Archive for June, 2012

HHN Orlando: Only 6 Houses This Year?

Saturday, June 30th, 2012

If you’ve been following the construction progress of Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights, you already know that permits were issued for the build of only 7 houses so far this year. This is already one less than the 8 houses at the 2011 event. Now comes news that one of the locations of the 7 houses, Building 44 (the Herc&Xena soundstage), is under the wrecking ball right now.

Demolition of Building 44: Image from MiceChat.com

MiceChat reports that HHN crews were already in the building and working on the haunted house planned for Building 44 when the order came through for the demolition (most likely to make way for a new attraction). And as ParkRumors points out, no new permits have been filed yet regarding a replacement location for this house. This is concerning because it’s nearly July, and work for these houses should be well under way. If they do find a new location, there will likely be some scrambling to catch up with construction progress. A new location could require a rethinking of the house flow and design. We hope that they can figure out a Plan B quickly, because there will be a lot of grumbling from guests if HHN Orlando has only 6 houses this year.

Building 44 was set to house the attraction with a “creature pit” and “spike room,” according to the original permit.

Be sure to check in with ParkRumors.com for the latest information on the permits and HHN construction, and go to MiceChat for more images of the demolition.

“VIP” Mazes: The New Trend?

Friday, June 29th, 2012

This past week, Knott’s Scary Farm announced their first ever “VIP” maze called “Trapped.” This maze will be limited to only 5 people at any one time, and they promise that you won’t see another group as you go through the attraction. Because of the strictly limited capacity, Trapped will require a reservation (details about how to reserve your time slot have not been given yet). And although they haven’t officially said it yet, we are pretty sure there will also an up-charge for this maze.

"Alone" at Howl-O-Scream in Tampa, Florida

Many people are comparing this idea to Howl-O-Scream Tampa’s “Alone” house, which debuted in 2010 and has received mostly positive reviews. In Alone, groups are limited to 4  people at a time, or you can choose to “go alone,” as the name implies. If you do make it through the attraction by yourself, they give you a t-shirt. The up-charge for Alone was $34.95 for 1-4 people. There’s no word on what Knott’s might charge for Trapped.

This VIP concept has likely sprung from the fact that theme park haunts get more and more popular every year, and the usual “conga line” that develops in these crowded haunts can completely ruin the atmosphere and detract from the scares. After all, how many times have you been bunched up in a room in a maze and wished you had it to yourself instead? In addition, these limited-capacity attractions are a way for the theme park haunts to compete with the smaller, local one-off haunts, which tend to have better line control (although usually with longer waits) compared with theme parks.

But will Trapped’s idea be popular enough to entice guests to open their wallets? We will see. Clearly, Knott’s is aiming for the serious haunt fan who—especially in recent years—has grown bored with the lack of innovation at Knott’s. But over the past couple of years, Knott’s has been experimenting with more original ideas and unique maze concepts, and Trapped fits right in line with that. We’re glad to see Knott’s thinking outside the box, and we will definitely be making our way through Trapped this fall.

Scare Zone will bring you more details on this maze, and other attractions, as we find out more.

“Carrie On” at Howl O Scream?

Tuesday, June 26th, 2012

Busch Gardens Tampa has recently posted these “teaser” pictures on their Howl O Scream Facebook page.

Howl O Scream Father's Day post

Howl O Scream June 22 Post

While they’ve told us all to “relax” as “these are not clues” this could all be a ploy to throw us off track. Obviously someone over there has suddenly become infatuated with the master of horror Stephen King whose vast repertoire of frightening stories and characters  would lend themselves well to a park-wide haunt or house. This would also be a nice follow up to last year where they created a fantastic house themed to the world of another dark literary master, Edgar Allen Poe.

Whatever it is, it seems as if the devious minds over there enjoy tormenting us.

VOTE For 2012 – Top 13 Haunts

Tuesday, June 26th, 2012

Newly launched Top Haunts Magazine has announced their 2012 selections for the Top 13 Haunts list poll! Voting begins on Sunday, July 1 and ends on Friday, August 31. During the voting phase fans are able to vote for their favorite haunted attraction. Winners will be selected and ranked by popular vote. Votes are limited to one vote per user per day. Winners will be announced on Saturday, September 1 which is just in time for  the kick off of the 2012 Haunt season.

