Haunted Attraction Network (Haunted Attractions Network)

Interview: The Hauntline gives us a rundown of everything haunt happening in Southern California.
Watch Reviews from The Hauntline on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheHauntline/
Listen to The Hauntline Podcast: hauntline.com
The SoCal Haunt List is here: http://www.socalhauntlist.com/

Top Stories:
Is Halloween 2020 Canceled? These Cities and States Have New Trick-or-Treating Regulations
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/halloween-ideas/a33985792/is-halloween-canceled/

Mom Suing Disney Over Face Mask Policy Speaks Out
https://insidethemagic.net/2020/09/mom-suing-disney-face-mask-policy-speaks-rwb1

Fright Ride looking to hire seasonal workers
https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/fright-ride-2020-haunted-attraction-opens-oct-1/

Fantasy Island in England to launch Fear Island Oct. 10: https://www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/news/local-news/fantasy-island-ingoldmells-fear-halloween-4554315

Frontier City in Oklahoma to hold HallowFest beginning Friday:
https://okcfox.com/news/local/frontier-citys-hallowfest-kicks-off-oct-2

Looking for a spooky outing? Colorado haunted houses say there's no need to be scared off this Halloween: https://gazette.com/woodmenedition/looking-for-a-spooky-outing-colorado-haunted-houses-say-theres-no-need-to-be-scared/article_728cb162-ff51-11ea-9cd3-cf989b6c9e98.html

Interview: Spencer from Fear Factory Salt Lake City offers a mid-season check-in and some advice for haunts going into this weekend.

News 10.2
Sesame Place Adds Drive-Thru Attraction For Halloween 2020:
https://patch.com/pennsylvania/levittown/sesame-place-adds-drive-thru-attraction-halloween-2020

Castle Park will open Ghost Golf Halloween attraction Oct. 2
https://www.pe.com/2020/09/30/castle-park-will-open-ghost-golf-halloween-attraction-oct-2/

Consumer Excitement for Halloween 2020 Jumps 17 Points Going into October
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/consumer-excitement-for-halloween-2020-jumps-17-points-going-into-october-301139107.html

NY's Haunted Attractions Still Putting on Frightfully Fun Shows for Pandemic Halloween
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/new-york-haunted-attractions-psych-up-safe-spooky-season-heres-a-list-of-what-to-do-this-covid-halloween/2618805/

The Fright Nights to kick-off at a new 82,000 sq. ft. factory in DeWitt
https://cnycentral.com/news/local/the-fright-nights-kick-off-at-a-new-82000-sq-ft-factory-in-dewitt

The Witch takes over to whisper some spooky stories and haunted poems - get into the Halloween Spirit!

This week on Green Tagged: Florida governor lifts restrictions as Disney lays off workers; the CDC and White House disagree on “no-sail” guidelines; associations worldwide continue to plead for assistance; guests are on-edge and attractions must respond; and pandemic-resistant ideas.

Show Notes: https://greentaggedshow.com/theme-park-industry-news-green-tagged-oct3/

Interview: Darryl swaps places today and discusses the pivot at Deadmonton Haunted House & Halloween Store in Canada.

News:
Immersive Haunt & Film Experience ‘Joe Bob’s Haunted Drive-In’ Coming to SoCal this October
https://www.allhallowsgeek.com/immersive-haunt-film-experience-joe-bobs-haunted-drive-in-coming-to-socal-this-october/

Hulu Welcomes October With A Haunted Immersive Online Experience & Outdoor Drive-In Event
https://www.allhallowsgeek.com/hulu-welcomes-october-with-a-haunted-immersive-online-experience-outdoor-drive-in-event/

Disneyland and Universal Studios ask Newsom not to finalize theme park reopening plans just yet
https://www.ocregister.com/2020/10/01/disneyland-and-universal-studios-ask-newsom-to-not-finalize-theme-park-reopening-plans-just-yet/

Shawn Morse, from Shawn Morse FX and Stalker Farms, takes you through his procedure on keeping his guests and staff safe in a world full of germs. Whether it's COVID or the seasonal haunt crud, we should always take precautions when applying makeup.

Join our next Haunt Master Class at HauntersToolbox.com

Scott discusses the challenges and excitement of opening night at haunted attractions while paying homage to those who are unable or chose not to open this season. He then visits opening night at both "Creatures of the Night" at ZooTampa and "UNDead in the Water" at American Victory Ship in Tampa. "

To put it mildly, 2020 has been a rough year and the haunt industry is no different. We're all struggling mentally, physically and financially.

However, as haunt season 2020 kicks off, the signs have not been good. Despite well-written COVID plans and what appears to be good intentions, the haunt industry is beset by crushing queue lines, multiple shootings and haunts being forced to close after opening.

This has had an impact around here. We canceled this season and are dealing with the depression from that. However, the blues this year go deeper than that as we're reflecting on not just our fate, but the industry as a whole.

Yes, this is a depressing episode, but likely an important one.

This Week's Episode Includes:

Intro
Winner From Last Week
Question of the Week
Intro Into the Topic
How the Current Haunt Season is Going
Our Recent Haunt visit
Why We're Going to No More Haunts in 2020
What We ARE Doing
Revisit Quesation of the Week
Conclusions
All in all, this is a heavy but likely important episode that you do NOT want to miss.

Interview: Mikey from Scaretack, the first U.K. based podcast showcasing the Scare Attraction and Haunted House industry.
Info: scaretrack.co.uk/

News
The Fire last week at Lehigh Valley Scream Park: https://www.facebook.com/lehighvalleyscreampark/

More Halloween Décor Controversy: https://www.wifr.com/2020/10/01/halloween-decoration-sparks-controversy-spurs-conversation-on-race/

Nextdoor Launches a Brand-new Treat Map to Help Neighbors Safely Celebrate Halloween
https://www.allhallowsgeek.com/nextdoor-launches-a-brand-new-treat-map-to-help-neighbors-safely-celebrate-halloween/

Lost Halloween Benefit: https://www.losthalloween.com/

Interview:
Brian Foreman from The Dead Factory checks-in on how his opening weekend went and what he’s changing.
News:
Shooting at Woods of Terror
Masterclass on Makeup from Shawn on Hauntopic
https://www.shawnmorsefx.com/classes

Interview: Max from the Ohio Haunters Association is back for an update on Ohio Haunted Attractions

News:
The Haunted Red Mill is happening this year — with a virtual, and paranormal, twist
https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/hunterdon-county/2020/10/the-haunted-red-mill-is-happening-this-year-with-a-virtual-and-paranormal-twist.html

