Haunted Attraction Network

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  NEWS: why Halloween is becoming premium 07.09.2026 25мин

  At HHN this year, the premium tiers sold out first. Premium Scream Night, a capacity-capped evening at $399 a head, sold out on both of its dates. The R.I.P. guided tour, at $469, has sold out outright, and the only way left to buy that experience is a private booking for $5,000. Six Flags is making the same premium bet with The Conjuring: Beyond Fear while playing the value side at the same time: a low gate for the passholder, scarcity on top for the guest who wants more. Thirteenth Floor is running the haunt-scale version with its Jason walkthrough in nine cities. Operators on both ends have learnings here.In this issue:Halloween Horror Nights 35 Houses, RankedPremium Scream Night: What It's Like and Whether It's Worth ItHHN 35 Food Menu: Every Item, Ranked, With PricesUnmasking the Horror Tour: A Lights-On Look Inside Three HousesJohn Murdy Breaks Down HHN Hollywood's Sinners HouseTim Curry, the Original Pennywise, Has Died at 80Movie Park Germany Adds the First Jason Universe Haunt Outside the U.S.Mickey's Not-So-Scary Adds a Barbossa Show and Haunted Mansion Meet-and-GreetsThe Curse of Camelback Turns a Poconos Waterpark Into a HauntGreen Tagged: Six Flags Moves HQ, Disney Patents Ride AversionsParty City Is Back for Halloween, Inside StaplesTarget Pulls Clown Costume After BacklashPBR's Jason 12-Pack Folds Into a Wearable MaskRead more
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  NEWS: haunted houses are the roller coasters of fall 27.08.2026 35мин

  It's Pumpkin Spice Week, and the theme park season is nearly all open too. In this week's newsletter: every major U.S. theme park Halloween event is either running or opens within the next three weeks, and haunted houses are the roller coasters of fall, the dedicated attractions that give the theme park industry its pricing power. Meanwhile, Thirteenth Floor is running a licensed Jason walkthrough at nine haunts, a bigger footprint than Six Flags has with the same brand, and The Scare Factor launched a free tool that re-ranks every haunt around each guest's preferences.In this issue:- Haunted Houses Are the Roller Coasters of Fall: The Hard-Ticket Holiday- A Jason Haunted House Is Coming to 9 Cities This Halloween- Find the Best Haunted Houses for You With The Scare Factor's Haunt Advisor- Oogie Boogie Bash Opens With Madame Leota's Swinging Wake- Knott's Scary Farm Announces 2 New Mazes and 2 New Shows- Six Flags Makes Its Halloween Bet- A Petrified Forest Adds Five Original Attractions for Chaos Reigns- Dark Arts Returns to Hogwarts Castle After Three Years- Shanghai Disneyland Expands to Ten Spook-tacular Days- Nocturne Theatre Stages Frankenstein: Resurrection- Fall Food Roundup: Every Chain's Menu, From PSL to Caramel Apple- Midnight Syndicate Releases Plankett's Grove- IT: Welcome to Derry Renewed for Season 2Read the news here. 
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  NEWS: Movie tickets broke records. Are haunt tickets next? 21.08.2026 27мин

  Movie tickets broke records this summer, showing that people are still paying to go out. They're choosing cheaper formats, and a haunt ticket sits much closer to a movie ticket than to a theme park vacation. In this week's newsletter, we break down what that demand means for haunts this fall, the sensory Halloween food trend hitting national shelves, how Kennywood and HHN are monetizing assets by day, and what Ocean Park's shrinking house count says about the classic IP trap.In this issue:- Villains Land's Story Details Revealed- The Fortnite Era: The Game Is at Disney and Universal at Once- Ocean Park Reveals Its Full 2026 Halloween Fest Lineup- Hotel Transylvania Comes to SeaWorld Orlando's Spooktacular- Kennywood Turns Its Dark Ride Into a Day-and-Night Walkthrough- Dollywood's Harvest Festival Returns With Two New Additions- Alton Towers Scarefest Adds the Final Exhibit Maze- Evil Intentions Won't Open for 2026 After Elgin Move Falls Through- Fall Food Roundup: Hershey, IHOP, Chick-fil-A's Chicken and Waffles- Ghost Face Fanta, Michael Myers Beer, and Cheetos' Blumhouse Snack- Scream Returns to Theaters for Its 30th Anniversaryhttps://mailchi.mp/hauntedattractionnetwork.com/movie-tickets-broke-records-are-haunt-tickets-next 
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  NEWS: Quality vs. Quantity: Universal and Six Flags Split Halloween 13.08.2026 37мин

