Haunted_attraction

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Haunted attraction









Haunted attraction

some haunted attractions offer side entertainment so

you can make it a night of haunting entertainment. This

may include a tarot card reading station, paintball, laser

tag, a coffin simulator (aka Last Ride), sit down electric

chair simulator, arcade games, a dance club, skating rink,

a 3D Motion Theater, or any form of entertainment that

might appeal to customers.

The typical haunted attraction starts operating dur-

ing the week/weekend of late September or early Octo-

ber all the way up to the last week/weekend in October

or first week/weekend of November. There is even a sub

culture of haunted attractions that are open year round

The Darkness in St. Louis, Missouri is an example of a haunted and a few that open during special occasions such as

attraction. haunt conventions or Spring Break (aka Scream Break).

Haunted attractions range in price from $5–$40 (exclud-

A haunted attraction is a form of entertainment that ing possible parking charge) and may include a discount

simulates the experience of entering a haunted location or coupon available on the haunt’s website, at the haunt,

that might be inhabited by ghosts, monsters, criminals, a restaurant or an entirely different location.[1] There are

humorous characters, and other such creatures. Haunted some attractions that may even offer the option for a fast

attractions can take place in many locations, including pass which will allow customers to skip the line for an ad-

dilapidated homes, abandoned asylums, old prisons, ditional cost, usually $10 or more. Some attractions are

ships, boats, run down grocery stores, semi trucks, facto- run by Jaycees associations or charities, while many are

ries, shopping malls, fields, farms, and parks. for profit.

Haunted attractions use many effects, intense light-

ing (strobe lights, black lights, and so forth), animatron-

ics, CGI, scent dispensers, fog machines, air blasters, old

Origins

antiques, gory images, and intense scenes of terror, tor- The history of the haunted attraction is unknown. Hol-

ment, crime, mischief, or comedy. Visitors often come lycombe Steam Collection has an Orton and Spooner

in contact with various actors dressed up in elaborate Haunted House in its collection that dates from 1915.[2]

and often scary costumes, masks, and prosthetics per- In the late 1960s to early 1970s haunted attractions

form skits or hide and jump out unexpectedly to scare, were in developed cities like Louisville, KY and Cincin-

shock, disturb, or amuse the customer. nati, OH with the creation of Jaycees haunted houses.[3]

There are quite a few attractions that feature elab- These haunted houses are run by local chapters of Junior

orate facades that make the building look haunted if it Chamber International (JCI) which is the only worldwide

doesn’t already take place in a spooky looking building. A non-political and non-sectarian youth leadership train-

clown themed attraction may use a circus tent with freak ing organization. There are still many local chapter

show posters or a haunted asylum may have a boarded Jaycees haunted houses in towns like Huntington, IN.

up asylum frame in front of its building. The facade they Lombard, IL. Foxboro, MA. Raleigh, NC. and Columbia, SC.

use really depends on what kind of attraction it is. While In 1974 The Haunted Schoolhouse opened to the pub-

waiting in line you’ll notice that some attractions have lic and is still in operation to this day. Another notable

their own entertaining queue lines. Some are simple and haunted attraction that has stood the test of time is The

just include TV screens or projector screens playing hor- Edge of Hell in Kansas City, MO.

ror movies while some queue lines resemble mini haunt-

ed attractions. These queue lines may feature frightening Haunted House

animatronics, live animals, costumed characters or other

features from the actual haunted attraction. A Haunted House is a type of haunted attraction that

Many haunted attractions feature concession areas takes place indoors. Visitors may experience intense an-

that may offer burgers, hot dogs, pizza, soda, hot choco- imatronics, bloody and frightening set pieces, rustic an-

late, haunt apparel( t-shirts, hoodies etc.) and food you tiques, scary music and sounds, dynamic lighting, fog,

would expect to eat at a carnival/fair. In addition to that, costumed actors with elaborate makeup or masks, and





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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Haunted attraction





maze, movie themed rooms (Freddy Krueger, Michael

Myers etc.), an alien invasion etc.

Haunted trails may use tour guides, or they may allow

visitors to walk alone. Unlike haunted houses, weather

determines if the attraction will be open or not. The typi-

cal haunted trail ranges in price from $5–$25 a ticket and

lasts 10–45 minutes. The tour time varies greatly depend-

ing on the customer’s pace.





Haunted Hayride



Netherworld in Norcross, GA is an example of a haunted house.



other special effects used to create scenes of terror.

Haunted Houses can be located in hospitals, grocery

stores, shopping malls, warehouses, semi trucks, facto-

ries, boats or ships, dilapidated homes, etc. The typical

haunted house ranges in price from $5–$25 and can last

5–60 minutes, with visitors sometimes going at their own

pace and sometimes led in groups by guides.

