has a strong reputation, but Six Flags now operates the most haunted mazes in the world: 107, added to parks that already have infrastructure and passholders. HHN Hollywood is leaning into independent films where they have more leeway, with an original Slash score, the event's first-ever singing villain, and a twisted children's storybook Terror Tram scored by Ice Nine Kills. In this issue: - Q2 Theme Park Earnings and What They Tell Us About the Consumer - Six Flags Plans 107 Haunted Houses for Halloween 2026 - Slash Scored HHN Hollywood's Killceañera House - Art the Clown Takes Over the Terror Tram With "Every Day Is Artmas" - HHN Hollywood Adds Hidden Character From Curry Barker's "Obsession" - The LA Haunted Hayride Adds an '80s Rock Maze and Brings Back Elvira - Queen Mary's Dark Harbor Will Murder One of Its 13 Icons Live -…

Hershey has a name for the economy we've been describing all year: Treatonomics, "a consumer trend in which people prioritize joyful, memorable experiences and generosity over simply chasing the lowest price." Guests are still spending on Halloween, and they're looking for memorable experiences to connect with, even if it costs a little more. Case in point: eight dates of Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, a family trick-or-treat party that is practically the definition of Treatonomics, sold out before the event even opened. Meanwhile, all the major theme parks now have at least one IP-based haunt, with Sony landing at all five Howl-O-Scream parks, Jason coming to three Six Flags parks, and Ozzy completing the HHN 35 lineup. But when every major event is licensed, there's a market in the zag: Netherworld marked its 30th season by going deeper into its own mythology, and original is about to become the differentiator. In this issue: - Hershey's State of the Season Report: Welcome to Treatonomics - Ozzy…

Guests are ready to buy Halloween in July. That's the takeaway from Mars' annual Tricks, Treats and Trends report, which put consumer numbers on trends we've been tracking all year: 57% of US adults now consider Halloween a full season, 71% want sensory food experiences, and half of Gen Z is discovering Halloween on TikTok and YouTube. This week's news shows operators building for exactly that: ScareHouse is returning to Pittsburgh with no haunted house at all, just the hangout, and SCREAM-A-GEDDON put $2.5 million, its largest capital project ever, into its midway. In this issue: - Halloween 2026 Trends: Season Creep, the Food Gap, & Discoverability - HHN Roundup - Universal's Q2: Orlando Softens - ScareHouse Returns With Halloween Hangout - SCREAM-A-GEDDON's $2.5 Million Midway Opens August 29th - Fire Destroys Three Houses at Field of Horrors - Freakling Bros. Pauses 2026 for a J.J. Abrams Film - Delusion Returns to the Beckett Mansion - Spirit Halloween's Flagship Opens Saturday - How Much Do…

The theme park industry spent years training guests that September and October were worth a visit, and it worked so well that Halloween is now the anchor of the entertainment calendar. In this week's newsletter, we break down what that means for haunts, who's still spending, and why consumer retail is now building product for the semi-pro haunter. In this issue: - Plan Your Season with HAN's 2026 Halloween Haunt & Event Guides - HHN 35 Opens a Portal to Its Own Past With "Sideshow of Decay" - "Stranger Things: Return to Hawkins" Becomes HHN's First Single-Franchise Lagoon Show - Universal Orlando Discontinues Fear With Express Pass Products - HHN in Singapore and Japan - "Blair Witch: No Signal" Mazes Coming to Six Flags - Halloween at Tokyo Disney 2026 - HalloweenCostumes Debuts Its Biggest Animatronics Lineup Ever - Freddy Fazbear Animatronic Comes to Spirit Halloween - Scream 30th Anniversary Reunion at Midsummer Scream - Legendary Haunt Tour 2026 Lineup Read the news here