Silver Dollar City goes 'orange' in October
https://www.joplinglobe.com/news/lifestyles/silver-dollar-city-goes-orange-in-october/article_3cdab34d-3c2b-5461-be28-ecdca4f4c5fe.html

Halloween 2020: Lowe's to have early curbside trick-or-treating while Krispy Kreme to have free donuts on holiday
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2020/10/05/covid-trick-or-treating-halloween-2020-lowes-krispy-kreme-freebies/3625408001/

Snohomish farm finds unique way give scares and smiles this Halloween amid pandemic

Interview: The Hauntline is back with an update on every haunt happening in Southern California.
Watch Reviews from The Hauntline on YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/TheHauntline/
Listen to The Hauntline Podcast: hauntline.com
The SoCal Haunt List is here: www.socalhauntlist.com/

News:
IAAPA Releases Guidelines for Haunted Attractions
https://www.iaapa.org/sites/default/files/2020-10/3rdEdition-IAAPA-COVID-19-Reopening-Guidance.pdf

Whispers of a Witch is back, this time with some Ghost Stories.

Interview: Cody Bailey from Hush Haunted Attraction discusses the changes they’re making mid-season to combat 2020’s challenges.
Top Stories:
Urban Legends Haunt Adds News Scares and Immersive Elements Following Opening Weekend Feedback: https://www.allhallowsgeek.com/urban-legends-haunt-adds-news-scares-and-immersive-elements-following-opening-weekend-feedback/
Eastern State’s night tours are so popular, the museum might replace Terror Behind the Walls for good:
https://billypenn.com/2020/10/09/terror-behind-the-walls-eastern-state-philadelphia-prison-tours-night-haunted-house/
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/haunted-house-attractions-2020-pandemic/index.html

Previously on Haunt Weekly, we asked you all for your favorite lighting tricks. Many of you, somewhat to our surprise, said Pepper's Ghost.

However, through sheer good fortune, Mental Floss Magazine published an article about the history of the illusion and it turns out to be way more interesting than either of us could have imagined.

Pepper's Ghost started life as an attempt to generate interest in science, became a carnival trick and today is actually crucial to a lot of the technology you use.

All in all, this history is a LOT more complicated than you might think and well worth the hour to look into.

This Week's Episode Includes:

Intro
Announce Last Week's Winner
Question for the Audience
What We've Been Working On
The Early History of Pepper's Ghost
The Henry Dirks Era
Enter John Henry Pepper
The Debut
The Decline
The Modern Legacy
Conclusions
All in all, this is one episode you definitely do NOT want to miss!

Scott discusses what haunters can be doing during the current season to plan for the next. He presents options for both those who are operating this year and those who are not.

Interview: Tim from Scary Good Marketing on what you can do right now to prepare for 2021.

News:
‘Think Twice': Salem Issues Travel Warning Ahead of Halloween Festivities:
https://www.nbcboston.com/news/coronavirus/think-twice-salem-issues-travel-warning-ahead-of-halloween-festivities/2207642/

Brave diners can have a Halloween meal in the London Dungeon's torture chambers:
https://www.mirror.co.uk/travel/uk-ireland/brave-diners-can-halloween-meal-22801727

Sour Patch Kids Wants to Save Halloween In Your City with Reverse Trick-or-Treating Experience:
https://www.allhallowsgeek.com/sour-patch-kids-wants-to-save-halloween-in-your-city-with-reverse-trick-or-treating-experience/

Grand Hotel’s Halloween Weekend to feature ‘3,000 feet of fright’ with Haunted Forest Trail, maze:
https://www.mlive.com/news/2020/10/grand-hotels-halloween-weekend-to-feature-3000-feet-of-fright-with-haunted-forest-trail-maze.html

Interview: Max is back for the weekly update on what’s happening with haunted attractions in Ohio.

News:
Halloween decor's realism at Riverside home prompts multiple calls requesting fire department response - ABC7 Los Angeles:
https://abc7.com/halloween-house-firefighters-riverside/6970548/
Knott’s launches Spotify playlists using music from their scare zones:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/34eU29ZBhar08uANFIJTMG
Spooky Story Time with Alice Cooper:
https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/2112750?s=67&unique_share_id=c67a00fe-a62e-4939-a6e3-1e8f4e6ba6de
Edmonton Shout Out!
https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/edmonton-haunted-houses-keep-scares-coming-amid-covid-19-pandemic
Zombies invade Tampa’s nautical Halloween attraction ‘UNDead In The Water:
https://www.wfla.com/news/around-town/zombies-invade-tampas-nautical-halloween-attraction-undead-in-the-water/

Interview: Johnny from Haunt Scene gives an overview of haunted attractions in the Central Florida area.

News:
New hygiene standards for Hong Kong tourism businesses aimed at getting out message city is safe to visit despite Covid-19 pandemic
https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3104711/new-hygiene-standards-hong-kong-tourism-businesses

Interview: Socal Haunt Update from The Haunt Line.

News:
Hawaii's first drive-thru haunted house kicks off at Aloha Stadium: https://www.kitv.com/story/42744337/hawaiis-first-drivethru-haunted-house-kicks-off-at-aloha-stadium
Pick Your Own Hand-Blown Glass Pumpkin from This Artist's Hocking Hills Pumpkin Patch:
https://www.citybeat.com/arts-culture/culture/blog/21145058/pick-your-own-handblown-glass-pumpkin-from-this-artists-hocking-hills-pumpkin-patch

Virtual Events
Drag Superstar Nina West’s ‘Heels Of Horror’ Halloween Variety Show Going Digital for 2020: https://www.allhallowsgeek.com/drag-superstar-nina-wests-heels-of-horror-halloween-variety-show-going-digital-for-2020/
Broadway is coming together for virtual The Nightmare Before Christmas Halloween benefit concert:
https://ew.com/theater/the-nightmare-before-christmas-virtual-benefit-concert/
Shoutout to stalker Farms:
https://www.q13fox.com/news/stalker-farms-creates-haunted-drive-through-to-avoid-covid-19-concerns

This week on Green Tagged: California theme-park reopening redux; discouraging cruise news; USO to invest in affordable housing; “Frozen” sing-a-long returns while movie theatres close; Disneyland opens a popup; Shanghai Disney Resort celebrates Halloween; Silver Dollar City creatively pivots; brands pivot to in-person Halloween experiences; Zipline into Godzilla’s Mouth.
Ful Show Notes: https://greentaggedshow.com/theme-park-industry-news-green-tagged-oct11/

The witch is back to read you some spooky stories.

