Here is the Haunted Attraction Industry News for July, 31st.
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Theme Parks
Three terrifying new IP mazes will be coming to Halloween Horror Nights Orlando & Hollywood: “The Exorcist: Believer,” inspired by the new Universal Pictures film from Blumhouse and Morgan Creek Entertainment, “Chucky: Ultimate Kill Count,” based on the popular USA & SYFY series, and “Universal Monsters: Unmasked,” inspired by Universal’s legacy of iconic cinematic monsters with an original score from Grammy Award-winning musician, SLASH. At each event, these mazes will join “The Last of Us” and “Stranger Things 4” IP mazes.
Additionally, Halloween Horror Nights Orlando announced 5 all-new original haunts: “Dr. Oddfellow: Twisted Origins,” “Dueling Dragons: Choose Thy Fate,” “YETI: Campground Kills,” “The Darkest Deal,” and “Bloodmoon: Dark Offerings.” These original mazes will join 5 unnerving scare zones, the new “Nightmare Fuel Revenge Dream” show, an all-new Tribute Store, and specialty food & beverages. For those dying to experience this year’s “killer” food & beverages before the event even opens, Taste of Terror will offer guests an exclusive all-you-care-to-enjoy preview of select items that will be featured at Halloween Horror Nights. The special preview event will run on select nights from August 10th – 26th ($159.99 per person). HHN Orlando runs 48 select nights from September 1st – November 4th. Tickets are on sale now starting at $79.99 for Single-night General Admission.
Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights (Universal City, CA) announced an all-new original maze for 2023: Monstruos: The Monsters of Latin America. While HHN Hollywood has explored original mazes based on Mexican folklore with La Llorona & El Cucuy, this haunt will feature three new creatures: La Lechuza aka Owl Witch (from Mexican & Texan folklore), Tlahuelpuchi (from the Tlaxcala region of Mexico), and El Silbón (from the Los Lanos region of Columbia and Venezuela). The haunt’s Cemetery of the Lost façade, is inspired by graveyards in Guadalaja and Guanajuato. The haunt will exit into a new scare zone: “El Terror de las Momias,” which will be connected story-wise to the house. The scare zone will be inspired by 1950’s Mexican horror films about Aztec Mummies (Momias Aztecas). Halloween Horror Nights takes place on select nights from September 7th–October 31st. Tickets are on sale now starting at $74 for Single-Night General Admission.
Two popular IPs will be coming to Six Flags Magic Mountain for the 30th anniversary of Fright Fest (Valencia, CA): The Conjuring & Saw X. In The Conjuring Maze, dare to enter the secluded farmhouse of the Perron family that has been terrorized and plagued by sinister spirits. Then in Saw X, experience the return of Jigsaw as you attempt to survive his ingenious and terrifying traps in the untold story of his most personal game yet. These mazes will join 6 returning favorites and 7 scare zones, entertainment, specialty food & beverages, and more. Tickets are on sale now with Park Admission + Haunted Attraction Pass Bundles starting at $85.
Legoland Florida (Winter Haven, FL) announced a new fireworks show and Zombie Pep Rally for Brick-or-Treat 2023. The new fireworks spectacular is hosted by Lord Vampyre, who casts a spell to make this Monster Party last forever with 3D LEGO brick-bursting fireworks, music, and lights that will leave everyone “Spellbound.” Join LEGO Zombie Cheerleader and her crew at the all-new Zombie Pep Rally. Additionally, the event will feature many returning favorite activities, including the V.I.M. Dance Party, Jammin’ Jacks, signature Brick-or-Treating throughout the park, character meet & greets, and more. Brick-or-Treat runs select nights from September 16th – October 29th. Admission is included with park tickets & select passes. Learn more on the park’s official website.
On August 24th, Knott’s Scary Farm will unearth the mysteries of this year’s haunt with Scary Farm 50: Nightmares Revealed. During a panel at Midsummer Scream the creative team revealed concept art for the all-new Legacy Haunt Store & Museum, featuring throwback photo ops and exclusive 50th anniversary merchandise. They also announced several interactive elements would be added this year with specialty lanterns that can awaken the spirits in special interaction points.
U.S. Haunts & Events
13th Floor Entertainment announced details for their upcoming SoCal offerings at their Midsummer Scream panel this past weekend:
The Los Angeles Haunted Hayride (Los Angeles, CA) is adding a new maze (“Hellbilly Halloween”), updated wagons with hay bale or bench seating, and axe throwing for this year’s event.
Delusion will return to The Phillips Mansion (Pamona, CA) for their newest production, “Delusion: Nocturnes & Nightmares.” This year’s experience will be an anthology of interactive short stories based on previous shows, tied together through an underlying narrative. “You’re going to get a taste of all the Delusions from the past in this show,” said Delusion Creator Jon Braver in the panel. “Some of your favorite characters are coming back, some of your favorite storylines.”