Welcome to the circus! July 5th marks the official countdown to Halloween in the US, and the theme for 2026 is shaping up to be carnival. Bath & Body Works is the second national retailer to land on a haunted carnival theme, joining Michaels and Halloween Horror Nights' "Infernal Carnival of Nightmares." When two national chains and the world's largest Halloween event converge on the same aesthetic, consumers will feel it. Read the news here. In this issue: - Bath & Body Works Debuts Haunted Carnival Collection - The Conjuring: Beyond Fear Returns to Four Six Flags Parks - Hellraiser Comes to Halloween Horror Nights - Stranger Things Comes to Netflix House Philadelphia - FrightWorks Announces Indefinite Closure - Why This Comcast Move Could Reshape the Entire Industry - Niles Scream Park Adds Six Feet Under Bar - Wicked Lit Returns After Eight Years - Field of Screams Donates $23,000 to Community Organizations - Spirit's Flagship Grand Opening Returns August 1st - HAA Board Openings - Midsummer Scream's…

Halloween is having a moment, and Universal is here for it. Comcast announced it will split into two companies, with the entertainment half, NBCUniversal, anchored by its growing theme parks division. Since Comcast has made horror a central part of its brand, Halloween is about to become a much more visible story on earnings calls, and a higher bar for HHN and Horror Unleashed to clear. That dovetails with everything else Universal announced this week, from four new HHN Orlando houses to a Resident Evil takeover in Las Vegas. We also look at Michaels betting big on Halloween nostalgia, and what that might say about the consumer. In this issue: - Comcast to Spin Off NBCUniversal Around Universal's Theme Parks - Halloween Horror Nights Orlando Announces Remaining Original Houses - Resident Evil Takeover Soft-Launches at Universal Horror Unleashed Las Vegas - Michaels Bets on Nostalgia With Six 2026 Halloween Décor Collections - House of Horror Haunted Carnival Moves to Tropical Park - IAAPA Expo 2026…

Two threads land on themes we keep circling back to: who you're selling to and what you're selling is changing. Families are one of the three groups still spending on attractions, and the new Universal Kids Resort is a direct play for that demographic. But, it seems to suffer from the same issue as Universal Horror Unleashed: Universal positioned the product as premium, betting that the IP and brand would justify the price, and early reviews show it struggling to meet guest expectations. The operators who get premium right don't lean solely on IP to do the work. They build a strong core product, evoke emotion, and let everything else extend it. Ultimately, we all sell memories made of emotion, and increasingly, guests want to buy items that extend them. During IAAPA Expo Asia, Hong Kong Disneyland and Ocean Park explained how merchandise fits into that cycle. For haunts, it comes down to one question: what's the moment in your attraction that guests already talk about, photograph, and remember? You're not…

Spirit Halloween announced it will hire over 52,000 seasonal associates, the largest hiring event in the company's history. Most Americans don't go to a haunted house, but nearly all of them first encounter Halloween through retail. Retail is the first wave of the season, and it primes guests for everything that comes after, including your attraction. In this issue: -Spirit Halloween to Hire 52,000 Seasonal Associates -2026 Halloween & Costume Association Awards Open for Submissions -Legoland Florida Expands Brick-or-Treat to 18 Days -Knott's Scary Farm: Nightmares Revealed Returns August 18th -Green Tagged's News Catch-Up https://mailchi.mp/hauntedattractionnetwork.com/what-52000-halloween-hires-mean-for-your-haunt

Our job is to entertain people. How they want to be entertained, though, might be changing. New data from PGAV and Integrated Insight show that the audience for paid attractions is shifting, with visits down about 11% year over year, with the steepest declines among lower-income households, women, and families without kids. This week, we break down who's still spending, what they want, and why Disney's new Oogie Boogie Bash street party might point to where entertainment is heading. In this issue: -Madame Leota's Swinging Wake Comes to Oogie Boogie Bash -Monstropolis Celebrates H.U.M.A.N. Day at Disney's Hollywood Studios -Six Flags Fiesta Texas Announces Werewolf Gorge Launch Coaster -Nightmare Wharf Reveals Attraction Themes -Midsummer Scream Announces Main Stage Theme Park Panels -C.H.A.O.S. Training to Be Held on June 27th - Midwest Haunters Convention Returns June 10th-13th, 2027 https://mailchi.mp/hauntedattractionnetwork.com/whos-still-spending-on-attractions