Published in 1902, "The Monkey's Paw" is a supernatural short story by author W. W. Jacobs, first published in England in the collection The Lady of the Barge in 1902. In the story, three wishes are granted to the owner of The Monkey's Paw, but the wishes come with an enormous price for interfering with fate.

This week on Green Tagged:

Big moves at Disney; Eastern State Penitentiary considering discontinuing Terror; INSIDE brings new voyeuristic experience to LA; coworking from a Ferris Wheel at Tokyo’s Yomiuriland; Aquarium Yoga debuts at Hong Kong’s Ocean Park; Knott’s launches Spotify playlist; Airbnb celebrates Halloween.

Full show notes: https://greentaggedshow.com/theme-park-industry-news-green-tagged-oct18/

Fort Edmonton Park’s DARK Halloween event has made some changes this year to accommodate the guidelines around the pandemic and the limitations imposed by the park’s construction activities. As a result, much of the Halloween programming will be virtual, but there will be one, live, limited capacity event on site. Rather than its usual 12 days of events, there will be 31 days of DARK throughout the month of October. The emphasis this year is the DARK coming to guests through virtual activities rather than guests venturing into the DARK.
Full Story: https://hauntedattractionnetwork.com/fort-edmonton-park-dark-halloween-2020/

Justin Fix from JFI Productions (producers of CREEP Los Angeles) discusses their 2020 Halloween show ‘INSIDE.’ INSIDE is a socially-distant bite-sized Halloween treat. Quarantined households (up to 5 people MAX) are invited to a guided outdoor ghost tour. Guests will creep around an iconic haunted LA property for a quick night of spooky stories and striking visuals. Ghostly poetry chronicles this mansion’s dark history as guests get a glimpse INSIDE decades of horrific Halloween nights at home. An ensemble cast of 15 brings these short and terrifying tales to life. An homage to horror and all the charms, thrills, and chills of Halloween, INSIDE is a haunted house experienced from the outside.

In the news today: A Texas Haunted House is using Monster Repellant to make guests feel safe; Halloween Displays in Parkland Vandalized by Suspected Teens; Italy governor eyeing COVID surge blasts “idiotic” Halloween; Google launches ‘Frightgeist,’ an interactive website that displays costume trends.

Alex Crow discusses the 2020 Creatures of the Night at ZooTampa and their focus on performer interactions.

News: Halloween Food Crawl and Creature Safari Announced at Legg Lake; Reese's Is Sending Out Trick-Or-Treat Doors Full Of Free Candy For A Socially Distant Halloween Treat; Anoka’s huge Halloween festival returns to its roots amid pandemic.

Max from the Ohio Haunters Association brings his weekly Ohio Haunt Update. Nassau County Halloween attraction comes under fire for lack of social distancing. Twelvepole Manor to open outdoor trail after indoor attraction shut down. Commissioners grant permit, allow Reaper's Realm to continue operations for the remainder of Halloween season.

If you’re in SoCal and don’t have plans for Halloween week yet – Don’t panic! We have a SoCal Halloween Guide to lay out what’s left. Plus: The Thirteenth Hour’s Benjamin Gagne on Safety and Pivoting; Erebus updates; Dead Last Drive-In Home Haunt; Universal Studios Japan is hosting a face mask cosplay contest for Halloween; Crealy Theme Park’s Halloween Spook-Fest returns; 'Covid Safe' Hallowe'en promised at Windsor's Legoland.
Full show notes available via our weekly email newsletter.

Whispers of a Witch is back, this time with LOVECRAFT poems from The Abyss.

This week on Green Tagged: Attractions weigh in on sustainability; Hong Kong has a new COVID Safe Certification Plan; India Operators Doubt Demand; Disney and Six Flags continue to Rightsize; Hong Kong’s Ocean Park Faces Rebranding Challenge; Both Disney and Universal are testing new hotel models.

Full Show Notes: https://greentaggedshow.com/theme-park-industry-news-green-tagged-oct25/

Halloween week is here! What have you missed?
Here's All Hallows Geek with some tips for celebrating Halloween this week.
We cover: The depressingly Scaled back retail in stores, how NOBODY wants to give up on trick or treating, In-Car Experiences, EPIC Home Haunts Displays, Haunted Car Washes, Virtual Ques, and tips for Halloween Day.

Our final Ohio haunt update from the Ohio Haunters Association. Plus, Darryl tells us how Rutherford Manor Haunt uses storytelling to stay top of mind year-round.

The headless horseman is one of the most iconic images of both Halloween and haunting. His namesake haunt is one of the best known in the country and his tale is many a child's first introduction into spooky stories. But where did this legend come from and how much truth is there to it? Also, are there other headless horsemen around the world? These questions and more will be answered in this episode. Find more of Haunt Weekly at: hauntweekly.com/

Road Trip: A Tale of 4 Home Haunters
While sitting at home is driving some of us crazy, it’s giving others the chance to create. In this year when so many haunts have gone dark, home haunts are seriously stepping up. On today’s special, join me in a road trip to 4 different home haunts. We’ll hear all about the obsession, the learning, and the passion behind these projects. Coming up, we’re stopping at Hull House in Buena Park, 1870 Haunt Manor in Anaheim, The Grey Phantom is Norwalk, and the Real Ghostbusters Display in Austin Texas. Buckle up and let’s hit the road! Credits: This episode was produced by Philip Hernandez with mixing and postproduction by David Swope. Music provided by Chris Thomas at Music for Haunts.

Dark Stories read by the author, Scott Swenson. From the book jacket: “This is a collection of poetry and prose written between 2015 and 2019. These pieces were inspired by nightmares, late night walks with the dog, jumprope rhymes, horror comics and several glasses of wine after midnight. I was able to revisit a character created in a previous book, explore the minds of a few psychopaths and even sneak in a bit of hidden political commentary. These stories and poems run the gamut from sarcastic to caustic. The artwork is a series of acrylic paintings I did specifically for the book. The cover art was created in color and the five illustrations within the book were all painted in black and white. I am very excited that I am finally able to get these pieces out of my head and into your hands…enjoy.” Explore the book: http://scottswenson.com/books

Take a trip with me through Halloween Past and Halloween Present. Today we're going on location to haunted attractions all over the US, including: Kinetic Theory in Los Angeles, The Queen Mary in Long Beach, Forbidden Acres in El Paso, The Maize in Buffalo, Howl o Scream in Tampa, Halloween Horror Nights in Orlando, Creatures of the Night at ZooTampa, The Dark Seance and The Tunnel of the Damned, and Sir Henry's Haunted Trail in Orlando.