  Between Midsummer Scream and earnings week, this issue is dense. Disney, Six Flags, and United Parks dropped earnings, and the news is positive overall for our industry. Universal has a strong reputation, but Six Flags now operates the most haunted mazes in the world: 107, added to parks that already have infrastructure and passholders. HHN Hollywood is leaning into independent films where they have more leeway, with an original Slash score, the event's first-ever singing villain, and a twisted children's storybook Terror Tram scored by Ice Nine Kills.In this issue:- Q2 Theme Park Earnings and What They Tell Us About the Consumer- Six Flags Plans 107 Haunted Houses for Halloween 2026- Slash Scored HHN Hollywood's Killceañera House- Art the Clown Takes Over the Terror Tram With "Every Day Is Artmas"- HHN Hollywood Adds Hidden Character From Curry Barker's "Obsession"- The LA Haunted Hayride Adds an '80s Rock Maze and Brings Back Elvira- Queen Mary's Dark Harbor Will Murder One of Its 13 Icons Live- Midsummer Scream Moves to Anaheim for 2027- Spirit Halloween's Owner Is Buying Hot Topic- A Real Freddy Fazbear's Pizza Opens at American Dream in 2027- Diablo Mazes Land at Cedar Point and Kings Dominion- Six Flags Magic Mountain's Fright Fest Adds Final Destinationhttps://mailchi.mp/hauntedattractionnetwork.com/quality-vs-quantity-universal-and-six-flags-split-halloween
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  NEWS: Treatonimics - Guests Want Memorable, Not Cheap 05.08.2026 37мин

  Hershey has a name for the economy we've been describing all year: Treatonomics, "a consumer trend in which people prioritize joyful, memorable experiences and generosity over simply chasing the lowest price." Guests are still spending on Halloween, and they're looking for memorable experiences to connect with, even if it costs a little more. Case in point: eight dates of Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, a family trick-or-treat party that is practically the definition of Treatonomics, sold out before the event even opened.Meanwhile, all the major theme parks now have at least one IP-based haunt, with Sony landing at all five Howl-O-Scream parks, Jason coming to three Six Flags parks, and Ozzy completing the HHN 35 lineup. But when every major event is licensed, there's a market in the zag: Netherworld marked its 30th season by going deeper into its own mythology, and original is about to become the differentiator.In this issue:- Hershey's State of the Season Report: Welcome to Treatonomics- Ozzy Osbourne: Prince of Darkness Completes the HHN 35 Lineup- Sony Licenses Land at All Five Howl-O-Scream Parks- Jason: Blood Reign Coming to Three Six Flags Parks- Jackson Wang Is Building a Haunted House at Ocean Park- Netherworld Announces Its 30th Season of Screams- Spirit Halloween Moved Into 85 Former Party City Stores- Retail Roundup: Michael Myers, Beistle, Johanna Parker, Grandin Road, Buc-ee's, Pottery Barn, Funko, Disney Store, and Hobby Lobby's Missing Halloweenhttps://mailchi.mp/hauntedattractionnetwork.com/treatonomics-guests-want-memorable-not-cheap
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  NEWS: People Are Ready To Buy Halloween Now 04.08.2026 33мин

  Guests are ready to buy Halloween in July. That's the takeaway from Mars' annual Tricks, Treats and Trends report, which put consumer numbers on trends we've been tracking all year: 57% of US adults now consider Halloween a full season, 71% want sensory food experiences, and half of Gen Z is discovering Halloween on TikTok and YouTube. This week's news shows operators building for exactly that: ScareHouse is returning to Pittsburgh with no haunted house at all, just the hangout, and SCREAM-A-GEDDON put $2.5 million, its largest capital project ever, into its midway.In this issue:- Halloween 2026 Trends: Season Creep, the Food Gap, & Discoverability- HHN Roundup- Universal's Q2: Orlando Softens- ScareHouse Returns With Halloween Hangout- SCREAM-A-GEDDON's $2.5 Million Midway Opens August 29th- Fire Destroys Three Houses at Field of Horrors- Freakling Bros. Pauses 2026 for a J.J. Abrams Film- Delusion Returns to the Beckett Mansion- Spirit Halloween's Flagship Opens Saturday- How Much Do Professional Animatronics Cost?- At Home Launches Its Biggest Halloween Assortment Ever- Retail Roundup: Universal Monsters LEGO, Skullector, Lemax, Lenox, Monster Cereals, and MoreREAD THE STORIES HERE 
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  NEWS: Halloween is less than 3 weeks away 22.07.2026 31мин

