Zombie Manor Haunted House Open on Friday the 13th

Release: 8-6-2010

Greetings to everyone in the Zombie Nation! Well it is almost that time of the year – our favorite time of the year. Time for the haunted houses in the area to start ramping up and hopefully some cooler temps ahead for us all living in Texas.

ZOMBIE MANOR will be open for One Night of Fright next Friday, August 13, 2010 from 8-11PM. Our movie quality sets, special effects and interactive performers make this THE ZOMBIE EXPERIENCE in North Texas. Check out our reviews online at: ZombieManor.com

A LIMITED NUMBER OF TICKETS will be made available for this event so be sure to get there early as we are offering a special event price of ONLY $10.00 to be the first in the area to preview some of the new sets and SCARE-zones for 2010. There will be coupons available to some of your favorite haunts in the area available for the upcoming season and celebrity haunters from across the metroplex so you won’t want to miss out on this special sneek preview of one of DFW’s (Dallas Fort Worth) TOP RATED dark attractions!

Witness the all new ZOMBIE ATTACK (the first of its kind in the DFW market) and the lifelike work of James McCormick from EXTREME SPFX who has been adding to our zombie cast this summer.

In addition, be sure to ask about ZOMBIE-Palooza, the first ever in north Texas at J.Gilligans in Arlington on Saturday, September 11, 2010. X5 Entertainment and ZOMBIE MANOR will be bringing you 4 FREE Bands – Pushing Daggers, Ghost Surfers, Fist Full of Oi and Subversive Underground, a zombie costume contest, celebrity judges, FREE Haunted House tickets, door prizes and more. All proceeds earned through donations and door prize tickets sold will benefit the family of one of our fallen Arlington Fire Fighters.

Hope to see you all at ZOMBIE MANOR this season where the dead live…SPREAD THE DEAD!

www.ZombieManor.com

ZOMBIE MANOR MTV COMMERCIAL

Poison Props Let’s Loose Two New Creations

Poison Props has been dishing out some pretty nasty horrific haunt props for a while now. From last year’s leaping Rat, to all the animatronic pieces they create, you can find them in a variety of haunts each season.

Well new for 2010 are two new additions to their catalog. The furious DEMON DOG and DEMON DOG SHUTTERS.

These two new additions will enhance any haunt, scare your patrons or just terrify your trick or treaters coming to your home. The detail on the animals are well done and the animation makes for a great startle scare. You can check out more at their official website at: www.PoisonProps.com

Bennett’s Curse Prepares to Scare with New Logos in 2010

With every Haunted Attraction comes a solid marketing campaign and that is no stranger to Bennett’s Curse Haunted Attraction.

Bennett’s has been featured on television with specials on the Travel Channel and is one of America’s Best Haunts. And with any great haunted attraction comes the beginning of the marketing, to plant the seed for the upcoming year and this year Bennett’s Curse is starting the 2010 campaign with all new logos for their haunted attractions. The new logos re-enforce the gothic theme behind this Maryland Haunt from the slick castle underlays, to a solid font and typeface usage to bring out the haunt’s name. It looks like a good start for Bennett’s and I am sure we can expect alot more in the months to come as they prep and prepare to scare for the 2010 Haunt Season.

ABOUT BENNETT’S CURSE:
Long long ago, in an age when the lands were ruled by Kings and Queens, there was a code of honor and chivalry. But not all the people of this time shared these beliefs. Because of this, brave warriors were called upon to protect the kingdom from the dark forces of evil. These knights fought many battles in defense of their people.

After a particularly bloody battle against a rival army, the victorious knights of Castle Bennett began their long journey home. It was on this trip, in the dark of night, that they encountered an enemy far more powerful than they have ever seen… Creatures of a dark dominion awaited their passing, a clan of vampyres and other creatures sent by an evil, underworld king to rid the world of all things good.

Outnumbered and exhausted the knights fought bravely, but their struggle was in vain. The knights who survived the desperate battle, met a fate worse than death. They found themselves under a powerful spell, forced to live an eternity as vampyres and other foul creatures of the dark dominion.