Today’s Halloween Special is presented in two acts, with an intermission. Act 1 is the audio version of Seasonal Entertainment Source Magazine’s Halloween Special- Issue 28. Intermission is music from Chris Thomas and Whispers of a Witch’s Halloween Special. Act 2 is a collection of short stories from haunters about why they love Halloween. Act 1 contains: “Remembering Halloween” by Scott Swenson, “GROWIN’ UP WEIRD” by Lindsey Gwen Robbins, “HALLOWEEN IS SACRED” by David D. Jones, HOWLING FOR HALLOWEEN by Ted Dougherty, EPIC Entertainment by Steve Sheldon and Charity Hill, SURVIVING 2020 by Cody Bailey, HOME HAUNTERS by Brian Foreman, PRANKSTER TO PLAYING GANGSTER – 1930s HALLOWEEN By Hayley Gross, MAKING A GRAVEYARD by Chris and Jeff Davis, JUMP, RUN, SCREAM: THERE WILL ALWAYS BE HALLOWEEN by Matt Schanandore, ATTRACTION MEMORIES by Alan Ostrander, A HAUNT TOUR REMINISCENCE by Nick and Beverly Pappas, HALLOWEEN IS NOT DEAD by Teresa Ryan, TRANSFORMATION by Alisa Kleckner, IT STARTED WITH A “YES” by Darryl Plunkie, WAIT, YOU CAN SEE ME!? by Tyler and Nora Proffet. Narration for Act 1 by: Donald Kinsley, Jennifer Ann Scott, David D. Jones, DW McCann, Halley Maree McClure, Aaron Rivera, Alan Mckinney, Jeff Davis, Matt Schanandore, and Teresa Ryan. Act 2 Contributors Include: Michael Fernandez from 1870 Haunt Manor, Spencer Terry From Fear Factory Salt Lake City, Ernie from The Grey Phantom, Bill Galvin from Hull House, Jon from the Real Ghostbusters, Max Bryant from the Ohio Haunters Association, A Petrified Forest, Zach Glaros from Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail, and Creatures of the Night at Zoo Tampa. This episode was produced by Philip Hernandez and sponsored by Gantom Lighting and Controls. Post Producton and Mixing by David Swope.

This week on Green Tagged: Commentary on California's Reopening Guidelines and 10 positive trends to come out of the Pandemic. Full show notes: www.greentaggedshow.com

HAuNTcon is accepting speaker applications through Nov 20th here: https://info.urban-expo.com/CallForPapers2021 . Haunters Against Hate is officially a nonprofit. Max from the Ohio Haunters Association comes on to discuss who is opening this weekend.

This week in Green Tagged: We discuss how different countries are recovering their tourism sectors amid the pandemic. The through line is, of course, how well local governments are containing the virus to ease consumer distress. Western countries continue with broad approaches which Eastern countries experiment with targeted approaches. In Europe, attractions are shutting back down. Demand is suffering in the UAE despite attractions remaining open. Indonesia and South Korea are experimenting with more targeted recovery plans. In the US, Universal is down 81% and yet Comcast reaffirms commitment to park development. Six Flags is surveying guests about mandating COVID testing for park entry.
Read full show notes at: www.greentaggedshow.com

To say 2020 was an unprecedented season is a cliche at this point, but it is also a grand truth. That said, getting through tough times can carry with it lessons for the better times and that's what we're on a mission to find.

The question is simple, what lessons from 2020 can haunts take with them to 2021 and beyond? It turns out there's a lot and we're going to discuss just five of them this week.

This Week's Episode Includes:

Topic Intro
Need for Improved Security
Need for Better Financial Stability
Getting Back to Prop Building
Improving Variety of Acting
Preventing Disease
Conclusions

Kaia Gondron from A Petrified Forest in Altamonte Springs, FL discusses recaps their season The Scare Factor’s Monster Bash is set for November 21st. Hershey Candy sales are up despite less trick or treating. A Home Haunter in Dallas set up a gruesome scene that got police called. A New report describes “how fear and enjoyment can coexist in recreational horror.” “Must Do” Halloween traditions from Haunters in the Haunter’s Toolbox group.

Today is our 2nd 2020 Haunt Season Port Mortem and this time we’re going to Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail in Plant City, FL. Zach Glaros previews his plans for 2021 and discusses some of the things he hopes to keep. We also take a rewind to 2015 to get a better sense of how Zach’s team has progressed and how Sir Henry came to be.

This week on Green Tagged: How does a vaccine change planning at your attraction? While Buena Vista Street plans to open on November 19th, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk closed after only one weekend. The Pandemic has inspired a cornucopia of new tech, including AI Bag Scanners, UVC light fixtures, disinfection robots, socially distanced roller coasters, and wearables. Planning for a post-pandemic future, MAD System has registered a patent for facial recognition technology they hope will personalize visitor attractions.
Full Show Notes: greentaggedshow.com

With the 2020 haunt season coming to a close haunts everywhere are shutting down, evaluating how the season went and starting planning for the new year.

But, while a LOT happens in the off-season for haunts one key thing does: Earning money.

For most haunts, not being opens means no money at all coming in. However, that doesn't make any sense. Sure, haunt season is only 4-8 weeks long but there are many ways that haunts can make money year-round if they are just willing to try.

To that end, we're exploring just seven ways that haunts can earn money in the offseason.

Best of all, we're exploring easy, low-cost things that are pandemic-friendly and can be started today!

More Info: https://www.hauntweekly.com/

I had the delight of going on-site to interview Scott Swenson, the Creative Director for The Garden of Spirits at CW’s Gin Joint in Tampa, FL. Scott discusses the event and how critical both contingency planning and scaling are for events of all sizes. In the news: ScareTour is making a Christmas Gift Guide; The ScareFactor’s Monster Bash was canceled due to local restrictions; ScareTrack released a video of their Top 10 UK Scare Attractions; Japanese town deploys growling "Monster Wolf" robots to scare away wild bears; a reminder about HAuNTcon.

Patrick Konopelski from Shocktoberfest Scream Park gives a postmortem on his 2020 Halloween season. Shocktoberfest had a great year, but that took a lot of pivoting. Patrick discusses what his team did beyond the basic safety measures, including shifting their advertising spend and transition the hayride to a walkthrough. A must-listen for any haunter or haunted attraction.

This week on Green Tagged we explore trends and new experiences in the theme park and themed entertainment industries. Universal Hollywood launches a drive-in experience; Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser; Own The Park at Great Wolf Lodge; IAAPA went virtual; PortAventura World is carbon neutral; The Hyperloop test was successful; 3 bid opening announcements.
Full show notes: www.greentaggedshow.com

What are you thankful for? Today’s show is all about how haunters are giving thanks and celebrating Thanksgiving. Darryl looks at how haunted attractions thank their cast and then we hear from haunters all over about their traditions. In this episode: Scott Swenson, Brian Foreman, Max Christian Bryan, Darryl Plunkie, Dalton Dale, Ashey Cope, Samantha Grimaldi, Eric Hagood, Patrick Konopelski, Quan Gan and the Gantom Team.

