Haunted Attractions Podcast

Now in its 22nd year, The Dark Attraction & Funhouse Enthusiasts (DAFE) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to documenting, preserving, and enjoying dark attractions, haunts, and escape rooms. Today, we’ll hear about what DAFE has planned for 2022. This is part of our vendor showcase series, in partnership with the Haunted Attraction Association; this interview was recorded by Brian from HaunTopic Radio / Haunter’s Toolbox and features Rick Davis. View our list of Haunt Groups here (https://hauntedattractionnetwork.com/haunted-attraction-associations-groups/) Show Notes: https://www.haunt.news/dark-attraction-enthusiasts-2022

After a round of Quick Hits, we discuss the recent string of acquisitions and Universal’s new housing project. Find all the stories we discussed in our show notes: https://www.haunt.news/green-tagged-curation-community

Over the past 10 years, Hallucinations Creations based out of Orland Hills, Illinois, has developed into providing the backbone for your animatronics. Today, we’ll hear about the 14 new DIY mechanisms they brought to Transworld. This is part of our vendor showcase series, in partnership with the Haunted Attraction Association; this interview was conducted by Maximus and features Mike Yazumbek. Show Notes: https://www.haunt.news/hallucinations-creations-diy-mechanisms-2022

Founded in 2006 by BJ Winslow and his wife Eileen, Dapper Cadaver is a death-related prop house. Based in Madison Wisconsin they’ve provided props to thousands of film and TV productions, top haunted houses, and exclusive Halloween parties. Today, we’ll hear how the Transworld show went for them, and how they’re expanding their diversity of characters. This is part of our vendor showcase series, in partnership with the Haunted Attraction Association; this interview was recorded by Darryl from HaunTopic Radio and features BJ Winslow. Show Notes: https://www.haunt.news/dapper-cadaver-prop-2022

This new pro-haunter is using his background in logistics to grow his show year after year. Benjamin Gagne is the owner of The Thirteenth Hour Haunted Attraction in Indianapolis Indiana. As a tween growing up in Connecticut he got involved with a local haunted house. That inspired him to start a home haunt – The 13th Hour – which he continued throughout high school. After college, he settled in Indianapolis to work for Amazon, but couldn’t shake the Haunt Bug. Here’s Ben to pick up the story. Show Notes: https://www.haunt.news/benjamin-gagne-the-13th-hour

Fire codes, Building Codes, Zoning, and leases – every haunter will face one of these issues. It’s complicated but there are some big pitfalls you can avoid. Brent Wilson from Planet Doom has over 30 years’ experience with these, and today we’ll outline some common issues. We’ll also talk about Planet Doom’s Halfway to Halloween event. Brent is one of the 5 new Haunted Attraction Association board members, and we’re doing this series to introduce each new board member to you. Show Notes: https://www.haunt.news/leasing-tips-brent-wilson

Presented by The Haunted Attraction Association at TransWorld’s Halloween & Attractions Show in St. Louis, the OSCARES awards are the highest achievement in the Halloween and Haunted Attraction industry. Today we’re taking you to this year’s award ceremony. We recorded this live on March 19th - you’ll hear the winners and their acceptance speeches, plus some bonus interviews we caught after the ceremony. Show Notes: https://www.haunt.news/oscares-2022

Applications now open for the 2023 Haunted Attraction Association Scholarships; HAA announces 2022 scholarship winners; West Coast Halloween Convention class schedule available; Halloween & Party Expo will return to Las Vegas January 10th - 12th, 2023; Spooky Swap Meet's Trick or Treat House Sponsors announced; The next Haunters Toolbox Masterclass takes place Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. PDT - "Haunt Safety: Preparing Your Haunt the Safe Way"; Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando will open for a record-breaking 43 nights in 2022; SeaWorld's Howl-O-Scream dates announced; Knott's Scary Farm returns September 22nd - October 31st; Kersey Valley Inc. hosts new Paranormal Investigations; Monsterama Arcade opens May 1st in Des Moines, Iowa; Paranoia Haunted House will open in July for "A Midsummer's Night's Scream"; Haunted Dome home haunt announces fall schedule; Morris Costumes debuts nine new animatronics. Show Notes: https://www.haunt.news/hhn-2022-tickets-haa-scholarship

NightScream Studios received one of this year’s Vendor Excellence Awards – right after selling out on the show floor. Now in their 24th year at the show, NightScream Studios took home one of the Haunted Attraction Association’s Vendor Excellence Awards this year. NightScream Specializes in Scenic, and by 3PM Friday they already had a waitlist. This is part of our vendor showcase series, in partnership with the Haunted Attraction Association. Scott Swenson from A Scott in the Dark conducted this interview and he caught Rodney on Saturday before the Award Ceremony. Show Notes: https://www.haunt.news/nightscream-transworld-2022

