Here is the Haunted Attraction Industry News for February 27th.
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Theme Parks
Six Flags Magic Mountain (Valencia, CA) announced their new after-hours “Scream Break” haunt event. Fridays – Sundays, March 18th – April 16th, add some vitamin SCREAM to your day with 2 haunted attractions, 3 scare zones, thrilling rides, delicious culinary treats and drinks, and exciting nighttime entertainment. Encounter ghouls and monsters with exclusive access to two haunted mazes and three scare zones, all with a chilling Spring Break twist. Satisfy your monstrous appetite with foodie favorites, plus sink your teeth in sangria blood bags and syringe Jell-o shots during cocktail hour. Finally, dance the night away with two DJs in DC UNIVERSE™ and the Full Throttle Plaza. All guests, including Pass Holders that attend Scream Break will be required to purchase an event-specific ticket. Single-night and full-event 14-night Extreme Scream Break Passes will be available soon on the park’s official website.
Watch our discussion on Screm Break here.
Conventions & Mixers
Attendee Registration is now open for this year’s Midwest Haunters Convention, which takes place June 10th – 11th at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois. Available passes include 2 Pay Pass ($50), Saturday-Only Show Floor Access ($35), Sunday-Only Show Floor Access ($30), and Weekend Package (includes Friday Night Haunt Tour, Costume Party, 50-minute seminars on Saturday & Sunday, and more)($385). Early bird pricing on the four ticket options will be available through Thursday, May 25th at 11:59 P.M. CDT.
Portland’s summer Halloween convention, Ghosts of Summer, is back at the Oregon Convention Center July 29th – 30th for its second year with new exciting performances, experiences, and over 100 spooky vendors. Tickets are now on sale starting at $24 for Single Day General Admission adult tickets or $40 for 2-Day Passes. Programming updates and vendor lists will be posted on the event’s official website in the coming months.
Missed this year’s TransWorld’s Halloween & Attractions Show? Or perhaps you didn’t get the time to see everything this fantastic event offers. Follow Elsie & Philip as they explore the show floor and speak with exhibitors. Timecodes and links for specific exhibitors can be found in the video description.
U.S. Haunts & Events
The Springfield City Council voted unanimously (9-0) to classify Hotel of Terror (Springfield, MO) as eminent domain. “[Eminent Domain] will allow us to file the paperwork with the courts to keep that moving. But at the same time, hopefully, continue negotiations with the property owner,” Chris Dunnaway with the City of Springfield said. “[The offer] doesn’t include relocation expenses, which are still reimbursable and something the city has offered.” Now that the building has been declared eminent domain, three independent parties will determine the price for the property, and a judge will review that recommendation. If the city agrees to pay that amount, it will take ownership of the land, and Mathis will have 90 days to remove his personal property.
The Easter Bunny is again coming to the All Saints Lunatic Asylum (Apple Valley, CA) for the 8th Annual Rotten Egg Hunt. Eggs have been hidden throughout the hunt. Can you find them all and fill your basket? Find the Golden Egg to win the grand prize. The event takes place from March 31st – April 2nd. Tickets are on sale now for $13.
Retail
As Party City navigates bankruptcy, it is facing the deadline to order costumes and supplies for the 2023 Halloween season. Vendors tied to the Halloween & Costume Association are joining forces to negotiate better trade terms in light of the company’s status. Party City has proposed paying vendors two months after Halloween (by Dec. 31st), according to attorney Jason Torf, representing the vendor group. The vendors, however, are wary of taking on millions of dollars of risk without guaranteeing how the company’s restructuring will unfold. Additionally, court papers show that Party City still owes some suppliers money from pre-bankruptcy shipments. Historically, the chain has “realized a significant portion of its revenues” in the last quarter of the year, mostly due to Halloween sales, David Orlofsky, the company’s chief restructuring officer, said in bankruptcy court papers. Discussions continue and will hopefully resolve in time to prevent any noticable disruptions for consumers this Fall.
The Science of Fear
The Recreational Fear Lab at Aarhus University (Aarhus, Denmark) has been studying the psychology of horror movies to understand better how people can derive pleasure from frightening entertainment. Their research suggests that, “Horror movies immerse us in fictional worlds that are full of ancestrally resonant danger, and most of us enjoy this imaginative engagement with threat scenarios… When we play with fear, we may learn important lessons about the dangers of the world as well as our own responses to danger. We learn what it feels like to be afraid, and we get to practice and hone fear-regulation strategies. We may even become more resilient in the process.” Learn more about the Recreational Fear Lab and their research on their official website.
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Upcoming Events: February 2023 - April 2023
All Saints Lunatic Asylum (Apple Valley, CA) – March 31 – April 2
Nightmare Chamber (Foley, AL) – February 24 – 26, March 3 – 5
Featured Videos
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The Top Haunted House Design Flaws and How to Avoid Them (Replay)
With Transworld in the rear-view mirror, haunts are well into design season. But before you get too deep – it’s good to revisit some common design flaws. Today Leonard Pickel from Hauntrepreneurs walks you through the top common haunt design flaws. Leonard is a legend in the haunted attraction space, and his architectural background has been designing haunts for over 40 years. This session was presented live to the haunter’s toolbox haunt master members and is a replay from last year.
Fabrication Trends with Little Spider Creations
Little Spider Creations is a custom fabrication studio based in South Carolina. Since their founding in 1991, they’ve designed and fabricated for everyone, from haunted houses to theme parks, industrial spaces, and retail. Because they sit at the intersection of so many industries, they have a unique perspective on trends. Today, we’ll speak with David Brawner about trends and what you can expect if you’re considering custom fabrication for your attraction.
Transworld Listenersode
At this year’s Transworld Show, quite a few listeners stopped by the booth to say hello. Today, we’re going to play messages from two of them.
Haunted Attraction Industry News for February 21st
Read more here.
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