The entertainment industry has been devastated by this pandemic, and we’re not out of the woods yet. But today, let’s pause and reflect on what we’re thankful for. I’m thankful for the connection I had with Robbi Lepre and I often think of how she would handle these hardships. And so, I want to share that with you. Today’s 2020 Thanksgiving Special is a dedication to Robbi Lepre, and presented in 4 parts. You’ll hear articles, stories, and even from Robbi herself.

In Part 1 “Remembering Robbi: Lessons learned from a reluctant haunter” was written and performed by Scott Swenson. “Lepre’-isms” was written by Jeremy Pancoast and performed by Donald Kinsley. “The Future of Immersive Entertainment in The Post-Pandemic World” was written and performed by Ricky Brigante and Sarah Elger. In Part 2, The audio was taken from our 2018 event The Seasonal Attraction Leadership Symposium. Contributors for Part 3 are: Alex Crow, Chris Thomas, David Ruzicka, Dr William Ramsay, Martin Palicki, Todd Hougland, Samantha Grimaldi, Ray Kleim, Leonard Pickel, and Donald Kinsley. In Part 4, we heard from Cindy White, Kim Gromoll, Mike Wallace, Tom Geraghty, and Quan Gan.

This week on ‘Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30’ we examine the slow US recovery and what some attractions are doing to diversify revenue.

Stories covered: The Malaysian Tourism Ministry reveals recovery plans for pandemic-hit travel sector; Reuters reports US $500B travel spending dive, slow recovery through 2024; Academy Museum of Motion Pictures exceeds pre-opening fundraising goal by leaning mostly on private investors; The Dublin Zoo also leaned on private investors to raise operating capital; California’s theme parks may not open until summer 2021; Kennywood offers annual pass pandemic protection; Wine Bathing in Japan; Blooloop reports How Monterey Bay Aquarium is engaging AND generating revenue with Animal Crossing on Twitch; Imperial War Museum opens online center; Falcon’s Game Suite is the Karaoke Lounge of Gaming; and the International Association of Mixed Reality Sports is here.

Max gets a postmortem report from Pyle Hazard at Chainer’s Field of Screams in Botkins, Ohio. Chainer’s is a small family haunt, but they had a stellar year and raised a lot for charity. They’re keeping involved by ringing for the salvation army and entering the local mascot competition. In the news, Darryl reports on: Black Friday Deals for Haunters, the fire at Dark Woods, Haunt Weekly’s Anti Christmas Music List, and a Halloween miracle.

This week on ‘Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30’ we examine Big Moves in brands monetizing DTC digital experiences, vaccine requirements from Airlines, and big openings.

Stories covered: Warner Bros to Release 2021 films on HBO MAX concurrently with theatrical release; Qantas to require COVID-19 Vaccine to fly; Online shopping up 21.5% with 47% being via mobile; Cirque resuming in Summer 2021; USJ opens Super Nintendo World on Feb 4th; The National Gallery and The Design Museum sell tickets to digital exhibits; Monterey Bay Aquarium launces YouTube Music Playlists; Another Disney Minute.
Full Show Notes: www.greentaggedshow.com

On the first day of Christmas a true haunter gave to me... Answered! Plus, Haunted Overload donates to Pope Memorial for tenth year, the Mortuary debuts ‘psycho’ holiday haunted house, and The Krampus. Max gets a Postmortem 2020 Haunt Season Report from Blood Prison at the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield Ohio. Get “The Krampus and the Old, Dark Christmas: Roots and Rebirth of the Folkloric Devil Paperback” here: https://amzn.to/3goTNKH

Besides a 12ft Skeleton from Home Depot, recognition is one the best holiday gifts you can give a haunter. Nora & Tyler From The Scare Factor’s Team Zombillies present their 2020 Haunt Awards. The winners are: Funniest Scare - Hysterium Haunted Asylum - Fort Wayne, IN Bobby and Bennie; Best Clowning Around - Grissom Maze of Terror - Peru, IN; Best Use of Fog - House of Trepidation - Indianapolis Fog Curtain; Scariest Animatronics - Nightmare on Edgewood – Indianapolis; Best Sliders - Wicked World Scare Grounds - Nicholasville, KY; Best Vortex - Tunnel Fear Itself - Mishawaka, IN Dark Circus; Most Realistic Scare - Fear Itself Ward 13, Box Drop; Most Unique Costumes - Grim Trails - Louisville, KY; Scariest Duo - Grim Trails Goldilocks & The Bear; Best Chainsaw Scare - Land of Illusion - Middletown, OH Middletown Haunted Trail; Most Challenging Maze - Land of Illusion Big Mama's Revenge; Best Hiding Spots - Necropolis Underground - Indianapolis, IN; Scariest Actor - Necropolis Underground Baron Samedi; Most Interactive Queue Entertainers - American Horrorplex - Louisville, KY; Highest Rated Cast - American Horrorplex; Hardest Haunt to Escape Alive - Unreal Nightmares - Jasonville, IN; Most Unnerving Sound Effects - Unreal Nightmares; Scariest Actress - Unreal Nightmares The Crawling Nurse; Best Makeup - The Devil's Attic - Louisville, KY; Highest Rated Costuming - The Devil's Attic; Highest Rated Customer Service - The Devil's Attic; Highest Rated Theme - The Devil's Attic; Most Believable Haunt - The Thirteenth Hour - Indianapolis, IN; Best Introduction Scene - The Thirteenth Hour; Best Outdoor Scenes - The Thirteenth Hour; Best Finale - The Thirteenth Hour; Highest Rated Haunt - The Haunted Hotel - Louisville, KY; Highest Rated Atmosphere - The Haunted Hotel KY; Highest Rated Special Effects - The Haunted Hotel KY; Scariest Haunt - The Haunted Hotel KY; Highest Rated Value - The Haunted Hotel KY.

This week on ‘Green Tagged: Theme Park in 30’ we dive deep into the ripples caused by Warner Brothers in the entertainment and attractions industry.

