Haunted Attractions Podcast

Started in 2005, Pale Night Productions (https://www.palenightproductions.com/) is a special effects studio serving the haunted attraction, amusement, and escape room industries. Pale Night is particularly known for their PERMA-Blood, which they’ve been perfecting since they opened. Coming up – we’ll hear about their new escape game product and the trend they see in haunts limiting their reliance on staff. This is our vendor showcase series in partnership with the Haunted Attraction Association. This interview features Pale Night President Kip Polley. Find Pale Night Productions at Transworld in booth 417 this year, and take advantage of their pre-sale on all Perma Products. Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/hauntedattractionnetwork

Haunters Against Hate is a nonprofit that donates to LGBT youth organizations across the country. They raise funds from the sale of merchandise, the Book of Haunters, and most recently – events. Coming up, we’ll learn more about the latest Book of Haunters and this year’s Haunters Against Hate the Event. This is our vendor showcase series, in partnership with the Haunted Attraction Association. This interview features Paul Lanner, the creator of Haunters Against Hate. Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/hauntedattractionnetwork

New dates announced for the Midwest Haunters Convention; This week's Fear Expo Haunt Master Class is "Vendor Spotlight with David Quinn from Monsters Alive"; Monday's Transworld Live features Gore Galore and FrightProps warehouse tours; The Haunted Attraction Association is accepting vendor donations for their annual auction; The San Francisco Dungeon has permanently closed; Raven's Manor presents "My Bloody Valentine - Till Death Do You Part", an interactive murder mystery; Scarefest returns to Alton Towers this October with a new maze; Spirit Halloween raised over $50K for Covenant Children's Hospital; Creating custom family-friendly events with Jack o' Lantern Journey; Bobby Wiener of Bloody Mary talks Transworld and HAA contributions; Stranger Things Season 4 will premiere May 27th; Spring Haunt Events. Read more: https://mailchi.mp/hauntedattractionnetwork.com/haunt-industry-news-feb-21

Over the last 5 years, Haunt Shirts has grown from a haunter-driven shirt company to a Halloween apparel company, one that might just be releasing beach wear next month. It’s been about 4 years since James and Melissa have been on the show, and a lot has changed. In this episode, we’ll hear about the company’s evolution and what they have planned this year. This is part of our vendor showcase series, in partnership with the Haunted Attraction Association. Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/hauntedattractionnetwork

While Disney continues to build walls around experiences with ‘Storyliving by Disney,’ attractions across the world are tearing them down by inviting guests to engage in cultural festivals. This week we touch on: Storyliving, Lost Spirits Distillery, St Patrick’s at Busch Gardens, Mardi Gras at Seaworld, The Batman Season in Abu Dhabi, and Cool Japan at Universal Osaka.

Insurance has been tricky for haunted attractions. Many places are unsure how to classify haunted attractions, and others don’t reward haunts for following safety practices. Granite Insurance is hoping to offer a solution for the industry. Using an advisory board of haunters, they hope to offer incentives for safety practices and eventually streamline the process through an online portal. Coming up, we’ll learn more about how haunts can ensure they’re getting the best coverage. This episode is part of our vendor showcase series, in partnership with the haunted attraction association. Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/hauntedattractionnetwork

2021 was one of the busiest years ever for Midnight Syndicate. Beyond releasing their new Bloodlines album, they also branched out by releasing videos and music from their live shows at Cedar Point. And let’s not forget the custom music they made for Universal Studios Orlando Halloween Horror Nights 30th. Coming up, we’ll learn more about each of these and the evolution of Midnight Syndicate over the past 25 years. Music in this episode is courtesy of Midnight Syndicate. Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/hauntedattractionnetwork

My Deceased Valentine returns to Lexington South Carolina this weekend. As we mentioned yesterday- Valentine’s Day is over, but there are still haunts around the country open this weekend. Yesterday we shared a haunt that created an entirely different low-capacity event for valentines, but many haunts offer layovers instead. That’s the case with Deceased Farm. Deceased Farm in Lexington South Carolina opened last weekend but will open again this weekend for their “My Deceased Valentine” event. That’s four whole nights! Here’s Blanchard Williams to give us the details. Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/hauntedattractionnetwork

Valentine’s Day is over, but there are still haunts around the country celebrating spooky romance this coming holiday weekend. One of those haunts is Dark Castle in Elgin South Carolina, and they have one of the most unique off-season experiences we’ve seen. Dark Castle’s My Bloody Valentine puts couples through a 2-hour zombie survival scenario. Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/hauntedattractionnetwork

This week: Celebrate Halfway to Halloween at the Spooky Swap Meet in L.A. April 30 - May 1; Casino Night returns to Transworld's Halloween & Attraction Show; The Haunt in Atascadero discusses their Valentine's Day event and actor retention throughout the year; the staff of House of Four Scythes Haunted Attraction judged a high school poster art competition; The Endless Night Vampire Ball returns to Los Angeles February 20th; Camelot Rises reopens after opening weekend power outage; Idaho Halloween & Horror Convention announces exhibitor list; Immortal Masks, Project Backfire Design & Creations, and Froggy's Fog will be featured on TransWorld Live on February 15th at 5pm CST; The next Haunters Toolbox Masterclass is scheduled for Wednesday, February 16th at 7pm CST and will feature Cynthia MacDonald of Zombie Farms; Fear Expo Live presents "Tradeshow Selling & Presenting, The Secret to Yes" by Doug Shelden February 17th at 5pm PST; Phil Raybourn discusses using fear year-round in "Fear Factors: Creating Terrif