This fell army made its way to Castle Bennett, setting fire to every village they passed causing widespread destruction and adding new members to their ranks.

In the end, of course, Castle Bennett secumbed to this evil, what you will see at Bennett’s Curse is what has become of Castle Bennett after its terrible demise, and you will see the live creatures that had terrorized and tortured others like yourselves within these castle walls.

Bennett’s Curse — House of the Vampyres, has quickly established itself as Maryland’s “must see” Halloween event. Our promise to revolutionize Halloween entertainment for our visitors and our committment to “Putting Maryland on the Haunted House Map” has been the driving force behind our rapid growth, and cutting edge approach to Haunted Houses. Our customers have come to expect the very latest the industry has to offer and know that only we at Bennett’s Curse will be the first to introduce the “never before seen” additions for your enjoyment.

For more in Bennett’s Curse Haunted Houses Visit: www.BennettsCurse.com

Time to Start Thinking about Listing Your Haunt: Haunted Illinois Haunt Directory

So all you haunt owners out there. Now is the time to start thinking about getting your event listed in the Haunt Directories. Now there are many to choose from and many within a local region. Haunt Directories help you expose your event to potential customers, help them find directions and promote your event by positive reviews and feedback from previous customers.

Now as I said there are a variety of Haunt Directories and we will discuss them over time, but many like Haunt RI, HauntedHouses.com, MD Haunts, Haunted Wisconsin and many others help you promote your event in your specific region. Right now we will discuss just one for now, but the others will come soon too with more info. But let’s take a moment and discuss Haunted Illinois

HauntedIllinois.com is a regional haunt directory. This means that they only list haunted attractions within the state borders of Illinois. In getting your event listed some points of interest to you as an owner are:

Every year the directory is reset to zero events in the June-July timeframe, accepting submissions and slowly being re-built from the ground up (to ensure that haunt listings in the directory are the most up-to-date and current that they can be).

The directory allows users to sort the event list by Event Name, City, Region and Last Updated Date.

The directory allows users to search by event type, region, dates of operation or any combination of those three criteria.

Users can also enter a zip code and distance, to find attractions near them.

Events can enter detailed information about their attraction, including their event name, location, address, city, state, zip code, description, phone number, web address, email address, event type, appropriate age range, etc.

Events also have the choice to upload their logos, pictures and youtube videos for their attraction.

Visitors of the website are given the option to write reviews of events they have visited.

Many of the other Directories I listed offer this as well for their areas, but for more and to get your event listed in the Illinois area visit: www.HauntedIllinois.com

The Evolution of Ghosts in Haunted Attractions

by: RFR Casket Crew Storm

Greetings Deadites,

Over the past few years, the popular opinion of what a ghost looks like has had some major changes. The days of Casper the Friendly ghost are gone, and no more cutting holes in the bedroom linens or spray painting a zombie costume white to have a ghost terrorize visitors to you haunt. Here are some of the challenging new forms ghosts have taken and how to incorporate them into haunt designs.

Orbs: Maybe it’s Uncle Marty, maybe its dust and a camera flash, regardless there are enough believers out there that haunt owners can put away the lemon Pledge and add more strobe lights anyplace for an instant Orb Ghost room when patrons are present

Voices: Disembodied voices and EVP type effects have always been a staple of haunts, but with this growing ghost phenomenon haunters have to be more creative with the content. Gone are the tried but true deep growling “Get Out” , and more common are the soft garbled sounds that resemble a bad drive through speaker. That might be good for concessions when patrons go through asking “Did you just say you died here or asked me if I want fries?”

Shadow People: These creepy ghostly shadows like to dart behind things in abandoned buildings and lighthouses, but they make the haunt budget happy when you can have a dot room without dealing with painting any dots.

Heat Signatures: Apparently the Predator could have also scored a role in the sixth sense with this new technology for Ghosts to reveal themselves. While the FLIR goggles for patrons might be expensive, the actors will appreciate the new sauna you install for them to relax in before running through the haunt ahead of the patrons touching and sitting in props.

EM Fields: Is there an evil presence in the basement or should you fire your electrician. While both scenarios are scary just hope your patrons know to look for Electromagnetic spikes when you send them into your new Basement of Spirits attraction with the prop EMF detectors.

