The Shocking Technical Evolution of Modern Haunted Houses
The Shocking Technical Evolution of Modern Haunted Houses
Spooky attractions may not be top-of-mind when it comes to technological advances, but as mainstream America embraces a new generation of horror films, they are finding the same thrills with Halloween entertainment at haunted attractions throughout the nation.
These haunted house owners have taken the task of inducing blood-curdling screams to a whole new level. The America Haunts Association – with more than 35 major haunts nationwide, featured in high-profile media like the Travel Channel and USA Today – are pioneering today’s modern haunts with Hollywood-quality creature make-up and costumes along with breath-taking special effects and clever cutting-edge scares.
With the popularity of gory horror movies and TV shows like “The Walking Dead” and “Face Off,” combined with the high demand of horror-based video games, the owners of America Haunts attractions change up to 60% of their properties annually, and consistently implement the newest technology available to keep their guests wondering what is lurking around every corner.
The terrifying evolution of today’s haunted houses includes:
- The ScareHouse (Pittsburgh) – Special 3-D glasses used in conjunction with chroma-altering projections make flat images leap off of the walls at guests.
- 13th Floor Haunted House (Denver) – Integrated Microsoft Kinect technology with giant animated figures track and interact with individual patrons.
- The Chambers of Edgar Allan Poe (Kansas City, Mo.) – Visitors take a thrilling zipline ride from the top of this multi-story haunted house and plummet safely to the parking lot below.
- Netherworld Haunted House (Atlanta) – A giant saw blade cuts an actor in half then shoots out into the path to make its way toward the crowd.
- Erebus Haunted House (Pontiac, Mich.) – A new photo system captures a scare in a 3D format, like the movie “The Matrix,” and allows guests to take the experience home with them and view it from all angles.
- The 13th Floor (Phoenix) – The scares start at the newly expanded entrance sequence with motion simulator mausoleums or “mauselevators.”
“What’s great about visiting an America Haunts attraction is that guests are given the opportunity to be the stars of their favorite scary movies and video games,” said Ben Armstrong of America Haunts. “Halloween might only come once a year, but the memories last forever.”
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