Stories covered: Warner Bros CEO Jason Kilar explains his move in an interview with the NY Times; California lockdowns resume; Russia announces plan for tourism recovery; Technifex pivots to offering themed environments to real training; Enchanted Forest raises $350K in crowdfunding; Flamingo Mingle; Rage Rooms; Museums in China are cashing in on blind box gift campaigns.
Full Show Notes: www.greentaggedshow.com

Josh Sumsion from Dead City Haunted House comes on to discuss the process behind their TikTok videos, some of which are going viral. Here’s what you need to know to get your TikTok up and running. In the News: Trouble for 13th World in Cumberland; Frank the Christmas Gargoyle; Creepy Christmas Photos; A call for Women Haunters; the line between Terror & Delight. Join our Facebook Group ‘Haunter’s Toolbox.’

Mary Imagination has the unique perspective of being both a scare actor and a debut novelist. In this episode you’ll hear an excerpt from her new young adult fantasy horror novel ‘We Are The Monsters.’ Then, Mary joins to discuss crafting villains for both the page and the flesh. Grab Mary’s book on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/34kJTVA

On today’s Green Tagged: Virtualizing pieces of your experiences and what the FTC’s case against Facebook means for your attraction.
Stories: BBC’s new Radiophonic Travel Agency, VR waterslide at Vana Nava Water Jungle, Thailand, MicroStrategy’s massive purchase of Bitcoin, & 4 Takeaways From The Government's Case Against Facebook.

To celebrate our 400th episode, we’re hosting a giveaway! On today’s show you’ll hear Scott Swenson discuss his new book “The 13 commandments of haunting.” And we’re giving away a few copies of the book! Simply email me (philip@hauntedattractionnetwork.com) with what Scott is over the top with and you’ll be entered into the giveaway. Email your answer to me by December 29th. Find “The 13 commandments of haunting” on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/38poMTs

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a… Gremlin? What does Christmas look like at a haunter’s house? I was curious to know how other haunters celebrated the holiday season, so I asked a few. On today’s 2020 Christmas Special, we’re asking how haunters celebrate the holidays. Featured in this episode: Darryl Plunkie, Brian Foreman Eric Hagood, Donnie Hoover, “Meathook” Jim Millspaugh, Josh Sumsion, Patrick Konopelski, Scott Swenson, and Max Bryant.

Coming up on today’s show, Part 2 of Darryl’s interview with Scott Swenson about Scott’s new book “The 13 commandments of haunting.” Find “The 13 commandments of haunting” on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/38poMTs

On today’s Green Tagged, we continue the Futureproofing discussion with two topics your attraction should tackle in 2021: Diversity and Sustainability. Stories covered: “The World Travel & Tourism Council published new diversity guidelines for the travel and tourism sector,” “Walt Disney Company releases 2030 environmental goals,” “Self-driving vehicles launch at Wuhan’s Longlingshan Ecological Park,” “Wall Street’s Dilemma: What Are Tesla’s Shares Worth?,” “Army tests wrist-worn Covid-19 tracking device,” and “Tivoli donates Christmas trees to Corona test centers in Copenhagen, Denmark.”

This is a bonus rebroadcast from Haunt Weekly: “This week on Haunt Weekly, we’re looking at the issue of simulated violence in haunted houses and discussing what boundaries should be set and what is best for your haunt and your customers.

There’s not much doubt that most haunts contain at least some implied violence. Severed limbs, dead bodies, gruesome injuries, etc. However, most of those injuries happen away from the customer and very few feature significant explicit violence, especially gory violence.

There are a lot of reasons for this, one of the biggest is that it’s simply easier but could it also be more effective? Or, are there benefits in ramping up the violence game.

This week we’re looking at exactly that and much more!”

In celebration of the 50th episode of "A Scott in the Dark", Scott looks back to the initial reason for doing the podcast and forward to the opportunities it has provided. The show includes a few clips from previous shows, including a 2018 interview with the late Robbi LePre after she was awarded her Lifetime Achievement award from the Haunted Attraction Association at the Transworld Halloween and Christmas Show. Scott also discusses his new book, "The 13 Commandments of Haunting" (edited and published by Philip Hernandez) which never would have come about had it not been for the podcast. Enjoy this milestone with Scott and all of the A.S.I.T.D. listeners!

A Bonus show from HaunTopic Radio where Darryl, Brian, and Philip discuss the top Haunted Attraction Trends from 2020 and what you need to do to prepare for 2021. Want to join our next conversation? Join at HauntersToolbox.com

Well dear listeners, we made it to the end of 2020. Phew. And while we plan for 2021, it’s a good time to reflect on what we learned this year. On today’s Special, we’re celebrating the end of 2020 with some of your favorite podcasters and guests.

Featured in this episode: Darryl Plunkie and Brian Foreman from HaunTopic Radio, Donnie Hoover and “Meathook” Jim Millspaugh from WrestleHorror, Mikey from Scaretrack, Scott Swenson from A Scott in the Dark, Eric Hagood from Haunt Portal, Josh Sumsion from Dead City Haunted House, and Patrick Konopelski from Shocktoberfest.

On today’s Green Tagged, we examine three trends that will impact your attraction in 2021: Demand regeneration, Changing Guest Expectations, and Deglobalization. Stories covered: Universal reaches capacity before 9AM; Denny’s hostess quits on the spot after customers claim ‘religious exemption’ to wearing a mask; Discussion points taken from an interview with the new head of global content at Netflix.

On January 18th, 2020, five talented and experienced women in the haunted-attraction industry gathered on stage at HAuNTcon for the second annual Women in Haunting panel. The first year’s panel offered insight into wide-ranging challenges and opportunities for women working in the industry. This year, panel organizer Liz Irving, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Clarion Events, which produces HAuNTcon, opened the floor for panelists to offer actionable advice on several key issues. The questions centered on mentoring and leadership, organizational structure, navigating conflict, and designing for diversity.

What follows is the audio from that panel, recorded live in New Orleans nearly 1 year ago. This year’s HAuNTcon is just around the corner January 19-21st. The conference is virtual and registration is completely free. Browse the show flow, network, and engage with education just like this – completely free. Register now at hauntcon.com

Read Dr Margee Kerr’s takeaway article here: https://seasonalentertainmentsource.com/women-in-haunting-the-challenges-opportunities/

A Post Mortem Report from Dark View Haunted Attraction in Toronto, Ohio. Being an outdoor attraction is always challenging, but 2020 added another level. Listen to how these haunters adapted!