Blurry Glowing Things: Was that a moth on the camera of the gas station or a restless Pony Express rider? The real fear will take place as you paint a thousand June bugs with phosphorescent paint and let them loose in your haunt.

Moving Stuff: What goes bump in the night? Well in your haunted house it can be everything if you loosen some floor boards and cut 1 leg on each table and chair a little short. The pain will be hiring actors to play the role of haunt pin monkeys for the reset.

Mist: Anyone gets creeped out by the low crawling fog that begins to take unearthly shapes. Only one good way to accomplish this on demand… Remote Control Fog, I’m sure there is some military research already on that one.

So until next time Deadites, Sit Back, Relax, and Rot Away…

Darkwood Manor Haunted Attraction 2009 Promo Video

Well the new year may be here, 2009 is over but Haunts are preparing for 2010 and re-living the glory that was 2009!

Here is the promotion video you can see for Darkwood Manor Haunted Attraction. Enjoy.

Transworld Haunt and Attractions Show FREE Registration

The 15th Annual Transworld Haunt and Attractions Show is kicking off March 25th in St. Louis. This annual event has become a must-see for the newest products, props, education and more in the Haunt Industry and now you can get FREE General Admissions to the Haunt Show!

Right now is you register by March 5, 2010, you will receive free show admissions and the Opening Night Celebration at the Dubliner! After March 5, admissions will be $20 per person attending the show. Now that is a way to save on money you can spend on extra Fog Juice!

In addition the Haunt Show has created SPEED SEMINARS for those of you who cannot attend or like faster paced education. The Speed Seminars are on March 24 from 12:00 p.m. through 5:30 p.m. Pricing on these are as little as $50 to attend all 10 Pre-Show Seminars!

Seminar 1: Showmanship
Seminar 2: Props for Actors
Seminar 3: Quick Tips to Successful Marketing
Seminar 4: Stilts and Suits
Seminar 5: Creating a Crisis Plan
Seminar 6: Use Of Celebrities
Seminar 7: Timed Ticketing
Seminar 8: Terrifying Textures
Seminar 9: The Interactive Game Haunted House
Seminar 10: Pyrotechnics!

Now these classes will get you pumped, educated and help you create new insightful ways to run your haunt or event.

For more information about Registration, the Transworld Haunt Show and more visit: www.HauntShow.com

“The Annual Halloween & Attractions Show continues its tradition of creating a unique business environment designed to allow buyers to meet face-to-face with exhibitors. Our exhibitors bring all the newest products and classic designs, providing buyers with a one-stop shopping experience. With thousands of products in hundreds of categories, buyers will find everything they need to stock their businesses and make their time at the show a success. Products at the Annual Halloween & Attractions Show include:

Props, Animatronics, Games and Crowd Pleasers, Concession Supplies, Tickets and Crowd Control, Masks and Costumes, Lighting and Special Effects, Make-Up and Prosthetics, Fabric Paint and Décor, Gift and Novelty items, Haunted House Design and Installation, Sound/Visual Electronics and Effects, Mobile Haunted Houses, Educational and Instructional Videos, Spooky Music and SFX, Wristbands, Visitor Automated Tracking Systems, Haunt-Oriented Graphic and Web Design, and much more!

Networking events, award ceremonies, local haunted house tours, industry relevant seminars and an expanded Dark Zone make this the best Halloween & Attractions Show yet!”

One Night of Fright in February at the Terrorplex

Are you ready to get your Haunt on and scream in February? Well now you can get that scare if you are in the Dallas Fort Worth Texas area you can hit up the Terrorplex on February 13th. On Saturday the 13th in honor of the theatrical release of the Wolfman Remake (Click Here to see the Wolfman Trailer), the Terrorplex is going to open two haunted attractions plus have a fun filled evening of live entertainment with the Wolfman on the prowl.