For over 30 years, Mt. Healthy Haunted Hall in mount healthy Ohio (http://www.hauntedhallinfo.com/index.htm) has been raising funds for charity. Last year alone they collected 3,172 pounds of canned goods for the Mt. Healthy Food Alliance. Maximus went on-location to speak with the team there. Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/hauntedattractionnetwork

Disney continues to build higher walls around their properties. This week we discuss takeaways from the latest earnings call and compare that to Bob Chapek’s 2022 Goals. Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/hauntedattractionnetwork

Fear Overload in the bay area and Ultimate Terror Scream Park in the Sacramento area are both owned by the same brothers. And while these two northern California area haunts seem similar, they have vastly different approaches. Coming up, we’ll hear how two attractions in overlapping markets differentiate. Fear Overload is open for their Valentine's Day event on February 11, 12, and 14, 2022; that makes this the perfect time to learn about the attraction. Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/hauntedattractionnetwork

Hush Haunted Attraction in Westland Michigan opens TONIGHT for their Valentine Haunt (https://valentinehauntdetroit.com/). It’s valentine’s day weekend and there are over 50 haunts all over the country opening this weekend to celebrate. Some haunts are reopening with their normal show (see our Feb 5th Show). Others, like Hush Haunted Attraction, are adding entirely new scenes and characters to celebrate. We’ll find out why that’s important in this interview with owner Cody Bailey. See what you’re missing with a free demo (https://gantom.com/demo). Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/hauntedattractionnetwork

Established in 2010, Immortal Masks is known for delivering film quality products at competitive pricing (https://www.immortalmasks.com/). They’re launching 3 new product lines at Transworld next month and we have the details. This is the 3rd episode of our vendor showcase series, in partnership with the haunted attraction association. See what you’re missing with a free demo (https://gantom.com/demo). Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/hauntedattractionnetwork

From new bladder blood to scholarships, a free burn class and giveaways – Bobbie Weiner AKA Bloody Mary has a ton planned this year (https://www.dearbloodymary.com/). This is the 2nd episode of our vendor showcase series, featuring Haunted Attraction Association member companies participating in the annual auction happening at this year’s Transworld Halloween & attractions show (https://haashow.com/). Bobbie Weiner AKA Bloody Mary is a prolific contributor to the community. The US Department of Defense recognizes Bobbie as their #1 supplier of Camouflage Face Paint for which Bobbie has received Gold Medals. She has been featured in CNN, Entertainment Tonight, Fortune Magazine, The Huffington Post, and the NY Times. In 2005 “The Tales of Bloody Mary” Comic Books premiered and the 5th comic book was used by Six Flags Over Texas as the basis for their “Bloody Mary’s Circus Of Fear” haunted house. In 2008 Bobbie licensed her brand name to Universal Studios Orlando where Bloody Mary was their attraction at Hallowe

This week's news: The next Haunters Toolbox Masterclass is scheduled for Wednesday, February 16th and will feature Cynthia MacDonald of Zombie Farms; HauntPay highlights six ways to fund your haunted attraction; Monsterpalooza announced their exhibitor list; Transworld's Halloween & Attractions Show posted the official floor plan; The Ohio Haunters Association will hold an in-person meeting at Hell's Dungeon on Sunday, April 3rd; Hell's Dungeon is now offering wedding and engagement services; Three SoCal home haunters unite to create the new Bones Gulch Haunt; Beetle House LA hosts a My Bloody Valentine celebration Saturday, February 12th; Darryl Kirby of Kirby Family Farm Scary Train discusses how his team rallied to make 2021 their best year yet; Todd Fedyshyn of Reapers Revenge discusses how they used dynamic pricing and employee retention to increase profitability in a tapped-out market; Haunted Overload donated $71,328 to the Pope Memorial Human Society; Fear Fair hosts Halfway to Halloween event; Camelo

Jack O’ Lantern Journey (https://jackolanternjourney.com/) has been popping up everywhere over the last several years. Sometimes as a single photo op like at the Winchester Mystery House and sometimes as a full-scale event. I’ve been so curious how it all works. Today, we hear all about the process from CEO Debbi Katz and Creative Director Bill Bywater. If you want to meet Jack o Lantern journey in person they’ll be at Transworld’s Halloween & Attractions Show March 17-20, 2022 in booth 914. Support comes from Gantom Lighting & Controls; See what you’re missing with a free demo (https://gantom.com/demo). Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/hauntedattractionnetwork

This week we discuss SeaWorld offering to buy Cedar Fair, Bob Iger’s exit interview with the NY Times, and what it all says about the attention economy. Notes: SeaWorld’s offer (https://www.inparkmagazine.com/sseaworld-offer-for-cedar-fair/) and Bob Iger’s Exit Interview (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/27/opinion/sway-kara-swisher-bob-iger.html?). Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/hauntedattractionnetwork

Haunts across the country are rolling out the blood-red carpet to welcome couples for an evening of treats. The first haunt to open was The Haunt in Atascadero, which opened last night and will run their scary tales on 5 select nights through February 14th (https://www.thehauntinatascadero.com/). We’ll go on-location to experience their Valentine’s Scary Tales Revisited. Featured in this episode are owner Chris Towers and actors Mo and Trevor. Support comes from Gantom Lighting & Controls; See what you’re missing with a free demo (https://gantom.com/demo). Subscribe: https://linktr.ee/hauntedattractionnetwork