Here is the Haunted Attraction Industry News for January 16th.
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Theme Parks
Universal Parks & Resorts announced plans to build a new, permanent horror-themed entertainment experience in Las Vegas, NV based on the parks’ popular Halloween Horror Nights. The new attraction will bring to life Universal’s library of horror films with a variety of unique, immersive experiences, bars and restaurants, seasonal events, and merchandise. The horror experience is set to be the anchor tenant in a new expansion of Area15. “At Universal, we bring our distinct brand of storytelling to life by creating the most innovative, immersive, and exciting destinations and experiences for our fans around the world,” said Mark Woodbury, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for Universal Parks & Resorts. “Broadening our reach to deliver unique concepts for new audiences in new markets is incredibly exciting.”
U.S. Haunts & Events
Experience a wicked séance with Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre Group‘s newest show: “Conjure the Spirits”. This all-new production revolves around a wicked séance that goes awry, wedging its participants between the realms of the living and the dead and transforming them into seethingly dark manifestations of their hopes, fears and flaws. “Conjure the Spirits” takes place in North Hollywood, CA Fridays and Saturdays January 27th – February 18th. Tickets are on sale now for $20 per person ($25 per person at the door).
Have a haunted date night at Carnage Haunted House (Columbus, OH) with their Love is Dark Valentine’s Day haunt. On February 10th – 11th the haunt will open for a lights out, glow stick event with 80’s prom themed indoor wait lines. Tickets are on sale now starting at $25 for General Admission and $35 for Fast Pass.
Scream in the dark at Scarehouse (Tarentum, PA) February 11th for a special Valentine’s Day glowstick event. RIP Ticket holders can join the 2023 Mall Ball, a “fun and weird” interactive experience featuring music and characters with complimentary beverages and snacks. Tickets are on sale now starting at $24.95 for General Admission and $39.95 for RIP Tickets.
After a sold out Friday the 13th event, Dark Hour Haunted House (Plano, TX) announced an encore performance scheduled for Saturday, February 11th with a special Valentine’s Day flair. Dead by Dark Hour is a survival-themed haunted attraction that transports guests into the world of 1980’s-style slasher films, where they must outwit, outrun, and outlast the Slashers stalking the halls. Tickets will launch in the coming days. Visit the event’s official website for announcements and ticket sales.
13th Floor Jacksonville is getting a Valentine’s makeover February 17th & 18th with Love Bites. Experience the same thrills and chills of the Halloween season but with a lover’s twist. Forget the boring dates of Valentine’s Day past and spice up your Valentine’s weekend with something spooky this year. Treat your Boo to limited edition Love Bites and horror merch, and stop at the Valentine’s themed photo ops for memories you’ll cherish until death do you part. Tickets go on sale to the general public Wednesday, January 18th at Noon. Sign up for early access on the event’s official website.
Love’s Revenge returns to Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail (Plant City, FL) on February 10th – 11th from 6:30 p.m. – 11:00 pm. Tickets for this Valentine’s Day haunt will be available on the event’s official website in the coming days.
This February Murder House Productions will present Ghosted on V-Day, a sequel haunt to their Halloween season experience Reply or Die. Getting “ghosted” on Valentine’s Day is the worst, but EntyP Research Laboratories thinks otherwise. Become a test subject and get ghosted into another dimension where no one replies ever again. This walkthrough experience is recommended for ages 13+. Tickets are on sale now for $15.
International News
South Korean police are seeking criminal charges against 23 officials for a lack of safety measures blamed for a crowd surge that killed nearly 160 revelers in October. Charges sought include involuntary manslaughter and negligence. Son Je-han, who headed the National Police Agency’s 74-day special investigation into the incident, announced his team’s findings at a recent news conference in Seoul, “The authorities’ inaccurate judgment of the situation, the slow distribution of information about the situation, poor cooperation between related institutions, and delays in rescue operations were among the overlapping failures that caused the high number of casualties.” Some experts have called the crush in Itaewon a “man-made disaster” that could have been prevented with fairly simple steps, such as employing more police officers and public workers to monitor bottleneck points, enforcing one-way walk lanes, blocking narrow pathways, and temporarily closing the nearby subway station to prevent large numbers of people moving in the same direction.