Haunts and theme parks are facing similar challenges in entertaining guests: the connective tissue between the big moments is what makes the day (or night) work. In this issue: - Sinners Announced for Halloween Horror Nights Orlando and Hollywood - Hersheypark Dark Nights Sets June Audition Dates - Epic Universe Turns One: Takeaways - Disney Faces Class Action Over Disneyland Facial Recognition - Field of Screams Nixa Expands to Branson With New Indoor Haunt - Hotel of Terror Reaches Purchase Agreement with City of Springfield - Monsterpalooza Comes to Pasadena, CA This Weekend - Get Ready for Midwest Haunters Convention, June 6th - 7th Read more: https://mailchi.mp/hauntedattractionnetwork.com/why-haunts-are-becoming-scream-parks

Last week I attended IAAPA Honors, and my biggest takeaway was something I saw last year: F&B as narrative. From LA Haunted Hayride's Cider Mill to Scarehouse Windsor's dinner experiences, the expansion of food carts at HHN, and all the haunts with hidden bars, we're seeing more haunts weaving food into the story. Guests are buying experiences from us, and food has to be part of that, not separate from it. Also this week: United Parks posted a rough Q1 while peer parks grew, and the next Sphere is heading to Yas Island.In this issue: F&B as Narrative: What I Saw at IAAPA Honors United Parks' Dismal Q1 The Next Sphere Is Going to Yas Island Derry Halloween to Adopt New Partner-Led Approach First Look at Midwest Haunters Convention Exhibitor List Haunters Toolbox: Inhuman Resources Hiring Session https://mailchi.mp/hauntedattractionnetwork.com/why-haunts-are-weaving-food-into-the-story

Both Disney and Six Flags posted strong earnings this week, and while haunts are a few steps removed from the major theme park operators, it tells us something useful: guests are still booking, still spending, and still showing up. The two chains are taking different approaches to the same moment, with Six Flags leaning into value and regional passes while Disney leans into premium. For haunted attractions, the takeaways are the same ones we've been tracking since TransWorld. In this issue: Disney Q2 Revenue Up 7% as D'Amaro Pitches Disney+ as Everything App Six Flags Q1 Revenue Up 12% as Reilly Doubles Down on Pass Strategy Oogie Boogie Bash Returns for 33 Select Nights AEOStudios to Close in June After 30 Years ScareCON 26 Takes Place May 18-20 Mars Unveils New Seasonal Treats for Halfway to Halloween Read More

It was a slow news week after the rush of Halfway to Halloween, but a few major trends are emerging that could shape this Halloween season. In this issue: -Dead Man's Party Returns to Six Flags Great Adventure -Six Flags St. Louis Enacts Strict Chaperone Policy -Universal Horror Unleashed Teases New Dinner Series -Nocturne Theatre Debuts The Eaves -Ohio Haunters Convention Takes Place This Weekend -Midwest Haunters Convention Announces Pre-Show Tours -Spooky Swap Meet Announces 2027 Dates Read more here.

Halloween creep is officially here. Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party returns to the Magic Kingdom on August 7th, the earliest start date in the event's history. But Disney is moving up the calendar without really reinvesting in the event itself. Combined with Universal bringing back HHN icons and recent earnings flagging softer summer demand, the question is whether the major operators are quietly bracing for a slower fall. In this issue: Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Returns August 7th Universal Parks Revenue Surges 24%, But There's a Catch Dark Nights at Hersheypark Returns September 12th SCAR Awards 2026 Nominees Announced Ahead of ScareCON Winchester Mystery House Halfway to Halloween Events Dark Hour Hosts Halfway to Halloween Spring Market Spirit Halloween Reveals 2026 Store Theme Lowe's Halloween Early Access for Rewards Members HAA Silent Online Auction Live Until May 31st Read more here.

