After a grassfire in July destroyed a small structure near the train tracks, Fear Factory SLC (Salt Lake City, UT) rebuilt the damaged area and turned the loss into inspiration. Also this week: Disney Raises Prices—Is the “Happiest Place on Earth” Now for the Wealthiest? ; Uniquely Chinese Halloween Fun with Universal Beijing Resort's Scares @ Universal; Disneyland Visitor Dies After Riding Haunted Mansion; Halloween Night at the Disney Mansion; Nextdoor Treat Map. Read more here.

Last weekend was the first full opening weekend for most Haunted Attractions Nationwide. While most haunts are reporting steady numbers, several have reported 'sold-out' nights. If this trend continues, it could mean an excellent year for the industry. Also this week: Spooky Awards Finalists & Fan Vote; New Howl-O-Scream College Ticket Offer; Stardust Racers Reopens at Epic Universe After Tragedy; "Urban Death Vegas" Premieres at Vegas Theatre Company; "Evil Dead in Concert" Comes to L.A.; Six Flags Debuts Original Horror Short, "Come Out and Play"; M&M's Rescue Squad Returns for 2025; HalloweenCostumes.com Releases Top-Selling and Most Searched Costumes So Far This Year. Read more here

The Haunted Attraction Association (HAA) has certified 67 haunted attractions nationwide as 2025 Top Haunts - a record year. Since its inception, the Top Haunts program has been the benchmark for professionalism and safety in the haunted attraction industry.
Also this week: Halloween & Costume Association Highlights How Adults Embrace the Spooky Season; IAAPA Brass Ring Awards Deadline is October 10th; Scooby-Doo x Universal Monsters Mash-Up; "Krampus & Kin" Comes to Universal Horror Unleashed; "People in the Dark: An Immersive Ghost Story"; "Winne-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey" Haunted House Comes to UK; Canada's Wonderland Adds New Chaperone, Costume, and Bag Policies; Midnight Syndicate Releases "Darkened Corners" Rare Tracks EP; "LVCRFT Kids" Releases on October 1st; Customers Frustrated Over Lack of Accountability for The Scarefactory; Read more here.

This past weekend, Knott's Scary Farm (Buena Park, CA) opened for its 52nd season, running 26 select nights through November 1st. This year's lineup includes ten mazes, five scare zones, three shows, and more, with over 1,000 horrifying creatures lurking in the fog. Also this week:
Halloween Trends 2025: What Guests Really Want; DoorDash Releases "Trick, Treat and Trends"; Six Flags Reports Attendance Gains Amid Seasonal Event Cancellations; Sesame Place Ends Annual Halloween & Holiday Events in Abrupt Seasonal Operations Change; Pacific Park Debuts New Funhouse with EPIC Entertainment Group; Mall of America Announces Seasonal Thrills and Halloween Fun; Legendary Haunt Tour Itinerary Announced; Michael Myers Returns to the Big Screen This October; "Trick 'r Treat" Gets First Nationwide Theatrical Release. Read more here.

Dark Nights at Hersheypark (Hershey, PA) opened this past weekend, running eight weekends through November 2nd. The event features five haunted houses, four scare zones, access to over 50 rides, seasonal foods & beverages, live entertainment, and more. Guests can enjoy family-friendly fun by day and frights at night - all included with a Hersheypark Halloween ticket. A new haunted house ( Kill 'N Fill Garage) and Scare Zone debuted this year.
Also this week: Field of Screams PA Opens Gates for 33rd Season with New Hayride Scene; Take a Sneak Peek at Hera's Nightmare; The Haunt in Atascadero Unveils “Frankenstein’s Monsters Re-stitched”; Go Behind the Screams at Kings Dominion to Benefit A Kid Again; LEGOLAND California Unveils 17-Foot Halloween LEGO Tree; Scooby-Doo Halloween Toys Come to Burger King; HalloweenCostumes.com Releases 2025 Halloween in America Survey Results. Read more here.

Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood Opened Last Weekend to a sold-out crowd, featuring 8 Houses, a New Dining Pass, "Chainsaw Man", and More. Meanwhile, Halloween Horror Nights Orlando Criticized for Premium Scream Night Disappointments, Oversold Passes, and Controversies Around Roaming Characters. Also this week: Six Flags Great America's Fright Fest Begins September 13th; Adventureland Debuts New House for Phantom Fall Fest; Fresno Fright Nights Comes to the Central Valley October 3rd; Maan Farms Announces First Halloween Fright Festival; M&D's Scotland's Theme Park Offers Family Fun and Thrilling Scares; Home Haunter Awards Show 2024 Winners Announced. Read more here.

And as HHN leans on accessible IP like WWE, Fallout, and FNAF, builds in food-forward offerings, and pilots no-scare options, the question arises: is Universal future-proofing the brand—or diluting its horror core? Also this week: Kennywood's Phantom Fall Fest Debuts New Haunted House; Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare Comes to Kings Island in 2026; Netflix House to Open in Philadelphia & Dallas; The Haunted Carwash Returns to SoCal with Three Locations; Coffin Creek Moves; Mr. Floats & The CarnEvil of Souls Tours U.S. to Promote Kickstarter Campaign; Walibi Holland Revises Ad Campaign Following Public Outcry; Spirit Christmas Stores will Return for 2025. Read the stories here.

This week: Adventuredome's Fear Zone Organizer Accused of Sexual Battery; Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar at Disney Springs Gets Halloween Makeover; Two New Mazes Coming to Knott's Scary Farm; Howl-O-Scream Tampa Unveils M.A.R.S. Haunted House; Queen Mary's Dark Harbor Announces New & Updated Mazes; Field of Screams Maryland Will Not Open for the 2025 Season; Twin Cities Fear Fest Brings Elvira to Mall of America; Mt. Healthy Haunted Hall Celebrates 35th Anniversary; Hieizan Obakeyashiki Returns for a Limited-Time; Texas Chainsaw Massacre & Winnie-the-Pooh Blood and Honey Come to Hertfordshire with Halloween Haunt Fest; Halloween Horror Nights Singapore Highlights Asian Horror IPs. Read more here.

Last week was MASSIVE for Halloween Fans, beginning with the opening of Universal Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas, followed by Midsummer Scream in Long Beach. Haunted Attractions took advantage of the 50,000+ attendees at Midsummer Scream to announce their Halloween plans - and we've gathered EVERYTHING for you! Highlights: Universal Reveals Terrifier Haunted House Details; Five Nights at Freddy's Pizza Place Previews; Elvira moves in to LA Haunted Hayride; Delusion & Magic of the Jack-o'-Lanterns get new homes; Six Flags Fright Fest Announces 1 new maze for 2025; Knott's Scary Farm retires 2 mazes; Legacy Cedar Fair Parks will now Charge for Haunted Houses; Hersheypark Halloween Partners with Shaquille O'Neal; SeaWorld San Diego's Howl-O-Scream Returns; Scooby-Doo and the Gang to Appear at Universal Volcano Bay Nights; Industry Veterans Acquire Evansville's House of Lecter & The Old Catacombs. Read more here: https://mailchi.mp/hauntedattractionnetwork.com/horror-unleashed-opens-park-announcements-galore

50,000 Halloween Fans will gather in Long Beach this weekend (Aug 15-17) for Midsummer Scream! Guests will experience 12+ mini-haunts, shop at 350+ vendors, and hear from local haunted attractions about this season. Also this week: Poltergeist Comes to Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood; Six Flags Reveals The Conjuring Premium Experience; Kennywood's Phantom Fall Fest Expands; Universal Horror Unleashed Opens August 14th; Spirit Halloween Releases new Branded Merchandise. Read more here.