Haunted Attraction Network

Haunted Attraction Network

We connect the global Haunted Attraction industry through education, news, and events. Subscribe to our podcast for education and interviews with innovators in the Halloween space.

Episodes

December 4, 2025 16 mins
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...
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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 wit...
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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-...
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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.
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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...
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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 Expa...
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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 e...
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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 ...
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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, an...
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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 D...
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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 ...
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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 Mon...
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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 Cance...
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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 deb...
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Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood Opened Last Weekend to a sold-out crowd, featuring 8 Houses, a New Dining Pass, "Chainsaw Man", and More. Meanwhile, Halloween Horror Nights Orlando Criticized for Premium Scream Night Disappointments, Oversold Passes, and Controversies Around Roaming Characters. Also this week: Six Flags Great America's Fright Fest Begins September 13th; Adventureland Debuts New House for Phantom Fall Fest; Fresno...
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And as HHN leans on accessible IP like WWE, Fallout, and FNAF, builds in food-forward offerings, and pilots no-scare options, the question arises: is Universal future-proofing the brand—or diluting its horror core? Also this week: Kennywood's Phantom Fall Fest Debuts New Haunted House; Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare Comes to Kings Island in 2026; Netflix House to Open in Philadelphia & Dallas; The Haunted Carwash Returns to...
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This week: Adventuredome's Fear Zone Organizer Accused of Sexual Battery; Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar at Disney Springs Gets Halloween Makeover; Two New Mazes Coming to Knott's Scary Farm; Howl-O-Scream Tampa Unveils M.A.R.S. Haunted House; Queen Mary's Dark Harbor Announces New & Updated Mazes; Field of Screams Maryland Will Not Open for the 2025 Season; Twin Cities Fear Fest Brings Elvira to Mall of America; Mt. Healthy Haunted...
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Last week was MASSIVE for Halloween Fans, beginning with the opening of Universal Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas, followed by Midsummer Scream in Long Beach. Haunted Attractions took advantage of the 50,000+ attendees at Midsummer Scream to announce their Halloween plans - and we've gathered EVERYTHING for you! Highlights: Universal Reveals Terrifier Haunted House Details; Five Nights at Freddy's Pizza Place Previews; Elvira moves i...
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50,000 Halloween Fans will gather in Long Beach this weekend (Aug 15-17) for Midsummer Scream! Guests will experience 12+ mini-haunts, shop at 350+ vendors, and hear from local haunted attractions about this season. Also this week: Poltergeist Comes to Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood; Six Flags Reveals The Conjuring Premium Experience; Kennywood's Phantom Fall Fest Expands; Universal Horror Unleashed Opens August 14th; Spirit Hal...
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This week's headlines: SLASH to Create All-New Experiences for Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood; Want us to visit your haunt? Tell us by July 31st!; Lagoon Show and Nightmare Fuel Return to Halloween Horror Nights Orlando; New Villains for Oogie Boogie Bash at Disneyland
- Disneyland's Halloween Foodie Guide 2025; Tivoli Gardens Celebrates 20 Years of Halloween Festivities; Fire at Fear Factory SLC; Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor Unveils...
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