It's Halfway to Halloween week, and haunters nationwide are celebrating. The Spooky Swap Meet is taking over Heritage Square Museum in LA, the East Coast Haunters Convention kicks off this week in Oaks, Pennsylvania, and it's also the opening weekend of Universal Fan Fest Nights, where Universal Monsters are headlining. In this issue: -East Coast Haunters Convention Guide -Spooky Swap Meet This Weekend -Fan Fest Nights Food and Merchandise Lineup -Six Flags Reinstates Park Presidents at 10 Parks -Field of Screams Halfway to Halloween Music Fest -Creep It Real OC Announces September Return -Universal Horror Unleashed Panel at Monsterpalooza Read more here

The East Coast Haunters Convention is less than two weeks out, and this week's HAN newsletter has your full guide to haunt tours, the show floor, seminars, and the Saturday night party at Shocktoberfest. Build season is picking up, and we're booking Vendor Spotlight Videos on the ECHC floor. Also this week: Disney cut 1,000 jobs across marketing and publicity while parks and live entertainment went untouched, Home Depot dropped its 2026 Halloween lineup in April, and Dorney Park faces a negligent hiring lawsuit tied to a Halloween Haunt employee.In this issue: Your Guide to the East Coast Haunters Convention Disney Lays Off 1,000, Theme Parks Untouched Dorney Park Sued for Negligent Hiring Disney Patents a Heat Exposure Prediction System Home Depot Releases New 2026 Props Thirteenth Floor Hiring for CA Scenic Shop Haunters Toolbox Live Session with Spooky World Creep I.E. Aftermath Tickets on Sale https://mailchi.mp/hauntedattractionnetwork.com/echc-retail-creep-and-1000-disney-layoffs

TransWorld's Halloween & Attractions Show wrapped up Sunday in St. Louis, and this week's newsletter is dedicated to the full recap. We spoke with 16 vendors across the show floor, where the trend toward retailtainment was impossible to miss: booths are becoming experiences. We also covered the OSCARES (record attendance this year), a new HAA president, and an insurance conversation the industry can't avoid. In this issue: - 16 Vendor Spotlights from the Show Floor - OSCARES 2026 Winners - HAA Elects New President, Approves Bylaws Change - State of the Industry (With Full Audio) - TransWorld Announces 2027 Dates - Halloween Horror Nights 35 Tickets on Sale Read the stories here

Held annually at TransWorld's Halloween & Attractions Show, the State of the Industry Seminar brings together HAA board members, haunt owners, operators, and vendors for a candid look at the past season and the challenges ahead. Moderated by outgoing President Jim Werner (Pennhurst Asylum), this year's discussion covered the ongoing insurance crisis, AI's impact on search and operations, and a push for collaboration over competition. Read our full recap here.

TransWorld's Halloween & Attractions Show kicks off this week in St. Louis. Whether you're heading to the show floor or following from home, here's what the industry is talking about heading into the biggest week of the year. Also this week:- Halloween Horror Nights 35 Reveals First Haunted House and Returning Icons- Jana Partners Pushes Six Flags to Explore Sale- Sesame Workshop Sues United Parks to Terminate Licensing Agreement- Carowinds Brings The Conjuring: Beyond Fear to Spring Break with First-Ever Scream Break- HAA Proposes Bylaws Changes That Would Open Board Seat to Non-Owner/Operators- Minecraft World Announced for Chessington World of Adventures in 2027- Funland to Renovate Haunted Mansion Ride- Horror at Hinchingbrooke House Cancelled Due to School Grounds Damage https://mailchi.mp/hauntedattractionnetwork.com/transworld-week-is-here

TransWorld's Halloween & Attractions Show returns to St. Louis next week with 450+ exhibitors, dozens of seminars, and a full week of industry events. We put together a guide to help you navigate it all. Also this week:- Travis Kelce Signs On as Six Flags Brand Ambassador- New State Lease Terms Put Old Joliet Haunted Prison's Future in Question- Will Attractions Be Impacted by Conflict in the Middle East?- Limited-Time Savings on Universal Horror Unleashed Tickets- Wicked New England Returns to Salem With Year-Two Expansion- Slashers Axe Throwing Hosts 2nd Annual Purge Night Tournament. Read more: http://mailchi.mp/hauntedattractionnetwork.com/the-haunt-industry-descends-on-st-louis-next-week