Conventions & Mixers
The next Ohio Haunters Association meeting will take place this weekend on Sunday, January 22nd, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. EST at the Ohio State Reformatory. Come for a chance to meet other haunters, network, and have some amazing food provided by Pyle Hazard. This meeting’s featured speaker is Bobbi Jo Gonzales, who will discuss makeup for haunts. The event will also feature a donated items raffle, 50/50 raffle, shirts for sale, and a tour of the Ohio State Reformatory. A link for an online version of the meeting will be posted to the event Facebook page on a later date.
Fear Farm (Phelan, CA) will create a mini-haunt experience at this year’s Creep I.E. Con. Creep I.E. Con is a horror convention taking place February 3th & 5th at the Ontario Convention Center (Ontario, California). In addition to a large show floor with over 150 horror and Halloween vendors, the event features celebrity signings, tattoo opportunities, Horror Speed Dating, and an immersive display from Art’s Sideshow. Tickets are on sale now starting at $25 – $30 for one-day GA passes and $50 for Weekend GA passes. To view the celebrity lineup, vendor list, and more visit Creep I.E. Con’s official website.
Haunted Attraction Association
The CHAOS committee of the Haunted Attraction Association has announced the path for CHAOS recertification for all that were certified before 2020 (those who completed certification in 2021 or 2022 are not up for recertification). Recertification classes will be offered entirely online with 5 hours to be done via several sessions. Limited live zoom sessions will be offered in February, March, and April. After May 1st, the HAA will offer recordings of all sessions for individuals to complete at their own schedule. Registration and documentation will be online as well. The cost will be $75 for HAA member and their staff, and $150 for non-members.
Retail
Gore Galore previewed their new Night Spawn Grabber this week. The product will be available at Transworld’s Halloween & Attraction Show at booth 735. Learn more about Gore Galore and browse their current offerings on their official website.
Exotic Lenses has begun pre-orders for Transworld’s Halloween & Attractions Show. Pre-orders are the only way to receive your order in person at the show as the FDA requires prescription verification for all lenses. Orders placed at Transworld will need to be verified and shipped after the show. Pre-orders close January 29th. View Exotic Lenses’ online catalog on their official website and visit them at Transworld booth #1321.
Distortions Unlimited debuted their Haunted Tree Giant Halloween Decoration prop this past week. The tree stands 9.5 feet tall and is made of latex and foam filled with a metal armature. Its arms and fingers are poseable and can be bent to the pose and height you desire. With the arms raised high, this prop stands approximately 10 feet tall. The Haunted Tree includes an LED flame bulb to make its eyes and mouth glow. The Haunted Tree is on sale now for $785.00. Distortions Unlimited will be at Transworld’s Halloween & Attractions Show booths 1014 & 1015.
Scareit Badges has been teasing their new badges for 2023. From Home Haunters to Code Brown and Attendance Badges to Prop Master Badges, Scareit Badges will have a fun new variety of patches to choose from at Transworld’s Halloween & Attraction Show. Stop by booth #1443 to view all the new designs. There will be cash & carry badges available for $5 with show discounts on packages.
Frightbro’s FX debuted “The Harvester” a creepy scarecrow sock mask. The mask is a universal size with custom options available. Pre-order this and other new masks on FrightbrosFX’s official website or see them in person at Transworld’s Halloween & Attractions Show booth 1815.
Henry Monster Designs unveiled their new “Smiley the Clown” latex half mask. The creepy clown comes with attached hair in one of three variants – red, purple, or green – and can be customized. Haunters can order today on Henry Monster Designs’ official website and see this and all their new masks in person at Transworld’s Halloween & Attractions Show booth #1445.
Celebrating Halloween
An age-old debate has once again appeared, this time in Utah – when should Halloween be officially celebrated each year? Majority Assistant Whip Kirk Cullimore, a republican from Draper, UT is proposing a new resolution that would encourage Utah communities to celebrate Halloween not necessarily on October 31st, but rather the last Friday of October every year. If passed during the upcoming legislative session, communities – including businesses – would be encouraged to celebrate on Friday, October 27th this year instead of Tuesday, October 31st.
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Upcoming Events: January 2023 - March 2023
February 2 – 5: Transworld’s Halloween & Attractions Show (St. Louis, Missouri)
March 23 – 26: Fear Expo (Owensboro, Kentucky)
Valentine's Day Haunts
13th Floor Jacksonville (Jacksonville, FL) – February 17 – 18
Carnage Haunted House (Columbus, OH) – February 10 – 11
Dark Hour (Plano, TX) – February 11
Murder House Productions (Los Angeles, CA) – February 10 – 12, 14
ScareHouse (Tarentum, PA) – February 11
Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail (Plant City, FL)
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