  The theme park industry spent years training guests that September and October were worth a visit, and it worked so well that Halloween is now the anchor of the entertainment calendar. In this week's newsletter, we break down what that means for haunts, who's still spending, and why consumer retail is now building product for the semi-pro haunter.In this issue:- Plan Your Season with HAN's 2026 Halloween Haunt & Event Guides- HHN 35 Opens a Portal to Its Own Past With "Sideshow of Decay"- "Stranger Things: Return to Hawkins" Becomes HHN's First Single-Franchise Lagoon Show- Universal Orlando Discontinues Fear With Express Pass Products- HHN in Singapore and Japan- "Blair Witch: No Signal" Mazes Coming to Six Flags- Halloween at Tokyo Disney 2026- HalloweenCostumes Debuts Its Biggest Animatronics Lineup Ever- Freddy Fazbear Animatronic Comes to Spirit Halloween- Scream 30th Anniversary Reunion at Midsummer Scream- Legendary Haunt Tour 2026 LineupRead the news here
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  NEWS: The K-Shaped Economy Comes for Halloween 16.07.2026 25мин

  Welcome to the circus!July 5th marks the official countdown to Halloween in the US, and the theme for 2026 is shaping up to be carnival. Bath & Body Works is the second national retailer to land on a haunted carnival theme, joining Michaels and Halloween Horror Nights' "Infernal Carnival of Nightmares." When two national chains and the world's largest Halloween event converge on the same aesthetic, consumers will feel it.Read the news here. In this issue:- Bath & Body Works Debuts Haunted Carnival Collection- The Conjuring: Beyond Fear Returns to Four Six Flags Parks- Hellraiser Comes to Halloween Horror Nights- Stranger Things Comes to Netflix House Philadelphia- FrightWorks Announces Indefinite Closure- Why This Comcast Move Could Reshape the Entire Industry- Niles Scream Park Adds Six Feet Under Bar- Wicked Lit Returns After Eight Years- Field of Screams Donates $23,000 to Community Organizations- Spirit's Flagship Grand Opening Returns August 1st- HAA Board Openings- Midsummer Scream's SoCal Haunt Spotlight Panel- LEGO Debuts Two Halloween Sets for 2026- Spirit's Flagship Grand Opening Celebration Returns August 1st- Haunters Toolbox Presents: Building Big Scares with a Tiny Budget-Thirteenth Floor Hiring Ops Manager for Dark Harbor
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  NEWS: Comcast Splits as Universal Bets Big on Halloween 30.06.2026 19мин

  Halloween is having a moment, and Universal is here for it. Comcast announced it will split into two companies, with the entertainment half, NBCUniversal, anchored by its growing theme parks division. Since Comcast has made horror a central part of its brand, Halloween is about to become a much more visible story on earnings calls, and a higher bar for HHN and Horror Unleashed to clear. That dovetails with everything else Universal announced this week, from four new HHN Orlando houses to a Resident Evil takeover in Las Vegas. We also look at Michaels betting big on Halloween nostalgia, and what that might say about the consumer.In this issue:- Comcast to Spin Off NBCUniversal Around Universal's Theme Parks- Halloween Horror Nights Orlando Announces Remaining Original Houses- Resident Evil Takeover Soft-Launches at Universal Horror Unleashed Las Vegas- Michaels Bets on Nostalgia With Six 2026 Halloween Décor Collections- House of Horror Haunted Carnival Moves to Tropical Park- IAAPA Expo 2026 Registration Opens, Haunting Grounds Moves to West Building- Run Your Own Dark Ride with "Scream Operator: Haunted House Manager" GameRead the stories here 
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  NEWS: A Haunt Sells Memories, Not Scares 26.06.2026 10мин

  Two threads land on themes we keep circling back to: who you're selling to and what you're selling is changing.Families are one of the three groups still spending on attractions, and the new Universal Kids Resort is a direct play for that demographic. But, it seems to suffer from the same issue as Universal Horror Unleashed: Universal positioned the product as premium, betting that the IP and brand would justify the price, and early reviews show it struggling to meet guest expectations.The operators who get premium right don't lean solely on IP to do the work. They build a strong core product, evoke emotion, and let everything else extend it.Ultimately, we all sell memories made of emotion, and increasingly, guests want to buy items that extend them. During IAAPA Expo Asia, Hong Kong Disneyland and Ocean Park explained how merchandise fits into that cycle.For haunts, it comes down to one question: what's the moment in your attraction that guests already talk about, photograph, and remember? You're not just selling the scare. You're selling the moment they'll remember, and everything else extends it.In this issue:-Universal Kids Resort Opens For Previews-Stranger Things Returns to Halloween Horror Nights-H.R. Bloodengutz Returns to HHN Orlando with New Original House-Dollywood Hosts Its First Separately-Ticketed After-Hours Halloween Event-The Rocky Horror Picture Show Planned for Sphere in 2027https://mailchi.mp/hauntedattractionnetwork.com/a-haunt-sells-memories-not-scares
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  NEWS: What 52,000 Hires Mean For Your Haunt 23.06.2026 8мин