It's March, and that means convention season for the haunted attraction industry is upon us! This week: Preview the floor plans for TransWorld's Halloween & Attractions Show, coming up March 26th - 29th in St. Louis; Midsummer Scream Tickets On Sal; East Coast Haunters Convention Haunt Tour Tickets On Sale; Texas Haunters Convention Registration Open; United Parks Reports Declining Revenue Amid Stock Buybacks; Dark Masquerade Returns to Queen Mary in March; Distortions Unlimited Reveals Frankenstein Animatronic. Read the stories here.

Six Flags is rethinking seasonal events after cancelling Christmas lead to an estimated loss of 425,000 visitors. Also this week:- Imminent Doom Haunted House wins OSCARES Best New Haunt Award. Read the news here

The 2026 OSCARES Award winners have been announced, honoring excellence across the haunted attraction industry ahead of the March 28th ceremony at TransWorld. Also this week: Glenwood Caverns Files for Bankruptcy After $116M Verdict; Dark Masquerade Returns in March After Sold-Out Debut; Derry Halloween Proposes Ticketing System for 40th Anniversary; East Coast Haunters Convention Announces Haunt Tours; HAA Live Auction Moves to Thursday Night; Midsummer Scream Haunter Pass Applications Open; 7 Gates Screampark Rebrands as Pine Street Horror. Read more here

D'Amaro is Disney's new CEO, underscoring that Disney's future runs through physical experiences rather than linear media; we explain why this will benefit Halloween events. Also this week: Spooky Swap Meet Tickets on Sale; Runway Showcase at TransWorld's Halloween & Attractions Show; East Coast Haunters Convention Announces Haunt Tours; 3rd Annual Halfway to Halloween Festival Comes to Rancho Jurupa Park; Six Flags Restructures Season Passes Into Regional Tiers; Haunted Calgary Delivers Ghoulish Greetings for Valentine's Day. Read more here

Over 100 haunts are opening for Valentine's weekend, and Dark Hour's new interactive mechanic shows how operators are evolving the off-season format. This week: Dark Hour's Glow Stick Mechanic Turns Blackout Haunts Into a Game; Universal's Hotel Strategy Crosses $1B Quarterly EBITDA; Attractions Magazine's Epic Universe Guide Now Available Digitally; Ask the Haunter: Live Q&A with Philip Hernandez (Feb 10); Efteling Partners with HHN's Nightmare Fuel Team for New Show; Horrorland Miami's "Love Kills" Valentine's Event; Creep It Real OC Announces 2026 Dates; HAA Proposes Bylaw Opening Board to Non-Owner/Operators; 100+ Valentine's and Friday the 13th Haunts Nationwide. Read more here.

Dark Hour Haunted House (Plano, TX) will bring back Love Is Blind for Valentine’s weekend, reintroducing the event with a new interactive mechanic that turns a traditional blackout haunt into a choice-driven experience. The limited-run event will take place Friday, February 13, and Saturday, February 14, at Dark Hour Haunted House in Plano, Texas. Unlike earlier iterations of Love Is Blind, this version incorporates gameplay elements from Dark Hour’s Dead by Dark Hour format, asking guests to actively manage how they move through the attraction rather than simply endure the darkness. In this interview, I sit down with Alan Hobbs, owner of Dark Hour Haunted House, to discuss the event, why he's merging interactivity into it, and what haunters should be thinking about in 2026. Read the article here.