Supply chain disruptions are back as attractions also struggle with training new staff. Meanwhile, it’s full steam ahead for a record fall season. Show Notes: https://www.haunt.news/green-tagged-training-new-growth

Coming up, for over 20 years Ghost Ride Productions has been providing hyper-realistic props to attractions – and their orders for this season are filling up fast. This is part of our vendor showcase series, in partnership with the Haunted Attraction Association. Tyler from the Scare Factor conducted this interview. Show Notes: https://www.haunt.news/the-hyper-realistic-props-of-ghost-ride-productions/

Recorded at the Transworld Halloween, Christmas, and Escape Room show in St. Louis (with a recap recorded in Indianapolis a couple of days later) Scott shares his thoughts and experiences at the show. Show Notes: https://www.haunt.news/asitd-transworld-2022

We catch up with Allen Hopps from Stilt Beast Studios on the Transworld Show Floor. Stiltbeast debuted their ‘Bootanicals’ Line of products and, as you’ll hear, celebrated a record-breaking year. This is part of our vendor showcase series, in partnership with the Haunted Attraction Association. Tyler from the Scare Factor conducted this interview. Show Notes: https://www.haunt.news/stiltbeast-transworld-2022

This Q&A session was recorded live at Transworld immediately following the 2022 State of the Industry Presentation. You’ll hear the Haunted Attraction Association’s Board of Directors take questions from the audience on a range of topics from logistics to staffing, the war’s impact, and whether demand will stay strong. We aired the full State of the Industry presentation on Monday; check back in our feed for that if you want to listen. Notes: https://www.haunt.news/

The Haunted Attraction Association Announced OSCARES Award-winners; TransWorld's Halloween & Attractions Show returns to St. Louis February 2nd - 5th, 2023; Tickets now on sale for Creep It Real Expo; NecroManor Haunted House to host photos with the "Beaster Bunny"; Pirates of Emerson announces fall 2022 operating schedule; Zombie Joe's Undgerground Theatre Group continues their 30th season with "The Unsackable Man"; HAuNTcon partners with Fear Expo for live event March 24th - 26th, 2023; Hudson Haunted House opened for a successful 2nd annual St. Patrick's Day event this past weekend; Rotten Apple 907 celebrated their 30th anniversary in 2021; The opening ceremony for the 3rd annual Haunt Comp will take place Saturday, March 26th; Read more: https://mailchi.mp/hauntedattractionnetwork.com/haunt-industry-news-march-21-2

This is the full Haunted Attraction Association’s 2022 State of the Industry Presentation recorded live on Saturday from Transworld’s Halloween & Attractions Show. The presentation begins with board member introductions and then proceeds through the presentation agenda. The HAA will release the slides later next month for you to download. While I snipped a few things out for continuity, this remains mostly unedited; just keep that in mind while listening as this is a longer than usual episode. We will air the Q&A session on Wednesday, so stay tuned for that. Subscribe: https://www.haunt.news/

2 Attractions are stepping up their hiring incentives, plus we go LIVE from this year’s Transworld’s Halloween & Attractions Show in St Louis. Subscribe: https://www.haunt.news/

Join Tyler & Nora as they discuss what’s been happenin’ since last haunt season, and as they look forward to some of what you can expect from The Scare Factor in 2022!. This is an episode from our partner station The Scare Factor, hosted by Tyler and Nora Proffet. Today is Day 3 of Transworld’s Halloween & Attraction show in St Louis. If you’re at the show, come visit us at booth 1903.

Today is day 2 of Transworld’s Halloween & Attraction show in St Louis. This show is always pure madness, and this year is no exception. To illustrate what the show is like, I’m going to play an episode we aired last year, which chronicles the Transworld experience via audio diary from 4 attendees. We talk a lot about the haunt community and how important it is. For many haunters, the largest community gathering is the Halloween and Attractions Show in St Louis. But- it’s tough to describe this show to you. Instead, we are taking you inside the perspective of three different attendees. Three days in St Louis told via audio diary from three quite different attendees – a first timer, a first-time vendor, and a veteran. Featured in this episode: Brian Foreman from Haunter’s Toolbox and ScareIt Badges, Max Bryant, Scott Swenson, Scott Tater Lynd, Doug Schaefer, and Dalton Dale. Subscribe: https://www.haunt.news/

Scott shares his suggestions for getting the most out of a trade show. Today is the first day of Transworld’s Halloween & Attraction show in St Louis. If you’re at the show, come visit us at booth 1903. Subscribe: https://www.haunt.news/