  Spirit Halloween announced it will hire over 52,000 seasonal associates, the largest hiring event in the company's history. Most Americans don't go to a haunted house, but nearly all of them first encounter Halloween through retail. Retail is the first wave of the season, and it primes guests for everything that comes after, including your attraction.In this issue:-Spirit Halloween to Hire 52,000 Seasonal Associates-2026 Halloween & Costume Association Awards Open for Submissions-Legoland Florida Expands Brick-or-Treat to 18 Days-Knott's Scary Farm: Nightmares Revealed Returns August 18th-Green Tagged's News Catch-Uphttps://mailchi.mp/hauntedattractionnetwork.com/what-52000-halloween-hires-mean-for-your-haunt
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  NEWS: Who Is Still Spending on Attractions? 23.06.2026 12мин

  Our job is to entertain people. How they want to be entertained, though, might be changing. New data from PGAV and Integrated Insight show that the audience for paid attractions is shifting, with visits down about 11% year over year, with the steepest declines among lower-income households, women, and families without kids.This week, we break down who's still spending, what they want, and why Disney's new Oogie Boogie Bash street party might point to where entertainment is heading.In this issue:-Madame Leota's Swinging Wake Comes to Oogie Boogie Bash-Monstropolis Celebrates H.U.M.A.N. Day at Disney's Hollywood Studios-Six Flags Fiesta Texas Announces Werewolf Gorge Launch Coaster-Nightmare Wharf Reveals Attraction Themes-Midsummer Scream Announces Main Stage Theme Park Panels-C.H.A.O.S. Training to Be Held on June 27th- Midwest Haunters Convention Returns June 10th-13th, 2027https://mailchi.mp/hauntedattractionnetwork.com/whos-still-spending-on-attractions 
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  NEWS: Why haunts Are Becoming Scream Parks 28.05.2026 12мин

  Haunts and theme parks are facing similar challenges in entertaining guests: the connective tissue between the big moments is what makes the day (or night) work.In this issue:- Sinners Announced for Halloween Horror Nights Orlando and Hollywood- Hersheypark Dark Nights Sets June Audition Dates- Epic Universe Turns One: Takeaways- Disney Faces Class Action Over Disneyland Facial Recognition- Field of Screams Nixa Expands to Branson With New Indoor Haunt- Hotel of Terror Reaches Purchase Agreement with City of Springfield- Monsterpalooza Comes to Pasadena, CA This Weekend- Get Ready for Midwest Haunters Convention, June 6th - 7thRead more:https://mailchi.mp/hauntedattractionnetwork.com/why-haunts-are-becoming-scream-parks 
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  NEWS: Why Haunts Are Weaving Food Into The Story 19.05.2026 8мин

  Last week I attended IAAPA Honors, and my biggest takeaway was something I saw last year: F&B as narrative. From LA Haunted Hayride's Cider Mill to Scarehouse Windsor's dinner experiences, the expansion of food carts at HHN, and all the haunts with hidden bars, we're seeing more haunts weaving food into the story. Guests are buying experiences from us, and food has to be part of that, not separate from it. Also this week: United Parks posted a rough Q1 while peer parks grew, and the next Sphere is heading to Yas Island.In this issue:F&B as Narrative: What I Saw at IAAPA HonorsUnited Parks' Dismal Q1The Next Sphere Is Going to Yas IslandDerry Halloween to Adopt New Partner-Led ApproachFirst Look at Midwest Haunters Convention Exhibitor ListHaunters Toolbox: Inhuman Resources Hiring Sessionhttps://mailchi.mp/hauntedattractionnetwork.com/why-haunts-are-weaving-food-into-the-story
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  NEWS: What Disney and Six Flags Tell Haunts About Fall 12.05.2026 8мин

