Thoughts regarding hunts and the Halloween industry
For the first time in many years I find myself NOT travelling during the Halloween season. Instead I am living vicariously through the trips and reports of haunted bliss by others. I did find time to think about my favorite (and usually most lucrative) season. Sitting down to watch The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown made...
Storytelling is the heartbeat of any haunted attraction, and Knott’s Scary Farm is a perfect example of how a well-crafted narrative can elevate an experience from simply startling, to deeply immersive. Take the “Origins: The Curse of Calico” haunted house, for instance. This attraction isn’t just about jump scares and creepy visuals; it’s steeped in...
I remember back when Knott’s Scary Farm broke the mold of haunted attractions with “Trapped” and then scaling back to “Skeleton Key” rooms. These add on experiences gave victims… err… I mean guests something they hadn’t had before… interactivity and often, choice. Knott’s has always set the gold standard for Halloween haunts and as we...
“ if you can create something that gets my jaded heart pumping, consider it a success.” Last Halloween I had the pleasure of visiting Universal Studios Japan for the Halloween Horror Nights event. I have been to many HHN events in the US and I have to say that they do not compare in almost...