Over the years many haunted houses have held the

title of the longest walk through horror house. But as of

2011, Factory of Terror in Canton, Ohio has captured the

title with 3,795 ft 11 in.[4] Bates Motel and Haunted Hayride in Glen Mills, PA is an exam-

ple of a haunted hayride.

Haunted Trail/Forest A Haunted Hayride is a haunted attraction and a form of

agri-entertainment that takes place on a farm or large

piece of land. Patrons climb on a wagon filled with hay or

haybales and are driven into the deep dark woods as the

tractor driver navigates through brush, cornfields, nar-

row paths, fields, and barns. Throughout the trip, cus-

tomers may come in contact with out of control farm

equipment, fast-moving vehicles (hearses, hot rods), ac-

tors dressed up as monsters and traditional characters

like the Headless Horseman.

The typical haunted hayride lasts 10–45 minutes and

ranges in price from $5–$25 a ticket with some using

sound systems attached to the wagon or tractor. During

the daytime some haunted hayrides may have live shows,

face painting, fun characters and may even sell pumpkins

or other vegetables grown on their farm.

Kersey Valley Spooky Woods in High Point, NC is an example of

a haunted trail/forest.

Haunted Theme Park/Scream-

A Haunted Trail or Haunted Forest is a type of attraction

that takes place outside in the woods, at a park, the- park

mepark or outside venue. Most haunted trails are close A Haunted Theme Park is an amusement park where

to a mile long and may include small buildings or huts many of its buildings have been converted into haunted

that include various scenes you’ll be forced to enter or houses or paths have been made to create haunted trails

walk past. The majority of haunted trails have lit paths or hayrides that are open during the fall season (Septem-

or roped off areas if there aren’t paths in the woods that ber, October and early November). Many haunted theme

have been made. Haunted trails include various rooms/ parks include themed outdoor scare zones that feature

scenes such as hillbilly huts, a haunted cornfield, a clown costumed monsters who roam around scaring customers.





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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Haunted attraction





It’s not unusual to come in contact with actors known as The exhibits at a hell house often have a controversial

sliders who wear special kneepads. When the actor slides tone focusing on issues of concern to evangelicals in the

on the ground, the kneepads make a scraping noise be- United States. Hell houses frequently feature exhibits de-

fore the actor is inches away from the customer.[5] picting sin and its consequences. Common examples in-

Additionally, a large percentage of haunted theme clude abortion, suicide, use of alcoholic beverage and

parks feature live shows, concession areas, rides and oth- other recreational drugs, adultery and pre-marital sex,

er typical amusement part attractions. Not all haunted occultism, homosexuality, and Satanic ritual abuse. Hell

theme parks take place inside an actual amusement park. houses typically emphasize the belief that anyone who

There are quite a few events that include multiple attrac- does not accept Christ as their personal savior is con-

tions in one place and may be located on a farm, park, demned to Hell.

parking lot or anywhere suitable for a large scale event. The first hell house, Scaremare (still presented each

The first haunted theme park was Knott’s Scary Farm October) in Lynchburg, Virginia was created by Jerry Fal-

in Buena Park, CA which opened on October 31, well in the late 1970s. Similar events began in several re-

1973.[6][7][8] Haunted Theme Parks are some of the most gions during that period. Hell houses have faced criti-

popular haunted attractions since they offer a variety of cism for advertising they’re a traditional haunted house,

attractions at an affordable price, usually $15–$40, or free when in fact it’s a church run haunted attraction. Most

with a park season pass. involve biblical lessons and some ask customers to pray

to Jesus Christ before exiting no matter what their beliefs

Dark Maze and Chain Maze are. Sometimes a hell house is much more graphic than a

traditional haunted attraction and not appropriate for all

A Dark Maze (AKA Pitch Black Maze) is a haunted attrac- audiences.

tion that consists of dark or pitch black rooms that have

twists, turns and/or dead ends. Some may feature actors,

air cannons, loud sounds, sprays of water, moving walls

Home Haunt

or floors, hanging props, flashing lights and more. A dark A Home Haunt is a stripped down version of a haunted

maze can be a stand alone attraction or an extension of attraction. A home haunt usually takes place inside a per-

a haunted house, haunted trail or hayride. Some dark son’s home or on their lawn. You can expect to see home-

mazes can transition into a chain maze which is similar made props and animatronics, detailed rooms, special ef-

to a dark maze except it uses metal bars or a chain link fects, costumed characters and more. The vast majority

fence for its various walls. Most chain mazes will utilize of home haunts are non profit or ask for a donation to

strobe lights and heavy fog to blind and disorient cus- offset the costs of the haunt or use the money towards

tomers while they try to find the exit. A chain maze can a respectable charity or cause. Home Haunts are usually

also serve as a stand alone attraction. The average dark open for a couple of hours on the weekend of Halloween

maze and chain maze range in price from $5–$20. The or a few weekends in October.

amount of time spent inside a dark maze or chain maze

depends on how good you are at mazes and how the maze

is constructed.

