Haunted Attractions Podcast

This is the 31st year of Halloween at Eastern State Penitentiary. Listeners will be familiar with Terror Behind the Walls, which is the predecessor to Halloween Nights. Over the years, the event has transformed from a linear experience to a full Halloween festival – thus the rebranding to Halloween Nights. Coming up, we’ll speak with Brett Bertolino about this season but also about what the transformation from linear haunt to full festival was like. Halloween Nights opens Sept 22nd and runs on select nights through November 12th. Follow along to our Hauntathon: https://linktr.ee/hauntedattractionnetwork

DARK returns to Fort Edmonton Park on October 7th with a new maze and plenty of returning scares. Fort Edmonton Park is a living history museum, and the DARK event raises funds for its normal operations. We’ve been following DARK since its opening 5 years ago, and this conversation with Teresa Ryan is a very candid and wide-ranging one. We’ll hear about the new designs, but also about the event’s challenges and evolutions. Follow along to our Hauntathon: https://linktr.ee/hauntedattractionnetwork

SeaWorld San Diego is celebrating their 2nd year of Howl-O-Scream this season. This year, the event had two new haunted houses, a new stage show, atmospheric areas called ScAREAS, and bars hidden within mazes. This is an event that is changing a lot year after year. We’ll learn more about the event from Tracy Spahr and then I’ll play you a few clips from opening night. Follow along to our Hauntathon: https://linktr.ee/hauntedattractionnetwork

We recap the Disney Parks announcements from D23, including Pacific Wharf in Disney California Adventure Park to Be Reimagined into San Fransokyo from “Big Hero 6;” Disney100 Celebration at Disneyland Resort Kicks Off in Late January 2023, and EPCOT's Harmonious to be replaced with new nighttime spectacular in 2023.

The Vault of Souls is BACK and this year – not all the spirits are cooperating. The Vault of Souls is an experience we’ve covered since Year 1. Written and developed by Scott Swenson, it’s an elegant evening of fear in the Historic bank vault in downtown Tampa. We’ll discuss how the event has evolved and what's planned for this year. Follow along to our Hauntathon: https://linktr.ee/hauntedattractionnetwork

Nightmares on the Rogue Haunted Mines is a relatively new haunt in Medford, Oregon. After only a few years, they’ve moved into a new building AND added another location (Carnival of Chaos) 25 minutes away. We’ll hear from owner Devin Price about why he plunged full speed into haunting and is so dedicated to immersive storytelling. Follow along to our Hauntathon: https://linktr.ee/hauntedattractionnetwork

Today, Nora and Tyler are taking us to The Haunted Hotel in Louisville, KY. First, you’ll hear Tyler entering the haunt and a little bit from the actors. Then, we’ll transition to an interview with the GM. Follow along to our Hauntathon: https://linktr.ee/hauntedattractionnetwork

Today, the new maze for this year’s Howl-O-Scream at SeaWorld Orlando is Blood Beckoning. Now in its 2nd year, Howl-O-Scream at Orlando has an overall theme and the main villains are sirens. This year, Scratch the Blood Siren has a dedicated maze – Blood Beckoning. Scott Swenson wrote the new maze, and today he’ll discuss what that process was like. Follow along to our Hauntathon: https://linktr.ee/hauntedattractionnetwork

Planet Doom is a 32,000 SQFT indoor attraction in Idaho Falls, where 100% of the profit goes to the local DARE program. We’ll learn all about the plans for this year’s event from owner Brent Wilson. Follow along to our Hauntathon: https://linktr.ee/hauntedattractionnetwork

Today, we’re visiting Zach Glaros at Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail to learn about their 2022 Season. Now in their 9th year, Sir Henry's Haunted Trail has been growing every year (and we’ve had them on the show several times. This year's new ‘Headless’ trail comes complete with a live horse and actor – we’ll hear all about it. Follow along to our Hauntathon: https://linktr.ee/hauntedattractionnetwork

A roundup of Haunted Attraction and Halloween Industry News for the week of September 14th, 2022. Read the stories here: https://mailchi.mp/hauntedattractionnetwork.com/haunt-news-horror-nights-sells-out-hauntathon

Scott and Philip celebrate their 2 year anniversary by reflecting on Lost island's early closure and the opening of Halloween Horror Nights

Tyler and Nora went to Land of Illusion’s opening night and spoke to CEO Brett Oakley about this year’s renovations and new safety procedures. Land of Illusion’s Haunted Scream Park offers 6 haunts, entertainment, food, and roaming characters. Tyler and Nora are from TheScareFactor.com and are one of our content partners for this year. Follow along to our Hauntathon: https://linktr.ee/hauntedattractionnetwork

Thirteen Floor Haunted House Chicago has a new building and a redesigned show to go with it; we’ll learn all about it. Bryan Kopp explains the two new themes, expanded midway, and how the team is navigating around managing The Old Juliet Haunted Prison. Follow along to our Hauntathon: https://linktr.ee/hauntedattractionnetwork

Today, we’re previewing this year’s Knott’s Scary Farm offerings. Specifically, we’ll hear about the two new mazes, Bloodline 1842 and Grimoire, the food, new merchandise, Into The Fog exhibit, and the new daytime tour experience. These interviews were conducted live at Knott’s by Elsie from Sharp Productions, one of our content partners. Eric Nix, Christopher Do, Karl Busche, and Wilf Seymour are featured in this episode. Follow along to our Hauntathon: https://linktr.ee/hauntedattractionnetwork

Coming up, home haunts are a huge part of Halloween and today we’ll learn what Santa Ana Haunt has planned for their Halloween Season. Follow along to our Hauntathon: https://linktr.ee/hauntedattractionnetwork

Coming up, We’re going on-location to Massacre Haunted House in Montgomery IL to learn about their 2022 season. Massacre is known for their large sets and dramatic yearly renovations. We’ll hear all about it from owner Ryan Burke. Follow along to our Hauntathon: https://linktr.ee/hauntedattractionnetwork

What does The Fear PDX have planned for their 10th season? We’ll find out. We’re going on-location to The Fear PDX in Portland, Oregon. We’ll hear from the owners and team about why haunting is important to them. Follow along to our Hauntathon: https://linktr.ee/hauntedattractionnetwork

Evil Intentions In Elgin, IL is Planning For A Killer 2022 - What Do They Have Up Their Sleeve? We’ll find out. Evil Intentions is known for its ‘jungle gym’ rooms filled with actors choreographed to original music. Today we’ll hear from owner Mike Fitzpatrick about what makes the haunt successful and what they have planned for this season. Follow along to our Hauntathon: https://linktr.ee/hauntedattractionnetwork

Today – 4 SoCal haunts will present their 2022 plans – Bones Gulch, Fright Nights at Alesmith, Castle Dark, and Fear Farm. This presentation was recorded live during Midsummer Scream. Follow along to our Hauntathon: https://linktr.ee/hauntedattractionnetwork