  Both Disney and Six Flags posted strong earnings this week, and while haunts are a few steps removed from the major theme park operators, it tells us something useful: guests are still booking, still spending, and still showing up. The two chains are taking different approaches to the same moment, with Six Flags leaning into value and regional passes while Disney leans into premium. For haunted attractions, the takeaways are the same ones we've been tracking since TransWorld. In this issue:Disney Q2 Revenue Up 7% as D'Amaro Pitches Disney+ as Everything AppSix Flags Q1 Revenue Up 12% as Reilly Doubles Down on Pass StrategyOogie Boogie Bash Returns for 33 Select NightsAEOStudios to Close in June After 30 YearsScareCON 26 Takes Place May 18-20Mars Unveils New Seasonal Treats for Halfway to HalloweenRead More
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  NEWS: Trends shaping the 2026 Halloween season 12.05.2026 10мин

  It was a slow news week after the rush of Halfway to Halloween, but a few major trends are emerging that could shape this Halloween season.In this issue:-Dead Man's Party Returns to Six Flags Great Adventure-Six Flags St. Louis Enacts Strict Chaperone Policy-Universal Horror Unleashed Teases New Dinner Series-Nocturne Theatre Debuts The Eaves-Ohio Haunters Convention Takes Place This Weekend-Midwest Haunters Convention Announces Pre-Show Tours-Spooky Swap Meet Announces 2027 DatesRead more here. 
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  NEWS: Halloween Creep hits a new record 12.05.2026 11мин

  Halloween creep is officially here. Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party returns to the Magic Kingdom on August 7th, the earliest start date in the event's history. But Disney is moving up the calendar without really reinvesting in the event itself. Combined with Universal bringing back HHN icons and recent earnings flagging softer summer demand, the question is whether the major operators are quietly bracing for a slower fall.In this issue:Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Returns August 7thUniversal Parks Revenue Surges 24%, But There's a CatchDark Nights at Hersheypark Returns September 12thSCAR Awards 2026 Nominees Announced Ahead of ScareCONWinchester Mystery House Halfway to Halloween EventsDark Hour Hosts Halfway to Halloween Spring MarketSpirit Halloween Reveals 2026 Store ThemeLowe's Halloween Early Access for Rewards MembersHAA Silent Online Auction Live Until May 31stRead more here.
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  NEWS: How Haunters are Celebrating Halfway to Halloween 25.04.2026 11мин

  It's Halfway to Halloween week, and haunters nationwide are celebrating. The Spooky Swap Meet is taking over Heritage Square Museum in LA, the East Coast Haunters Convention kicks off this week in Oaks, Pennsylvania, and it's also the opening weekend of Universal Fan Fest Nights, where Universal Monsters are headlining.In this issue:-East Coast Haunters Convention Guide-Spooky Swap Meet This Weekend-Fan Fest Nights Food and Merchandise Lineup-Six Flags Reinstates Park Presidents at 10 Parks-Field of Screams Halfway to Halloween Music Fest-Creep It Real OC Announces September Return-Universal Horror Unleashed Panel at MonsterpaloozaRead more here
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  NEWS: ECHC, Retail Creep, & 1,000 Disney layoffs 16.04.2026 15мин

  The East Coast Haunters Convention is less than two weeks out, and this week's HAN newsletter has your full guide to haunt tours, the show floor, seminars, and the Saturday night party at Shocktoberfest. Build season is picking up, and we're booking Vendor Spotlight Videos on the ECHC floor.Also this week: Disney cut 1,000 jobs across marketing and publicity while parks and live entertainment went untouched, Home Depot dropped its 2026 Halloween lineup in April, and Dorney Park faces a negligent hiring lawsuit tied to a Halloween Haunt employee.In this issue:Your Guide to the East Coast Haunters ConventionDisney Lays Off 1,000, Theme Parks UntouchedDorney Park Sued for Negligent HiringDisney Patents a Heat Exposure Prediction SystemHome Depot Releases New 2026 PropsThirteenth Floor Hiring for CA Scenic ShopHaunters Toolbox Live Session with Spooky WorldCreep I.E. Aftermath Tickets on Salehttps://mailchi.mp/hauntedattractionnetwork.com/echc-retail-creep-and-1000-disney-layoffs
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  NEWS: Transworld 2026 - The Full Recap 04.04.2026 15мин

  TransWorld's Halloween & Attractions Show wrapped up Sunday in St. Louis, and this week's newsletter is dedicated to the full recap. We spoke with 16 vendors across the show floor, where the trend toward retailtainment was impossible to miss: booths are becoming experiences. We also covered the OSCARES (record attendance this year), a new HAA president, and an insurance conversation the industry can't avoid.In this issue:- 16 Vendor Spotlights from the Show Floor- OSCARES 2026 Winners- HAA Elects New President, Approves Bylaws Change- State of the Industry (With Full Audio)- TransWorld Announces 2027 Dates- Halloween Horror Nights 35 Tickets on SaleRead the stories here