Haunts nationwide are experimenting with immersive Valentine’s formats, while new retail data suggests a resilient outlook for the 2026 Halloween season. This week: Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor Launches "Dark Masquerade"; Cinema of Horrors' "Hearts of Horror"; Brass Ring Excellence Award Finalists; Universal's Fan Fest Nights Doubles Down on Core Fans; Halloween Retailers Expect a Slight Increase in Business in 2026; Haunted Attraction Association to Add New Paid Administrator Role; Creep I.E. Con Returns This Weekend. Read more here

Fright Nights WV is opening for Valentine’s weekend with Final Cut: ‘Til Death, a survival-horror experience that places guests directly inside the story while they navigate Valentine’s-themed horror scenarios. Layered inside the attraction is Cupid Crawl, a three-stop bar crawl hidden behind secret doors and available exclusively to upgraded ticket holders. Creative Director Ashley Long joined The Haunted Attraction Network to explain how the event works and why it represents a more intentional approach to off-season programming. Read the article here. Subscribe to our newsletter here.

100+ Haunts nationwide are preparing to open for Valentine's Day next month, and we'll explore one haunt, Fright Nights WV, and its strategy in depth. Plus: VFX Creates Launches 2026 Product Line; Is Six Flags Preparing to Sell More Parks?; Scooby-Doo Meets Universal Monsters at USH; The Halloween & Costume Association Spooky Awards Winners; University of Florida Study Suggests A Good Scare Can Bring People Together; Hershey Aims to Break Out of the Seasonal Game; Camp Nowhere Returns This Summer; Russ McKamey Wins Partial Summary Judgement on E-mail Hack Lawsuit. Read more here.

Universal is reportedly exploring plans for a theme park in Saudi Arabia, funded through a licensing arrangement backed by a government entity. If it moves forward, the project would place Universal alongside Disney, which recently announced a similar licensing deal in Abu Dhabi—one Disney says will be accretive from day one. Also: Submissions are now being accepted for the 2025 Home Haunter Awards Show. Read the news here.

Merry Hauntings from the Haunted Attraction Network! While most haunts have concluded their holiday run, 8 haunts are still operating this coming weekend. Also this week: Six Flags Magic Mountain Delays New Coaster; Zombie Fun Run at Field of Screams PA Raises $8,000 for PA Breast Cancer Coalition; HauntPay Releases 2025 Season Data in Updated Report; TransWorld Announces "Heaven & Hell" Costume Ball; Read more here.

156 haunted houses nationwide are extending the scare season into December! Nearly half of all events (48%) are concentrated in Southern states, with Texas leading the nation at 14 holiday haunts and Pennsylvania close behind at 13. Also this week: Six Flags Appoints John Reilly as New CEO; Hollow Acres Banned from Christmas Parade; HAA Seeks Board Member Nominations; In Memorial: Remembering Jan Knuth. Read the news here. Our 2025 Holiday Haunt Guide is here.

IAAPA Expo 2025 underscored a clear trend: seasonal events continue to grow, even as IAAPA’s Haunting Grounds remains a modest pavilion compared to dedicated Halloween shows like TransWorld. This year’s exhibitors highlighted how operators are expanding fall and holiday offerings with modular scenic design, interactive environments, AR overlays, and family-friendly installations. In this episode, you’ll hear the full interviews with IAAPA’s Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President, Michael Shelton, and Sally Dark Rides, offering deeper insight into IAAPA’s strategic shift toward curated show-floor zones, the rising importance of food and beverage, and new dark-ride innovations coming to Kings Island and Doha Quest. You’ll also hear from all the exhibitors featured in the Haunting Grounds pavilion, including: Plague Productions, Nethercraft, IWG, Dogwood Entertainment, and Verse Immersive, each showcasing products designed to enhance seasonal and Halloween experiences. This episode is adapted from…

IAAPA Expo 2025 returned to the Orange County Convention Center with record-breaking attendance and a show floor packed with innovations across the attractions industry. Among its newest and fastest-growing areas is the Haunting Grounds, a dedicated pavilion in the North Concourse focused on Halloween and seasonal events. Also this week:- 32nd Annual Thea Awards Recipients Announced- Sally Dark Rides Brings Mini™ Dark Ride to Qatar- Creep It Real Festive Kicked Off the Holiday Season with Cosplay, Entertainment, Spooky Vendors, and More. Read more here.