Yard Haunt/Display

A Yard Haunt is a house that is elaborately decorated to

celebrate Halloween. Yards may feature fake tombstones,

Hell House skulls, large inflatable characters, plastic light up figures

Hell Houses are haunted attractions typically run by (aka blowmolds), strobe lights, fog machines, cobwebs,

American, fundamentalist Christian churches or para- spooky music, animatronics and decor that can easily be

church groups. These depict sin, the torments of the purchased at a local Halloween store. Some home owners

damned in Hell, and usually conclude with a depiction of even create their own homemade props to set their dis-

heaven. They are most typically operated in the days pre- play apart from other houses, while others synchronize

ceding Halloween. their display to music using computer programs such as

A hell house, like a conventional haunted-house at- Light-O-Rama, Animated Lighting and other popular pro-

traction, is a space set aside for actors attempting to grams. Neighbors have no need to worry about the loud

frighten patrons with gruesome exhibits and scenes, pre- music since many displays utilize an FM Transmitter so

sented as a series of short vignettes with a narrated people can park their car, locate a low frequency radio

guide. Unlike haunted houses, hell houses focus on occa- station and watch the show without it disturbing anyone.

sions and effects of sin or the fate of unrepentant sinners

in the afterlife. They occur during the month of October

to capitalize on the similarities between hell houses and

Dark Ride

haunted attractions. A dark ride or ghost train (United Kingdom and Aus-

tralia) is an indoor amusement ride where riders in guid-



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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Haunted attraction





ed vehicles travel through specially lit scenes that typ- run’s season, the winner with the best mileage locating

ically contain animation, sound, music, and special ef- the haunts is revealed and they are given a cash prize.

fects.

A dark ride does not have to be dark. They are en-

closed, so all illumination is artificial, and most use spe-

Midnight Spook/Ghost Shows

cial lighting to achieve theatrical effects. Selective use of Between the 1930s-1960s movie theaters would have live

darkness helps hide the ride mechanisms and increase shows that featured magicians performing magic tricks,

the visual drama of the experience. Disney’s It’s a Small séances, special effects and scary skits. This was at a time

World is an example of a brightly lit dark ride. The when people were unaware of how these incredible

Haunted Mansion is a haunted attraction which is also a tricks were pulled off and it was a relatively new form

dark ride. of entertainment before the invention of the haunted at-

traction. Many of these spook shows doubled with hor-

ror movies and played at smaller movie theaters during

Cornfield Maze Halloween time or different parts of the year. Eventually

A Cornfield Maze is a Halloween attraction that is created these shows would incorporate bloody special effects and

by using cornstalks and forming paths for people to walk be referred to as Midnight Horror Shows. These shows

through. Patrons can expect to experience turns, twists, were daring for their time, but would phase out near the

straight paths and dead ends. The cornfield maze might end of the 1960s.

be designed to resemble a popular character, public fig-

ure, event or holiday. Most cornfield mazes are open dur-

ing the day and are appropriate for all ages. Admission

Business environment

price ranges from $5–$20.

The largest corn maze in the world was located in

Dixon, California, and is 45 acres in area as of 2010.[9]

Although this corn maze holds distinction as the world’s

largest corn maze, Adventure Acres corn maze in Bell-

brook, Ohio, just outside of Dayton, Ohio consists of 62

acres of corn maze with 8.5 miles of trails. [10] In 2003, a

world record for the longest maze path, as recognised by

Guinness World Records, was set on 10 July 2003 at 8.838

miles (14.223 kilometres) in the Lobster Maize Maze, de-

signed by Adrian Fisher, at Stewarts Gardenlands,

Christchurch, Dorset, England.

Transworld Halloween & Attractions Show in St.Louis, MO is

Haunted Cornfield Maze an example of a haunt convention.



A Haunted Cornfield Maze is identical to a cornfield maze The haunt industry is a multi billion dollar business with

except that it may include actors, props, special effects, nearly 2,000 haunts open each year and over 12,000,000

scary music and more. The maze is created by using corn- customers attending those attractions.[11] Throughout

stalks and forming paths for people to walk through. Pa- the year there are many conventions held all over the

trons can expect to experience turns, twists, straight United States. This includes Midwest Haunters Conven-

paths and dead ends. The cornfield maze might be de- tion (OH), National Haunters Convention (PA), HAuNT-

signed to resemble a popular character, public figure, con (Moves to a new city each year), Indy Haunt Fest

event or holiday. The majority of haunted cornfield (IN), West Coast Haunters Convention (OR), Canandian

mazes are open during the nighttime hours and range in Haunters Convention (Canada), Halloween & Attractions

price from $5–$20. Show (MO), and many others. These annual conventions

feature props, seminars, workshops, parties, haunt tours

Ghost Run and everything a haunter could ask for.

