Episodios

  • Allen Hopps on Interactive Valentine Haunts, Interactivity, and Trends

    Allen Hopps on Interactive Valentine Haunts, Interactivity, and Trends
    Jan 29 2026
    Dark Hour Haunted House (Plano, TX) will bring back Love Is Blind for Valentine’s weekend, reintroducing the event with a new interactive mechanic that turns a traditional blackout haunt into a choice-driven experience.The limited-run event will take place Friday, February 13, and Saturday, February 14, at Dark Hour Haunted House in Plano, Texas. Unlike earlier iterations of Love Is Blind, this version incorporates gameplay elements from Dark Hour’s Dead by Dark Hour format, asking guests to actively manage how they move through the attraction rather than simply endure the darkness. In this interview, I sit down with Alan Hobbs, owner of Dark Hour Haunted House, to discuss the event, why he's merging interactivity into it, and what haunters should be thinking about in 2026. Read the article here: https://hauntedattractionnetwork.com/love-is-blind-dark-hour-interactive-valentines-mechanic/
    Más Menos
    22 m
  • NEWS: Dark Harbor expands, Valentine haunts, & retail trends

    NEWS: Dark Harbor expands, Valentine haunts, & retail trends
    Jan 28 2026
    Haunts nationwide are experimenting with immersive Valentine’s formats, while new retail data suggests a resilient outlook for the 2026 Halloween season. This week: - Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor Launches "Dark Masquerade" - Cinema of Horrors' "Hearts of Horror" - Brass Ring Excellence Award Finalists - Universal's Fan Fest Nights Doubles Down on Core Fans - Halloween Retailers Expect a Slight Increase in Business in 2026 - Haunted Attraction Association to Add New Paid Administrator Role - Creep I.E. Con Returns This Weekend https://mailchi.mp/hauntedattractionnetwork.com/dark-harbor-expands-valentines-haunts-retail-trends
    Más Menos
    18 m
  • Fright Nights WV’s NEW Valentine Survival Horror Experience

    Fright Nights WV’s NEW Valentine Survival Horror Experience
    Jan 21 2026
    Fright Nights WV is opening for Valentine’s weekend with Final Cut: ‘Til Death, a survival-horror experience that places guests directly inside the story while they navigate Valentine’s-themed horror scenarios. Layered inside the attraction is Cupid Crawl, a three-stop bar crawl hidden behind secret doors and available exclusively to upgraded ticket holders.Creative Director Ashley Long joined The Haunted Attraction Network to explain how the event works and why it represents a more intentional approach to off-season programming. Read the article here: https://hauntedattractionnetwork.com/fright-nights-wvs-new-valentine-survival-horror-experience/ Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://hauntedattractionnetwork.us8.list-manage.com/subscribe
    Más Menos
    11 m
  • NEWS: what makes a Valentine haunt successful?

    NEWS: what makes a Valentine haunt successful?
    Jan 21 2026
    100+ Haunts nationwide are preparing to open for Valentine's Day next month, and we'll explore one haunt, Fright Nights WV, and its strategy in depth. Plus: VFX Creates Launches 2026 Product Line; Is Six Flags Preparing to Sell More Parks?; Scooby-Doo Meets Universal Monsters at USH; The Halloween & Costume Association Spooky Awards Winners; University of Florida Study Suggests A Good Scare Can Bring People Together; Hershey Aims to Break Out of the Seasonal Game; Camp Nowhere Returns This Summer; Russ McKamey Wins Partial Summary Judgement on E-mail Hack Lawsuit. Read more here: https://mailchi.mp/hauntedattractionnetwork.com/what-makes-a-valentine-haunt-successful
    Más Menos
    21 m
  • NEWS: Universal Plans Middle East Theme Park

    NEWS: Universal Plans Middle East Theme Park
    Jan 5 2026
    Universal is reportedly exploring plans for a theme park in Saudi Arabia, funded through a licensing arrangement backed by a government entity. If it moves forward, the project would place Universal alongside Disney, which recently announced a similar licensing deal in Abu Dhabi—one Disney says will be accretive from day one. Also: Submissions are now being accepted for the 2025 Home Haunter Awards Show. Read the news here: https://mailchi.mp/hauntedattractionnetwork.com/universal-plans-middle-east-theme-park
    Más Menos
    8 m
  • NEWS: Merry Hauntings from the Haunted Attraction Network

    NEWS: Merry Hauntings from the Haunted Attraction Network
    Dec 24 2025
    Merry Hauntings from the Haunted Attraction Network! While most haunts have concluded their holiday run, 8 haunts are still operating this coming weekend. Also this week: Six Flags Magic Mountain Delays New Coaster; Zombie Fun Run at Field of Screams PA Raises $8,000 for PA Breast Cancer Coalition; HauntPay Releases 2025 Season Data in Updated Report; TransWorld Announces "Heaven & Hell" Costume Ball; Read more here: https://mailchi.mp/hauntedattractionnetwork.com/merry-hauntings-from-the-haunted-attraction-network
    Más Menos
    8 m
  • NEWS: Holiday Haunts Surge Nationwide This December

    NEWS: Holiday Haunts Surge Nationwide This December
    Dec 4 2025
    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: https://mailchi.mp/hauntedattractionnetwork.com/holiday-haunts-surge-nationwide-this-december
    Más Menos
    16 m
  • Inside IAAPA’s Haunting Grounds 2025

    Inside IAAPA’s Haunting Grounds 2025
    Nov 26 2025
    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 with IAAPA’s Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President, Michael Shelton, and Sally Dark Rides, offering deeper insight into IAAPA’s strategic shift toward curated show-floor zones, the rising importance of food and beverage, and new dark-ride innovations coming to Kings Island and Doha Quest. You’ll also hear from all the exhibitors featured in the Haunting Grounds pavilion, including: Plague Productions, Nethercraft, IWG, Dogwood Entertainment, and Verse Immersive, each showcasing products designed to enhance seasonal and Halloween experiences. This episode is adapted from our on-site coverage at IAAPA Expo 2025. The full video tour of the Haunting Grounds is here: https://youtu.be/_valH5lhses
    Más Menos
    13 m