What began as a youth center fundraiser in 2019 has grown into one of the most acclaimed haunted attractions in Oregon. Nightmares on the Rogue, located in Medford, is now a 30,000-square-foot Halloween destination featuring three immersive haunted houses and a bustling midway. At the heart of it all is owner Devin Price, who envisioned a haunt that could bring storytelling, spectacle, and community together. Read more here.

In Westminster, Maryland, Hera’s Nightmare is planning an ambitious year-round expansion. After winning the 2025 OSCARES Award for First Year Haunt, owner Carlos Rivas doubled the attraction’s size to 25,000 square feet and introduced The Horror Vault — a selfie walkthrough designed for guests to capture their own horror moments.“People want to take pictures when they go through the haunt, but that’s hard when you’re getting scared,” Rivas said. “So I wanted to make an interactive version of a haunted house where you can take videos, take pictures, and really see the scenic details we put in.”For Rivas, The Horror Vault isn’t just a gimmick; it’s a glimpse of how haunted attractions can stay relevant beyond the Halloween window. By offering a photo-ready environment open throughout October and beyond, Hera’s Nightmare is tapping into the social-sharing culture that drives modern audience engagement.The takeaway? As haunts search for year-round revenue, the next big innovation may not be a bigger scare — but…

Dark Nights celebrated its fourth year as part of Hersheypark Halloween (Hershey, PA) with the new Kill 'n Fill maze and Path of Shadows Coven's Curse scare zone. The Haunted Attraction Network went behind-the-scenes with some of the creative team to learn about the continued evolution of their haunt experience and what sets Hersheypark apart as a must-visit seasonal event. Learn More about Dark Nights ARTICLE: Dark Nights 2025 Expands Hersheypark Halloween with New Haunted House and Scare Zone BTS VIDEO: New Haunts at Hersheypark Halloween and Dark Nights 2025 VIDEO: DARK NIGHTS 2025 | ALL 5 Haunted Houses FULL Event at HersheyPark

Halloween may be behind us, but the industry is already shifting into its next phase. In this week’s newsletter, we look at a few insightful stories from this last season, then look ahead to the growing wave of post-Halloween events—from Krampus offerings to holiday-themed haunts—and what this expansion means as the industry heads into IAAPA Expo. This week: Insights from Dark Nights at Hersheypark; Hera's Nightmare eyes year-round expansions; Celebrating Halloween in Burbank; Coaster Nation's Top Haunts; Creep It Real Festive Returns November 21st - 23rd; Krampus Comes to Universal Horror Unleashed; Field of Screams Unleashes Extreme Blackout Night; Six Flags Plans More Park Closures - Here's Why It Makes Sense. Read more here.

From Hollywood to Florida and New York to Oregon, this year’s Halloween season proved that the industry is evolving—just not abandoning its roots. Sliders continue to grow as choreographed street theater, chainsaws remain the undeniable American haunt anthem, and creative teams nationwide are finding new ways to give guests something active to do between scares. From selfie moments and staged photo ops to queue-line performers and mini-interactions, the focus is shifting from watching horror to participating in it. Philip and Scott break down what these trends say about guest expectations, why smaller haunts are thriving by leaning into intimacy and story, and how even major parks are rethinking Halloween as a festival of constant engagement rather than a night of passive walkthroughs. Listen to weekly BONUS episodes on our Patreon.

As haunts across the country enter their busiest weekends, new stories and surprises are emerging from every corner of the industry. From Frightworld’s AI-inspired Mainframe Massacre to The Thirteenth Hour’s expanded finale, creativity remains at the forefront—even as major parks like Six Flags adjust their Halloween strategies mid-season. This week’s roundup captures the pulse of peak haunt season, with innovation, controversy, and celebration all colliding. This week: FrightWorld America's Screampark Debuts New Haunt - "Mainframe Massacre"; Thirteenth Hour Haunted Attraction Debuts New Finale; The 13th Gate Releases Statement on Séance Experience; Six Flags Removes Haunted Attractions Pass from 4 Parks; Six Flags Leadership Shake-Up: What’s Really Going On?; The Halloween & Costume Association's "Fang Favorite" Category Finalists Announced. Read more here