Just like with any industry, there are associations.

A Ghost Run is a haunted event that’s unique since it The haunt industry has had a couple associations. The

takes place in a person’s car. When a customer purchases first started in 1998 which was the International Associ-

a ticket for a ghost run, they are given various clues as ation of Haunted Attractions (IAHA). The second was the

to where different haunted attractions are. This haunt- Haunted House Association in 2008. In late 2010, both as-

ed scavenger hunt usually includes a few local haunted sociations agreed to merge and form the Haunted Attrac-

attractions and other free items. At the end of the ghost tion Association. Other related groups are the Haunt Re-

viewers Association(HRA), Home Haunters Association,



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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Haunted attraction





and the Halloween and Haunt Vendors Association

(HHVA).

References

The haunt industry has a lot of competition when it [1] "Haunted House Information". Haunted House

comes to entertainment, but has evolved greatly with the Association. Haunted House Association.

times. Many attractions all across the United States now http://www.hauntedhouseassociation.org/

feature animatronics and effects that Hollywood would haunted_attraction_information.htm. Retrieved

be jealous of. It’s not uncommon to come across towering 11/1/11.

monsters 13 foot or larger, impressive movie quality CGI, [2] "Haunted House (1915)". Hollycombe Working

dynamic lighting, props that interact with customers. Steam Museum.

scent dispensers, intricate set pieces and figures, pneu- http://www.steamfairground.co.uk/

matic props, props that spray water or air and much l3_haunted_house.html. Retrieved 29 March 2011.

more. [3] "Vintage - The HOUSEOFDOOM". Vintage. Vintage.

The haunt industry has grown a lot over the years http://www.houseofdoom.net/vintage. Retrieved

and now features its own industry trade magazines. This 11/1/11.

includes Hauntworld Magazine, Haunted Attraction [4] [1] Guinness World Records measured the cave on

Magazine, 13th Hour Magazine and Fright Times July 15, 2010

Magazine. These unique magazines feature articles writ- [5] ”Scare School,” “Behind the Screams” video,

ten by haunt owners, actors, tips and tricks, how tos, Youtube.com (http://www.youtube.com/

haunt showcases and many helpful articles. Most of these watch?v=dbfK9iSUbWo), Retrieved 7-30-11.

magazines release 2-4 issues per year and range in price [6] West, Rick, “Knott’s Preserved – The Event,”

from $20–$79 depending on the magazine. It’s quite Theme Park Adventure Web site

amazing how the industry has evolved over the years to http://www.themeparkadventure.com/Knotts.htm

include magazines as well as haunt websites like Haunt- ), Retrieved 7-29-11.

world, Hauntedhouse.com, Haunters Digest, Horrorfind, [7] Forsyth, Jessica, “Bewitched,” Coast magazine, Oct.

Haunt Forum, Hauntspace, Rotting Flesh Radio and many 2008, pp. 42-43, Newport Beach, CA.

other sites that promote haunted attractions. [8] Owens, Jana, “Halloween Haunt brings thrills and

The haunt industry is more popular than it’s ever chills to Knott’s,” Daily 49er, 10-19-07

been and many TV stations have noticed. Throughout (http://www.daily49er.com/olddiversions/

the years the Travel Channel, Discovery, Food Network, halloween-haunt-brings-thrills-and-chills-to-

Animal Planet, Weather Channel, ABC and other stations knott-s-1.91785?pagereq=1), Retrieved 7-29-11.

have featured shows that highlight incredible attractions [9] The Guinness Book of World Records gave this

all over the country and have made the public more designation in September 2007, when it was 40

aware of the haunt industry. acres.

[10] "Adventure Acres About Us". Adventure Acres.

Adventure Acres.

Legal environment http://www.myadventureacres.com/aboutus.html.

Safety requirements generally include fire suppression Retrieved 11/1/11.

systems, clearly marked exits, warning signs and panic [11] "Haunted House Data about the Industry". Haunted

systems. Warning signs usually warn customers about House Association. Haunted House Association.

heavy fog, intense strobes, loud sounds and music, crawl- http://www.hauntedhouseassociation.org/

ing and stress that people who are pregnant, disabled or haunted_attraction_information.htm. Retrieved

have a heart condition should not enter. Most attractions 11/1/11.

must be inspected by local authorities to confirm that [12] Fire Departments Clamp Down On Unsprinklered

they comply with codes.[12] Haunts!, HauntedAttraction.com, August 5, 2007,

accessed November 2, 2007 at 01:25

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Categories:

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• Haunted attractions





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