The Scariest Places in America Hauntworld Magazine Announces List of the Top 13 Haunted Attractions for 2008 Halloween Season List Highlights the Heightened Standards of Fear and Fun at Leading Haunted Houses and Haunted Attractions Across the Country With Halloween right around the corner, Hauntworld Magazine (www.hauntworld.com), the haunt industry's leading trade publication, has announced the official list of the Top 13 Professional Haunted Attractions in the country. These attractions are being recognized for their attention to detail, high-quality special effects, and overall scare factor. Ranging from haunted hotels and prisons to spooky hayrides, the list represents the best haunted attractions the nation has to offer, as selected by the editors at Hauntworld Magazine. In an industry that has reached the multi-billion dollar mark, these haunts are leading the way in scream-inducing innovations. "The haunts industry fits into a special niche of the entertainment world, where the main goal is to provide an intensely frightening experience, yet leave customers exhilarated enough to return next year, or even next week," said Editor-in-Chief of Hauntworld Magazine, Larry Kirchner. "In order to accomplish this, a tremendous amount of production is involved in each successful haunt. Owners have behind-the-scenes teams of master Hollywood special effects technicians, make-up artists, set designers, and trained actors -- this list represents the best-of-the-best in the country."
2008 Top 13 Professional Haunted Attractions 1. 13th Gate - Baton Rouge, Louisiana - www.midnightproduction.com 2. The Darkness - St. Louis, Missouri - www.scarefest.com 3. Netherworld - Atlanta, Georgia - www.fearworld.com 4. Haunted Overload - Lee, New Hampshire - www.hauntedoverload.com 5. Scarehouse - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - www.scarehouse.com 6. House of Torment - Austin, Texas - www.houseoftorment.com 7. Bates Motel - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - www.thebatesmotel.com 8. Headless Horseman - Ulster Park, New York - www.headlesshorseman.com 9. Dead Acres - Columbus, Ohio - www.deadacres.com 10. Spookywoods - High Point, North Carolina - www.spookywoods.com 11. House of Shock - New Orleans, Louisiana - www.houseofshock.com 12. Erebus - Detroit, Michigan - www.hauntedpontiac.com 13. Cutting Edge - Dallas, Texas - www.cuttingedgehauntedhouse.com Other notable haunts recognized by Hauntworld Magazine include: Top 10 Amusement Park Halloween Events
1. Universal Studios Horror Nights - Orlando, FL - www.halloweenhorrornights.com 2. Knott's Scary Farm - Los Angeles, CA - www.halloweenhaunt.com 3. 'Phantom Fright Nights' - Kennywood Amusement Park - Pittsburgh, PA www.kennywood.com
4. Universal Studios Horror Nights - Hollywood, CA - www.halloweenhorrornights.com
5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Tampa Busch Gardens - Tampa, FL - www.howl-o-scream.com Busch Gardens - Williamsburg, VA - www.howl-o-scream.com Kings Island Haunt - Cincinnati, OH - www.visitkingsisland.com Cedar Point Haunt - Sandusky, OH - www.cedarpoint.com Six Flags Fright Fest - Freehold, NJ - www.frightfest.com Old Tucson Studios Nightfall - Tucson, AZ - www.oldtucson.com
Top Haunted Amusement Attractions 2008
1. House of Horror - Universal Studios Hollywood - www.universalstudioshollywood.com 2. Disney World Haunted Mansion - Orlando, FL - www.disney.com 3. Ghostwood Estates - Kennywood Amusement Park, Pittsburgh, PA - www.kennywood.com 4. Towers of Terror - MGM Studios, Orlando, FL - www.disney.com 5. Revenge of the Mummy Ride - Universal Studios Hollywood, CA www.universalstudioshollywood.com
Best Haunted Hayride 2008 1. Headless Horseman - Ulster Park, NY - www.headlesshorseman.com 2. Bates Motel - Philadelphia, PA - www.thebatesmotel.com Best Home Haunted House 2008 1. Graveside Manor - Coventry, CT - www.gravesidemanor.com 2. Rot Haunted House - Thousand Oaks, CA - www.rothauntedhouse.com 3. DC Cemetery - Mountain View, CA - www.dc-cemetery.com
For more information on this year's Top Haunted Attractions as well as other top industry lists, please visit www.hauntworld.com. About Hauntworld Magazine: Hauntworld Magazine (www.hauntworld.com) is the premier haunted attraction magazine in the industry. Coupled with its online component, hauntworld.com, Hauntworld provides insider access into the world of haunted houses and attractions. Readers can find information regarding the top haunts around the country and internationally, Halloween vendors, manufacturers, events, tips and forums. Originally created to serve haunted attraction industry members through its unique editorial content and discussion boards, Hauntworld now helps nearly four million people find the best haunts each Halloween season. The magazine/website and its editors have been featured in publications such as USA Today, The Wall Street Journal and Time and on the National Geographic Channel, among other media outlets.