After a grassfire in July destroyed a small structure near the train tracks, Fear Factory SLC (Salt Lake City, UT) rebuilt the damaged area and turned the loss into inspiration. Also this week: Disney Raises Prices—Is the “Happiest Place on Earth” Now for the Wealthiest? ; Uniquely Chinese Halloween Fun with Universal Beijing Resort's Scares @ Universal; Disneyland Visitor Dies After Riding Haunted Mansion; Halloween Night at the Disney Mansion; Nextdoor Treat Map. Read more here.

Last weekend was the first full opening weekend for most Haunted Attractions Nationwide. While most haunts are reporting steady numbers, several have reported 'sold-out' nights. If this trend continues, it could mean an excellent year for the industry. Also this week: Spooky Awards Finalists & Fan Vote; New Howl-O-Scream College Ticket Offer; Stardust Racers Reopens at Epic Universe After Tragedy; "Urban Death Vegas" Premieres at Vegas Theatre Company; "Evil Dead in Concert" Comes to L.A.; Six Flags Debuts Original Horror Short, "Come Out and Play"; M&M's Rescue Squad Returns for 2025; HalloweenCostumes.com Releases Top-Selling and Most Searched Costumes So Far This Year. Read more here

The Haunted Attraction Association (HAA) has certified 67 haunted attractions nationwide as 2025 Top Haunts - a record year. Since its inception, the Top Haunts program has been the benchmark for professionalism and safety in the haunted attraction industry. Also this week: Halloween & Costume Association Highlights How Adults Embrace the Spooky Season; IAAPA Brass Ring Awards Deadline is October 10th; Scooby-Doo x Universal Monsters Mash-Up; "Krampus & Kin" Comes to Universal Horror Unleashed; "People in the Dark: An Immersive Ghost Story"; "Winne-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey" Haunted House Comes to UK; Canada's Wonderland Adds New Chaperone, Costume, and Bag Policies; Midnight Syndicate Releases "Darkened Corners" Rare Tracks EP; "LVCRFT Kids" Releases on October 1st; Customers Frustrated Over Lack of Accountability for The Scarefactory; Read more here.

This past weekend, Knott's Scary Farm (Buena Park, CA) opened for its 52nd season, running 26 select nights through November 1st. This year's lineup includes ten mazes, five scare zones, three shows, and more, with over 1,000 horrifying creatures lurking in the fog. Also this week: Halloween Trends 2025: What Guests Really Want; DoorDash Releases "Trick, Treat and Trends"; Six Flags Reports Attendance Gains Amid Seasonal Event Cancellations; Sesame Place Ends Annual Halloween & Holiday Events in Abrupt Seasonal Operations Change; Pacific Park Debuts New Funhouse with EPIC Entertainment Group; Mall of America Announces Seasonal Thrills and Halloween Fun; Legendary Haunt Tour Itinerary Announced; Michael Myers Returns to the Big Screen This October; "Trick 'r Treat" Gets First Nationwide Theatrical Release. Read more here.

Dark Nights at Hersheypark (Hershey, PA) opened this past weekend, running eight weekends through November 2nd. The event features five haunted houses, four scare zones, access to over 50 rides, seasonal foods & beverages, live entertainment, and more. Guests can enjoy family-friendly fun by day and frights at night - all included with a Hersheypark Halloween ticket. A new haunted house ( Kill 'N Fill Garage) and Scare Zone debuted this year. Also this week: Field of Screams PA Opens Gates for 33rd Season with New Hayride Scene; Take a Sneak Peek at Hera's Nightmare; The Haunt in Atascadero Unveils “Frankenstein’s Monsters Re-stitched”; Go Behind the Screams at Kings Dominion to Benefit A Kid Again; LEGOLAND California Unveils 17-Foot Halloween LEGO Tree; Scooby-Doo Halloween Toys Come to Burger King; HalloweenCostumes.com Releases 2025 Halloween in America Survey Results. Read more here.