Now, here are official nominees. Vote here!

**We’ve included links on the haunts we’ve profiled or reviewed but these are by no means intended to sway your individual opinions and votes.


The Bates Motel & Haunted Hayride (PA, USA)
Bennett’s Curse (MD, USA)
Chambers of the Mausoleum (CA, USA)
The Dent School House (OH, USA)
Disturbia Haunted Attraction (AL, USA)
Fear Fair (IN, USA)
Haunted Overload (NH, USA)
Haunted Plantation (HI, USA)
Haunted Play (CA, USA)
Headless Horseman Hayrides and Haunted Houses (NY, USA)
The House of Shock (LA, USA)
House of Torment (TX, USA)
Hundred Acres Manor (PA, USA)
Los Angeles Haunted Hayride (CA, USA)
Netherworld Haunted House (GA, USA)
Pennhurst Asylum (PA, USA)
The ScareHouse (PA, USA)
Sinister Pointe Haunted Attractions (CA, USA)
Statesville Haunted Prison (IL, USA)
Super Scary Labyrinth of Fear 4.0 at Fuji-Q Highland (Japan)
Winchester Mystery House Fright Nights (CA, USA)
13th Floor Haunted House (CO, USA)
The 13th Gate (LA, USA)

The Haunted Plantation: 7 Years of Fear!

Sunday, June 24th, 2012

With less than 4 months to go, there has been a lot of activity going at the Haunted Plantation in Waipahu, HI. They recently announced their 2012 dates promising 10 nights of horror running October: 12,13,19,20,21,26,27,28,30,31!!

They also shared that last year they were planning on doing a SPECIAL Haunted Plantation Night called “Haunted Plantation Blackout” but decided on canceling it due to “prior engagements”. It would of been a special 18+ night and you must sign a waiver to enter. They’re now reconsidering Blackout for 2012 but only if they reach over 70 likes on their Facebook post (which as of our last check on their page, they’re at 235 likes). We’re not sure exactly what they exactly have in store for the Blackout event, but it does sound promising.

They’re also are slowly dropping hints about their new 2012 charters. So, let us know if you can guess who or what it is.

HP 2012 Icon Character Clue - There are two stories about two dolls that reside in the Plantation Village. One in the Portuguese house that is said to move around at night and one in the Okinawan Christian house that keeps escaping from its glass case!

   

Finally, while more sinister news begins to to creep in from across the Pacific, here’s a look at their brand new 2012 teaser video:

Check In to the Haunted Hotel at San Diego’s Comic Con

Monday, June 18th, 2012

Looking for a place to stay while at this year’s Comic Con in San Diego? Well look no further, as The Haunted Hotel still has some vacancies to fill. We think this is the perfect place to stay and scream before or after surviving The Walking Dead Escape or the other Comic Con offerings.

The Haunted Hotel will be open during Comic Con weekend on Friday, July 13, and Saturday, July 14 from 7 pm to 11 pm. Tickets are $16.99, but you might find some discount coupons in the downtown area that weekend.

The Haunted Hotel has been featured on the Travel Channel and was ranked by Haunt World as a top 13 haunt. We’ve also attended in past years and really had a great and scary time. Each year they continue to plus the scares and offer new frights, so even if you’ve been before we suggest another visit as you’ll never know what they have in store for all the Comic Con freaks lurking about.

If you’re anxious for some mid-summer screams (and, like us, just can’t wait another three months until official haunt season), head out to San Diego (no ticket to Comic Con needed). Just be sure to check in early, as the lines can get long for this popular haunt.

 

Things are Getting UNSTRUNG & TRICKY at Knott’s **Updated 6/26/12**

Monday, June 18th, 2012

This time of year is like Xmas for Haunt Stalkers as Haunts begin to gift us with the news of this year’s terrifying  offerings. And of course, we expect all of it to be naughty not nice.

Knott’s Scary Farm kicks off the season’s screamings by giving us some nice “stalking” stuffers by revealing more of their 2012 mazes. Looking at the themes and conceptual artwork, it seems as if they’re changing the overall direction of their mazes (for the better) from campy to more sinister and macabre themes. This is the path they need to stay on in order to continue to be a relevant and formidable competitor in the growing Southern California Haunt market.

