America Haunts identifies the nation’s most innovative haunted houses
DALLAS – October 3, 2018 – Thrill seeking audiences are drawn to cutting edge haunted attractions every autumn all by terrifying scares and high-tech illusions that defy earthy explanation!
America Haunts, the nation’s leading haunt industry association reports that the four most innovative fear-based attractions on our list are estimated to collectively entertain over 200,000 people across the United States. These haunts set the bar for a new generation of haunted houses that require sophisticated operations and investment to distinguish their brands.
Haunted attractions rely on a mix of darkness, staged props, live actors, and special effects to captivate audiences. However, the wizardry among the best is mind-blowing, such as interactive holograms, gear that helps the cast defy gravity, magical illusions, diverse offerings, projection mapping, and stunningly realistic wounds and beastly figures generated from the most advanced make-up, prosthetics, and artistry.
The 2018 innovative haunts bringing ground-breaking, fear-based entertainment in the United States are:
1. NETHERWORLD Stone Mountain, Georgia (Atlanta metro): Founded by film and television professionals, Netherworld has been considered one of the top innovators in the Haunted Attraction industry for decades. NETHERWORLD was one of the first attractions to use original high-quality special effect foam and silicone monsters and developed massive moving scares that immerse the customer. The attraction created dozens of unique and terrifying stunts for its actors, and digs deep into themes and story lines far more complex than your average haunt. Complete attention to detail and a history of sharing its knowledge with the industry in seminars, articles, and leadership earn this first-class attraction the number one spot.
2. Cutting Edge Fort Worth, Texas: This world-record largest haunted house isn’t just called Cutting Edge because it is in an abandoned meat-packing factory. Its innovation is literally cutting edge. As a working factory it packs some special effect punches so realistic that people frantically run fearing they’ll end up on a beef hook. The illusions don’t stop in the cemetery with the undead and what lurks in the Jurassic-style swamp. While visitors try to gather their senses, a variety of bands and a drum band line raise their pulses with musical beats that intensify this sensory experience.
3. 13th Floor San Antonio, Texas: Visitors get thrills and psychological horror intensified by a pulsating, state-of-the-art sound system at 13th Floor. Their animatronics have built-in technology that can see, hear, and move with automated and remote controls responsive to passerby actions. Further surprises come from inside their laser swamp that makes it impossible for visitors to see below their waists – thereby making a haven for petrifying monsters to emerge.
4. 13th Gate Baton Rouge, Louisiana: Known for its ultra-realism and detail, this haunt blurs the lines between nightmares and reality. Forty-thousand square feet of scary additions to their nightmare factory will carve new nightmares for their victims coupled with newly added CarnEvil, a haunted midway full of twisted sideshows, creepy characters, virtual reality games, one-of-a-kind escape rooms, and nightly concerts to give a new spin on fear across their landscape.
Most Innovative Haunted Attractions in America caption l to r: NETHERWORLD – Stone Mountain, GA; Cutting Edge – Ft. Worth, TX; 13th Floor – San Antonio, TX; 13th Gate – Baton Rouge, LA
