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We connect the global Haunted Attraction industry through education, news, and events. Subscribe to our podcast for education and interviews with innovators in the Halloween space.
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Transcribed
13 FEB 2026 · D'Amaro is Disney's new CEO, underscoring that Disney's future runs through physical experiences rather than linear media; we explain why this will benefit Halloween events.
Also this week: Spooky Swap Meet Tickets on Sale; Runway Showcase at TransWorld's Halloween & Attractions Show; East Coast Haunters Convention Announces Haunt Tours; 3rd Annual Halfway to Halloween Festival Comes to Rancho Jurupa Park; Six Flags Restructures Season Passes Into Regional Tiers; Haunted Calgary Delivers Ghoulish Greetings for Valentine's Day. https://mailchi.mp/hauntedattractionnetwork.com/what-disneys-new-ceo-means-for-halloween
Transcribed
3 FEB 2026 · Over 100 haunts are opening for Valentine's weekend, and Dark Hour's new interactive mechanic shows how operators are evolving the off-season format.
This week: Dark Hour's Glow Stick Mechanic Turns Blackout Haunts Into a Game; Universal's Hotel Strategy Crosses $1B Quarterly EBITDA; Attractions Magazine's Epic Universe Guide Now Available Digitally; Ask the Haunter: Live Q&A with Philip Hernandez (Feb 10); Efteling Partners with HHN's Nightmare Fuel Team for New Show; Horrorland Miami's "Love Kills" Valentine's Event; Creep It Real OC Announces 2026 Dates; HAA Proposes Bylaw Opening Board to Non-Owner/Operators; 100+ Valentine's and Friday the 13th Haunts Nationwide.
https://mailchi.mp/hauntedattractionnetwork.com/is-your-haunt-capitalizing-on-valentines-day.
Transcribed
29 JAN 2026 · Dark Hour Haunted House (Plano, TX) will bring back https://www.darkhourhauntedhouse.com/ 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.
https://hauntedattractionnetwork.com/love-is-blind-dark-hour-interactive-valentines-mechanic/.
Transcribed
28 JAN 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
Transcribed
21 JAN 2026 · Fright Nights WV is https://gladesprings.ticketspice.com/vday, 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.
https://hauntedattractionnetwork.com/fright-nights-wvs-new-valentine-survival-horror-experience/.
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Transcribed
21 JAN 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 https://www.linkedin.com/article/edit/7419200379005005824/?author=urn%3Ali%3Afsd_company%3A3774955 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 https://mailchi.mp/hauntedattractionnetwork.com/what-makes-a-valentine-haunt-successful.
Transcribed
5 JAN 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 https://mailchi.mp/hauntedattractionnetwork.com/universal-plans-middle-east-theme-park.
Transcribed
24 DEC 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; https://mailchi.mp/hauntedattractionnetwork.com/merry-hauntings-from-the-haunted-attraction-network
Transcribed
4 DEC 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 https://mailchi.mp/hauntedattractionnetwork.com/holiday-haunts-surge-nationwide-this-december. Our 2025 Holiday Haunt Guide is https://hauntedattractionnetwork.com/2025-holiday-haunted-houses/.Â
Transcribed
26 NOV 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 https://youtu.be/_valH5lhses.
We connect the global Haunted Attraction industry through education, news, and events. Subscribe to our podcast for education and interviews with innovators in the Halloween space.
Information
| Author | Haunted Attractions Network |
| Organization | Haunted Attractions Network |
| Categories | Performing Arts , Entrepreneurship , Hobbies |
| Website | hauntedattractionnetwork.com |
| philip@hauntedattractionnetwork.com |
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