They made big progress with last year’s very elaborate and disturbing Delirium maze, which will be returning  this year. Other mazes confirmed as returning include Slaughterhouse, Fallout Shelter, Dia de Los Muertos, Uncle Bobo’s Big Top of the Bizarre, Virus Z, and Endgames. In addition, they’ve announced a revamped version of  the classic 90′s vampire maze, Dominion of the Dead. Now we have confirmation of 3 more mazes: Terror of London (returning maze), Pinocchio Unstrung (new), and Trick Or Treat (new). These mazes continue to carry forth’s Knott’s showcase of dark and evil as well as fantasy themes.

Photo: Knott's Scary Farm Halloween Haunt 2012<br /><br /><br /> Returning Maze: TERROR OF LONDON</p><br /><br /> <p>Step back in time and into the fog filled streets of London.  The villains of the night are terrorizing the townsfolk!  Step lively or you'll fall victim to Jack the Ripper's blade or Dr. Jekyll's twisted experiments.  Will you make it out in one piece...or in pieces?<br /><br /><br /> Stay tuned tomorrow for a brand new maze announcement - thanks for reading the whole post!</p><br /><br /> <p>UPDATED FOR 2012: Death scenes more historically accurate!

Returning Maze: TERROR OF LONDON

Step back in time and into the fog filled streets of London. The villains of the night are terrorizing the townsfolk! Step lively or you’ll fall victim to Jack the Ripper’s blade or Dr. Jekyll’s twisted experiments. Will you make it out in one piece…or in pieces?

For 2012 they’ll be updating some of the the death scenes to make then more “historically accurate.”

New Maze: PINOCCHIO UNSTRUNG

Several years after the blue fairy denies him his final wish, Pinocchio erupts in a wild killing spree, where he and his army of murderous marionettes seek the flesh from his former masters to cover his twisted, wooden body. Revenge comes with no strings attached.

This maze will be located inside the Wilderness Dance Hall (finally) replacing The Doll Factory. We just hope with the puppet theme they don’t blatantly recycle the Doll Factory’s sets and props, which would be easy to do. However, this maze comes from the demented mind of Haunt Maze designer Daniel Miller, who is the twisted creator of Delirium, so expect a new level of terror to be created with this interesting theme. You can check out the official Pinocchio Unstring teaser video HERE.

New Maze: TRICK-OR-TREAT

It’s Halloween Night and that old house on the corner is the last place anyone should go trick-or-treating at. All the kids know that something evil lives there. But here you are ringing the doorbell… Maybe the kids were wrong. Maybe you’ll get some candy. Maybe you’ll make it home tonight. Or maybe you’ll venture inside and never be seen again. From the poisoned hand of Haunt Designer Brooke Walters, designer of The Doll Factory and Endgames, comes a journey through childhood terror you won’t forget. 

**Updated 6/26**The New Trick-Or-Treat Maze will feature (for the first time ever) the opportunity to actually Trick-Or-Treat in the queue! For a nominal fee you’ll get a limited edition mask, a bag and an assortment of 40th Anniversary Haunt items that are only available to those who join the fun! There is no charge for the actual Trick-Or-Treat Maze. Only for the trick-or-treating option in the queue. You’ll be able to fully immerse yourself in Halloween, in Haunt and in the terror that Trick-Or-Treat has in store for you.  Bringing Halloween back to Halloween Haunt, Trick-or-Treat promises to be a brand new Scary Farm experience. And we’re not even mentioning the secret part of Trick-or-Treat. For that you’ll have to wait…..

Now, the Scare Zone wants to hear from all of you, so be sure to share your thoughts and comments below about the Knott’s 40th anniversary Haunt offerings.

Friday Fright Links: June 8

Friday, June 8th, 2012

Knott’s Scary Farm announces the return of Endgames - Knott’s Scary Farm on Facebook

(Stay tuned, because Knott’s will be announcing more details of the 2012 maze line up very soon!)