Shaqtoberfest (Long Beach, CA) will expand onto The Queen Mary for 2023 with a secret VIP experience and a new trail called “The Gray Ghost.” This year’s event promises to be darker with new scares and elements. Skeleton Sam from LVCRFT will host the nightly block party again, and Shaq himself will return to the event.
Finally, 13th Floor Entertainment Group announced Magic of the Jack O’ Lanterns will premier at Whittier Narrows (Los Angeles, CA). This scare-free, family-friendly event features a glowing trail of thousands of magnificent, hand-carved pumpkins.
Winchester Mystery House (San Jose, CA) presents a new terrifying chapter, select nights September 22nd – October 31st, “Unhinged: Housewarming.” Miles and Flora Taylor, an esteemed Hollywood couple, have taken residence in the infamous Winchester Mystery House and invited you to the grandest housewarming event of the century. But beware, as the night progresses, a mysterious air settles in, revealing that there is more to this gathering than meets the eye. Will you dare to confront what lurks within the halls of the home? In addition to the signature haunt within the mansion, the event also features “Beware the Mists” (a new outdoor scare zone), a lavish garden party with sideshow entertainment, interactive games, photo ops, and food & drinks, and the new Halloween Museum – where you can immerse yourself in a mesmerizing collection of vintage Halloween décor, artifacts, and memorabilia. Tickets are on sale now starting at $64.99 for General Admission and $89.99 for RIP tickets.
JFI Productions announced the return of their immersive theatre production “The Willows” (Los Angeles, CA). The Willows transports guests into the captivating world of the Willows family, offering an unparalleled immersive dinner-theater experience that blurs the lines between theatre and reality. As active participants in the evening’s events, audiences become entwined in an unfolding narrative, delving deep into the mysteries and dynamics of the Willows family. The show will run from September 15th through November 19th, with performances scheduled Thursdays through Sundays. Tickets start at $200 and are for adults only (21+). Tickets will go on sale Tuesday, August 15th.
A new haunt experience is coming to Pomona, California this fall – “Fearplex Presents LIGHTS OUT.” Step into three mazes: Zombie Escape, Carnival of Evil, and Toxic Terror. Experience the thrill of a lifetime at the Zombieball Experience, where guests face off against the undead armed with lightweight gellyball markers. Other highlights include photo ops, Horror-themed video game eSports, vendor village, live entertainment, and creepy treats. Fearplex Presents LIGHTS OUT will run 14 select nights October 6th – 31st. Tickets are on sale now starting at $27 – $33 per person
Retail
Spirit Halloween held the grand opening for its flagship store in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, on Saturday, July 29th. The event kicked off the retailer’s 40th Halloween season with spooky style. Stores around the country will begin to open in the coming days. Check out Spirit Halloween’s store locator to find the shop closest to you.
Conventions & Mixers
Mark your calendars: the Spooky Swap Meet will return to the Heritage Square Museum (Los Angeles, CA) on April 26th – 28th, 2024.
HAuNTcon (Orlando, FL) is accepting applications for Haunt Master Instructors for their February 9th – 11th, 2024 event.
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Upcoming Events: August - October 2023
September 16 – 17: Creep It Real OC Expo (Santa Ana, California)
September 23 – 24: West Michigan Halloween Expo (Grand Rapids, Michigan)
October 13 – 14: Son of Monsterpalooza (Burbank, California)
Auditions / Casting Calls
Arx Mortis (Killen, AL) – Ongoing
Blood Prison (Mansfield, OH) – August 13
Creatures of the Night at ZooTampa (Tampa, FL) – Ongoing
Crooked Descent (Herkimer, NY) – Ongoing
The Darkness (St. Louis, MO) – August 16, 17, 28,29, September 5, 6, 9, 16
Darkside Haunted Estates (Middlesex, NC) – Ongoing
The Dent Schoolhouse (Cincinnati, OH) – Ongoing
Demon Acres (Hannibal, NY) – August 27
Eloise Asylum (Westland, MI) – August 11, 12
Erebus Haunted Attraction (Pontiac, MI) – August 19, 26, 29, 30, September 1
Extreme Fear ScareGrounds (Kinston, NC) – Ongoing
Field of Screams KY (Brandenburg, KY) – August 19
Fright Nights WV (Daniels, WV) – Ongoing
Haunted Hills Farm Trail & Hayride (Jasper, GA) – Ongoing
Hinterland Haunted Attraction (Ashley, MI) – Ongoing
Nightmare Cleveland (Cleveland, OH) – Ongoing
Phobia Haunted Trail (Caldonia, OH) – August 13
Scream Hollow (Smithville, TX) – Ongoing
Terror Vault (San Francisco, CA) – August 6
Woods of Terror (Greensboro, NC) – Ongoing
Podcast Episodes You Might be Interested In
Roundup: Midsummer Scream is This Weekend Read more here.
Partner Stations
Craving more haunt goodness? We’re thrilled to be partnered with HaunTopic Radio, ScareTrack, The Scare Factor, and A Scott in the Dark. Give them a listen.
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