For more on the Terrorplex be sure to visit their site at: www.Terrorplex.com

ABOUT TERRORPLEX
Welcome to TERRORPLEX 2009, “It’s a Year for Fear!” Terrorplex offers 4 haunted attractions and other Dark Amusements for the 2009 season starting September 18 – November 1. Our haunted attractions include Midnight Manor, Vanhelsings Haunted House of Wax (New 2009), Heavy Metal Madness (New 2009), and Count Orlock’s Castle of Torture (New 2009). We have an improved festival area with a nightly DJ, psychic reader, Gore Store, concession area, and special appearances by the Twisted Freakshow gang. Come spend and evening with us and we promise it will be a night to remember, in your nightmares that is!!!

Obake-Yashiki Haunted Attraction in Japan Closing Forever

In a world that loves all things spooky, horror, and haunted, many Haunted Attractions open throughout the United States and around the world. Many famed attractions exist in Canada, All over Europe, let’s not forget Disneyland Paris’ Phantom Manor and even at Hanayashiki, Japan’s Oldest Amusement Park.

Well it seems that the dark night and curtain is closed now on the famed Obake-Yashiki Haunted Attraction has now closed forever on January 11, 2010. This past year marked its’ 30th Anniversary.

It was a prize attraction for many to attend and get their scare on in Japan. We are sure it will be missed.

ABOUT THE ATTRACTION:
(courtesy of: BrickMcBurly.com/Kyoto
“I’m sure most of you have seen Ringu or Ju-on. Everythin’ in them is true. This house is infested with spirits just like them. Terrible, terrible things happen here. A group of young ladies found themselves mercilessly hounded by a droolin’, gibberin’ monster that hungrily pawed every inch of their bodies-and that’s just while they were waitin’ outside in line with me. Once inside, the skilled actors and artisans of Toei recreate a sengoku era village that’s been overrun by hungry ghosts, restless spirits, and even zombie ashigaru. Heads fly around, roofs collapse, and the interior of a daimyo mansion is littered with ripped up corpses and blood stained tatami mats. It’s a lot like ‘All You Can Eat’ night at the Sizzler back in the USA.”

Ruby Falls Haunted Cavern Calls It a Season

The Ruby Falls Haunted Cavern 2009 season had the most successful haunt yet, exceeding visitor and attendance goals. After investment in the product, the hiring of top producers and increased scares, it paid off!

“Once again we were met by record crowds and capacity nights,” said Hugh Morrow, president of Ruby Falls. “Our team took the uniqueness of our cavern, creativity of our storyline, and the realness of our actors and actresses and brought to life the true eeriness of The Wyrmwood Asylum! Nobody left undisturbed!”

“Nothing short of pure terror can be said about the work Ruby Falls has put into the haunts every year,” said Josh Lang with the Chattanooga Pulse. “Bit by bit, they whittle down your last thoughts of disbelief as you enter thinking this is actually a pleasure cruise, filled with candy and chocolate bubble gum kisses. Chuck E. Cheese is the other way folks.”

HauntWorld.com, the world’s leading haunted attraction website, ranked the Haunted Cavern in the top three Tennessee haunts for the best monsters/actors and most views on the site. The Haunted Cavern was also selected as a Top 20 Event by the Southeast Tourism Society for September 2009. In addition, the attraction received great reviews on social media sites such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, YouTube and blogs, with standard quotes from guests like “This was awesome, I can’t wait till next year!!!”

“Wyrmwood Asylum at the Haunted Cavern will go down in history as one of the best haunted attractions in the southeast if not one of the best in the country,” said Todd Patton with Fear Connection. “Our team outdid themselves as we passionately wove a web of insanity and fear for everyone.”

Todd Patton and Tim Green with Fear Connection began working as a team for Ruby Falls Haunted Cavern in 2006 and this was their fourth year developing, designing and managing the event. They have also helped with a few small independent films and assisting with other haunts in the US. Go to www.ConNooga.com for more info.

You can see many of this year’s Videos at: www.HauntedCavern.com – Videos.

Ruby Falls is a Chattanooga, TN attraction that is home to the tallest and deepest underground waterfall accessible to the public in the United States. Ruby Falls is the first US attraction to have joined the dual Green Globe/Green Certifications Program by Green Globe International, Inc.

For more on the entire event, photos and more visit: www.HauntedCavern.com