On today’s Green Tagged, we discuss Combating Disenfranchisement and Designing for Empathy. Stories covered: “Inside the Capitol Siege,” “Japan declares 2nd State of Emergency,” “Busch Gardens Williamsburg to be open for first time in January,” “Glamping at Singapore’s Changi airport as traveltainment help airports weather COVID.”
Show notes: www.greentaggedshow.com

Scott Swenson comes on to preview HAuNTcon’s 2021 Keynote Panel "I Didn't Think It Would Work...But It Did: Lessons Learned From the 2020 Haunt Season!" Register FREE for HAuNTcon at www.hauntcon.com and attend this panel LIVE Jan 19th at 1PM ET! Up next, Max is back with a Postmortem of Backwoodz Oddities presents The Last Carnival Haunted House in Waverly, Ohio with Alan Shell

Turning Pro is the dream for many home and volunteer haunts, but how do you know when to make the leap? What does it take? Is it safe to leap in 2021? This is a preview of the live panel from the Haunt Masters of Haunter's Toolbox. Bring your questions for the Live Q&A January 21st at 1PM ET. Featuring Brian Foreman & Darryl Plunkie from Haunter's Toolbox; Jan Knuth from Grey House Haunts; Bill Bordner from Mindtrap Haunted Attraction; Suzie Flesik from Crawford School of Terror

This week on Green Tagged: Policies and Mandates to get back out in front of the COVID Spread and Climate Change leads to more Experience Based Economy. Stories covered: “Japan to halt all business travel in new step to curb COVID-19,” “Around 80% of people in Japan believe the postponed Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics should be canceled or rescheduled,” “California's San Diego Zoo reports coronavirus cases,” “Tourism industry in Malaysia details expectations for 2021,” “Travel to Kamikatsu for a green epiphany: ‘Zero waste is about knowing yourself,’” “NEOM, The Line…The REAL Epcot,” “Moody’s new report outlines risk of climate vulnerable companies.”

The world lost a great man last week. This episode is In Memory of Jason Oliver from The Haunted Wastelands in Calgary Alberta. You can listen to our interview with Jason from 2016 here: https://soundcloud.com/hauntedpod/e291

During this live keynote event, our panel of operators and consultants will talk through how changes made because of the pandemic crisis can improve the haunt industry in the future. Hear about innovations in everything from ticketing to training, from costuming to caution tape, from sanitizer to storytelling. As the name suggests, this session will share success stories of practices that no one thought would ever work. Out of adversity comes innovation and out of chaos comes art! Panelists: Scott Swenson of Scott Swenson Creative Development; Justin Fix of JFI Productions; Teresa Ryan of DARK at Fort Edmonton; Alex Crow of ZooTampa. Register FREE for hauntcon at: www.hauntcon.com

While masks have become the new norm at the grocery store, you may be thinking there’s no way they belong on the monsters in your haunt but they are a necessary evil to keep guests and actors safe. Alisa Kleckner, owner of Scared of My Shadow, LLC, a boutique purveyor of hauntingly beautiful leather masks, headdresses and accessories, will share tips, tricks and a design approach that incorporates masks into your actors' costumes seamlessly. Keeping folks safe doesn't need to derail your scenes or detract from your scares!

Todd Cox and Paul Meredith from Haunted House Tour.com discuss their 2020 Award Recipients. Haunted House Tour is a private group of haunted house enthusiasts based in Cincinnati, OH who make a yearly tour of haunted attractions around the tri-state area. The group has toured for over 26 years and visit haunts large and small. Read more about the recipients here: https://www.hauntedhousetour.com/2020_awards.html

This week on Green Tagged, we dedicate the entire show to pivots happening across the industry. Stories covered: “Disneyland in California to host COVID-19 vaccination site,” “LVHN setting up mass COVID-19 vaccination site at Dorney Park,” “IAAPA Expo Asia 2021 to take place in Shanghai,” “Show Up: A New Social Convention for FECs,” “ADG creates neighbourhood FECs from Moscow’s Soviet cinemas,” “Pawprints and lion-ripped jeans: Struggling zoos and aquariums in Japan offer unique gifts for donations,” “Al Ain Zoo launches new mountain biking experience,” “Ocean Park in Hong Kong to overhaul business model.”

What are the voices bringing your haunt to life? Coming up on today’s show The Voice From Hell discusses the importance of voice work and how you can craft creepy characters.
Dick Terhune is infamous in the haunt industry, and I’m sure you’ve heard him around. He’s all over the normal world as well, appearing in everything from games to pharmaceuticals. Some of his premier characters include “Transformers: Cyberverse,” “World of Warcraft,” and “Little Caesars.”
This interview with Dick is from Episode 71 of the WrestleHorror podcast, and it was so good I wanted to share it with you. If you enjoy it, show Donnie and Jim some love over at wrestlehorror where they explore the intersection of wrestling and haunted attractions.

This week on Green Tagged we cover the controversy surrounding Ocean Park in Hong Kong and then discuss other news that impact the guest experience worldwide. Stories covered: “Ocean Park in Hong Kong to overhaul business model,” “Ocean Park must show its will to survive,” “JRA partners with Holocaust & Humanity Center to present new AI exhibit,” “Disney's Jungle Cruise Attraction is Getting an Update,” “What 'vaccine passports' mean for your summer vacation,” “Lower House OKs ¥19 trillion extra budget despite criticism of virus measures.”

Scott discusses ways to "mash up" supposedly unrelated stories and locations to create a new and unique guest experience.

Green practices are a growing concern for all attractions, but what can haunted attractions do? Scott discusses options for scare attractions that are both eco-friendly business savvy. Reduce cost and go green!

Scott discusses ideas and creative options for Dark Haunts. This question was submitted via the 'A Scott in the dark' Facebook group; join today to participate in the discussion.

While the basics of crisis response have not changed, the pandemic has impacted the nature frequency of haunted attraction incidents. From queue management to scaling security, and from bag searches to staff training, the veteran haunters on this panel will discuss concrete examples from their 2020 season. While we can't predict what 2021 will look like, we can help you make a safer plan. This episode was adapted from the Live HAuNTcon panel on January 19, 2021. Panelists include: Spencer Terry from Fear Factory SLC, Alexis Garcia from Soul Screams, Willie Mae from Deadly Dopamine and Eddie McLaurin from Woods of Terror. Go to HAuNTcon.com for updates on 2022's show.

Dead City Haunted House debuted a valentine’s day event for the first time in 2020, and the team is attempting to pull it off again this year despite the pandemic. Owner Tim Riggs discusses the differences between the two events, the COVID precautions, and how he’s planning out 2021. “Love Bites” is February 12 & 13 at Dead City Haunted House in Murray Utah.

Sir Henry's Haunted Trail in Plant City Florida is running a Haunted Valentine Event “Love’s Revenge” this weekend Feb 12-14. Tickets begin at $25. Zach is opening all three outdoor trails and adding some new elements for the overlay.