Is this confirmation that HHN Orlando will feature a “Walking Dead” maze? An RV is parked in the Disaster queue – Designing the Fear on Facebook

Florida Theme Park Wars: Clues to this year’s events at HHN and Howl-O-Scream? – 13 News

A report from the West Coast Haunters Convention – The Portland Mercury

The Midwest Haunters Convention is going on right now! Hurry to Columbus, Ohio! – Midwest Haunters Convention

Goodbye, Ray Bradbury (and we think a haunt based on his books would be awesome) – New York Times

Horror Fields (North Carolina) unveils their 2012 website – Horrorfields.com

Jason’s Woods (Pennsylvania) releases teaser trailer with a sneak peak for 2012 – YouTube.com

The Asylum (Las Vegas) is moving to Fremont Street this year – Asylum on Facebook

NETHERWORLD Announces Its 2012 Haunted House Themes

Friday, June 1st, 2012

It’s becoming the time of year when the new haunt announcements start to quickly materialize. Now Georgia’s premier haunt, Netherworld Haunted House,  has announced their 2012 haunt themes in full detail. The themes sound to be very original and scary. Just like Freddy, we wish there was more of us to go around so we could go and experience these terrors firsthand.

NETHERWORLD Haunted House Presents: Banshee!

The ancient evil city of Ys has risen from the ocean off the coast of Ireland bringing with it a plague of Banshees! These foul eyeless winged monstrosities feed on the dark energy of dying humans, seeking battlefields and natural disasters where life hangs in the balance. When there is no death and war they create their own by releasing mind shattering howls that summon evil from the NETHERWORLD! Thus the wail of the Banshee has always meant death to those who hear it, as it rips apart the wall between worlds and releases monstrous Fomorian warriors and other fell Celtic beasts to plunder and destroy! Drawn by the flickering pumpkins and falling leaves of the autumn season, the Banshees circle ever nearer, destined to create the most terrifying Halloween the world has even seen!

New Features for 2012

The Massive Bloody Crawling Eye! Crushed by the Primordial Giant! Portraits of the Undying! The Slime Crawler! Mauled by Crows! The Underwater City! The Beast From the Abyss! Mermaids and Tritons! The Formorian Hordes! The Wail of The Banshee! The House of the Dead! The 21 Foot Tall Tree Beast! The Moray Pits! Feel the horrors of a Halloween gone mad as the sunken city rises and Banshees fill the skies! More repulsive monsters, shocking scares and wild special effects than you have ever seen! Banshee – Its Scream Means Death!

NETHERWORLD Haunted House Presents: The HIVE!

During the height of the Cold War in 1962 Robert Wellington-Hughes, a filthy rich genetics researcher, sealed up his staff and followers in an underground bunker called the HIVE. Eager to create a utopian society and a radiation survival vaccine based on insect DNA he disappeared beneath the earth for almost fifty years. Now we have discovered his horrifying plot to mutate all mankind into insect based life forms and to destroy all who dare resist him! You and you team must descend into the HIVE and discover the awful truth!

New Features for 2012

The twisted gore in the Dark Basement of NETHERWORLD grows even more vile with an invasion of giant bugs! Can you face – The Bone Snapping Crimson Hulk! The Colossal Writhing Centipede! The Flesh Shredder! Wasp Warriors! The Unstable Cobalt 99 Missile! Cocooned Horrors! Giant Spiders! Live Arthropods! Attacking Maggots! The Hideous Human Blob! More crawling, skittering, bloody insect nightmares than you can imagine!

 

Screaming Soon: Knott’s Scary Farm Begins September 21st!

Friday, June 1st, 2012

Knott’s Scary Farm’s Halloween Haunt is preparing for its 40th anniversary in 2012 and has just officially announced that this year’s scare-tivites will begin on September 21st and run  for 25 horrifying nights through Halloween night.

The typically family friendly theme park transforms itself for its willing victims into 160-acres of sheer terror. The event which started with a few Halloween decorations and costumed employees has grown to be the world’s largest Halloween celebration in the world.  Knott’s Halloween Haunt continues to be the leader in theme park Halloween events offering a whopping 12 mazes, six hair-raising shows, four horrific scare zones and 1,000 monsters roaming throughout the entire park.

We already know that one of the new mazes will be a remake of The Dominion of the Dead and expect that they’ll announce their full maze line-up in the next few weeks. In addition, they have begun their construction hiring and monster auditions. Check their website for more information.

Knott’s Berry Farm held auditions for people who have previously played spooky characters for their annual Halloween Haunt. Those auditioning did group scares, then individual spooky characters. Video by Mark Eades, ocregister.com/video.