I’m sure you know Brian’s work, but this episode explores everything Brian has been up to. This episode originally aired on the WrestleHorror Podcast, and if you want the full interview grab it from their feed. When Brian started out, there were far fewer resources for haunters. Brian first started his blog Scary Visions. Then he met Darryl and started HaunTopic Radio to both learn and teach other haunters. And now, he's developed the membership site Haunter's Toolbox.

Keeping everyone safe in 2020 yielded a new scare system concept at Dead City Haunted House in Salt Lake City Utah that was so effective, it will continue to be used long after the pandemic subsides. Owner Timothy Riggs conceived and engineered a new system for actors to operate props safely from a distance while above patrons. Nicknamed "The Puppeteers", each of these actors operated dozens of unique scares from a single bridge out of sight. The puppets movements were very startlingly scary and also a very cost-efficient use of actor staffing. Design methods are not expensive or complex and can be fabricated with the skill set of the average haunter. Listen to learn more about the design of this new prop puppeting system as well as how it was implemented. Thank you to HAuNTcon for allowing us to broadcast this education. HAuNTcon returns in 2022 and you can be the first to find out by signing up for their newsletter at hauntcon.com

This week we passed the heartbreaking marker of 500,000 official deaths from COVID-19 here in the US. The entire entertainment industry was thrown into chaos, and every haunt has had to adapt. And yet, there is hope: by mid-year, we should have enough doses to vaccinate our entire population. This mid-year mark shows itself also in the reopening announcements from attractions across the US. For us haunters, that means hopes are high for this year’s Halloween. Therefore, we’ll be spending the next few months on helping you plan for this season. But this week, where we stand at the intersection of heartbreak and hope, let’s spend some time reflecting.
Our team produced the attraction industry’s first virtual conference called Virtually Prepared on March 28th and 29th 2020. Back then, we never could have imagined what awaited us. And yet, many of the insights we discovered then still hold true for our planning now.
Today I’m playing pieces of the Keynote Panel called “Flattening the Curve: Aftershocks for the Attractions Industry” which went live at 9AM on March 28th 2020.
Join me in this trip into the past to reflect on planning our future.

This is Part 2 of our trip into the past reflecting on the changes in the attractions industry. If you’ve not listened to the previous episode stop and go back. In part 1 our panelists mainly discussed the impact on your attraction’s operations. There’s a new normal we’re operating in, and it’s something you must account for when planning this season. Its not just the social distancing. It’s understanding how the entertainment landscape and guest expectations have changed. In this part, we look at the predictions our panelists made and see what held up.

This week we explore the avalanche of reopenings and new openings happening worldwide. Sit back and relax for this feel-good episode that shows light at coming at the end of the summer. Stories covered: “More than 40 U.S. theme parks set 2021 reopening dates,” “Disney World visitors may be wearing masks through 2021,” “Reopening guidance issued for New York amusement parks,” “Hong Kong theme parks resume operations with changes,” “New section to open at Energylandia in Poland, in 2021,” “Yerevan Park set to open in spring 2021 in Armenia,” “Bath, England, to see debut of Mary Shelley museum,” “Harry Potter exhibition planned for 2022,” “Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart now open at AREA15 in Las Vegas,” “HOLOGATE WORLD planned for Germany,” “Disney California Adventure Park to debut ticketed food and entertainment event in March; 1,000 employees to return to work.”

The industry professional's weekly dose of important Theme Park news in 30 minutes.
This week on Green Tagged, we discuss two new industry reports. First IAAPA released a study showing the impact of COVID-19 on the industry. Thinkwell’s study is the ‘2021 Guest Experience Trend’ and focuses on artificial intelligence.

What's it like to run a haunt from your apartment parking spot - while in a gated community during COVID? Today we’ll hear all about it from Charlie and Graciela of Dead Last Drive In. These first-time haunters used the pandemic as the push they needed to start a budget friendly experience, setting an example for anyone dreaming of becoming a haunter.

Last week we aired the two-part special “Flattening the Curve: Aftershocks for the Attractions Industry,” which was taken from the first industry keynote to discuss the pandemic’s impact on attractions. That panel was moderated by Scott Swenson. Today I’ve bringing Scott back to discuss how he’s planning for this upcoming season. Scott also previews another upcoming panel that he’s moderating with Fear Expo.

The industry professional's weekly dose of important Theme Park news in 30 minutes.
Americans are holding on to $1.3 TRILLION and you must be ready to catch the wave of demand when the gates open. On this BONUS episode of green tagged, we’re discussing preparing you for the tidal wave of demand coming this year. Stories covered: “Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary to transform park icons into “Beacons of Magic”” “A Touch of Disney: Brand New Ticketed Festival Experience Coming to California Adventure in March,” “Far from done with lifetime achievements, former Imagineer Joe Rohde joins Virgin Galactic in key role,” “Herschend takes over as operator of Kentucky Kingdom.”

St Patrick's day is just around the corner and that means some haunts are opening for an extra off-season event. On today's show Max speaks with Sean Norman from Wells Township Haunted House in brilliant Ohio. Sean is planning a LIGHTS OUT low-capacity event for St. Patrick's day march 19-20 and tickets are $14.

Spencer Terry is the GM of Fear Factory in SLC and was the first haunted attraction to reopen back in May. After reopening, Spencer shared his team's reopening guidelines with the industry, and helped many attractions navigate their own reopening. But today, we're discussing the upcoming season and some of the common questions Spencer is receiving now about reopening. Spencer is also a board member of the Haunted Attraction Association and they're collecting feedback for their strategic plan.

Hudson Haunted House in Hudson Ohio is opening this weekend for St Patrick’s Revenge. Hudson Haunted House is run by the Hudson Jaycees, who were established in 1972! Alex Austin explains the haunt’s history, their 2020 pivots, St Patrick’s Revenge, and a few other fantastic engagement ideas.

This week on Green Tagged we discuss how attractions will navigate states dropping restrictions, additional changes in the guest experience, and new pivots. Stories covered: “Texas Drops Its Virus Restrictions as a Wave of Reopenings Takes Hold,” “California theme parks, stadiums can reopen as soon as April 1 under revamped COVID-19 rules,” “Hongkongers may have to wait up to six months to resume travel, top tourism official warns,” “IAAPA updates COVID-19 guidance for physical distancing on rides,” “Work resumes on Universal's Epic Universe in Florida,” “Walt Disney Co. to focus on improving guest experience,” “Space tourism: world’s first space hotel opening in 2027,” “Steakhouse in New York fills dining room with wax figures,” “New Exhibit Coming to Philadelphia for Disney’s 100th Anniversary in 2023.”