HAUNTWORLD.COM NAMES TOP 31 HAUNTS

The Scariest Locations in America…other than Wall Street

Hauntworld Magazine ranks the scariest places in the country, including lists of the top haunted houses and haunted attractions for each day of October

St. Louis, MO –September 28, 2009 – And you thought the job market was scary? As the nation continues to struggle in one of the worst economies in history, Americans will require a bit more to actually feel fear this Halloween season. In response, Hauntworld Magazine (www.hauntworld.com), the Halloween and haunt industry’s leading trade publication, has announced listings of the most terrifying locations in America, including: the Top 31 Haunted Attractions (one for each day in October), the Top 10 Amusement Park Halloween events and more. These attractions are being recognized for their attention to detail, high-quality special effects, and overall “scare factor”.

The haunted houses and attractions on these lists aren’t your average neighborhood decorations. Each haunted attraction costs up to $1 million to construct, uses professionally trained actors, Hollywood make-up artists and the latest technology in order to transport people into an insane, realistic and horrific environment that rivals any horror movie set. The result is an industry that has grown to generate over $1 BILLION each season, redefining the way people celebrate Halloween.

“Americans have an intrinsic urge to conquer fear and the haunted attractions on these lists are as close as many can get to literally coming face-to-face with true terror,” said Larry Kirchner, Editor-in-Chief of Hauntworld Magazine. “Scary movies and roller coasters are great for a cheap thrill but what these attractions provide their visitors is a sense of exhilaration and an adrenaline rush that can only be felt from live action. These locations are examples of those places in the country you’ll be telling your friends you survived, not visited.”

Top Professional Haunted Attractions: 2009

The Top 13 Haunted Attractions:

1. 13th Gate Haunted House – Baton Rouge, Louisiana, www.midnightproduction.com
2. Netherworld Haunted House – Atlanta, Georgia, www.fearworld.com
3. The Beast – Kansas City, Missouri, www.kcbeast.com
4. The Darkness Haunted House – St. Louis, Missouri, www.scarefest.com
5. House of Torment – Austin, Texas, www.houseoftorment.com
6. Dent Schoolhouse – Cincinnati, Ohio, www.frightsite.com
7. Bates Motel – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, http://www.thebatesmotel.com
8. Haunted Schoolhouse – Akron, Ohio, www.hshlab.com
9. Bayville Screampark – Long Island, New York, www.bayvillescreampark.com
10. House of Shock – New Orleans, Louisiana, www.houseofshock.com
11. Dead Acres – Columbus, Ohio, www.deadacres.com
12. Headless Horseman – Ulster Park, New York, www.headlesshorseman.com
13. Graystone Manor - Killen, Alabama, www.graystonemanor.net

And to visit a haunted attraction for each day of October, the list continues to include:

14. Cutting Edge Haunted House, Dallas, Texas www.cuttingedgehauntedhouse.com
15. Erebus Haunted House, Pontiac, Michigan www.hauntedpontiac.com
16. Edge of Hell, Kansas City, Missouri www.edgeofhell.com
17. Scarehouse, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania www.scarehouse.com
18. Creepyworld, St. Louis, Missouri www.scarefest.com
19. Haunted Overload, Lee, NH www.hauntedoverload.com
20. Atrox Factory, Leeds, Alabama www.atroxfactory.com
21. Fright World, Buffalo, New York www.hauntedbuffalo.com
22. Dreamreapers, Melrose Park, Illinois www.dreamreapers.com
23. Haunted Hotel, San Diego, California www.hauntedhotel.com
24. Fright Kingdom, Nashua, NH www.frightkingdom.com
25. Asylum Haunted House, Denver, Colorado www.getscared.com
26. Spookywoods, High Point, North Carolina www.Spookywoods.com
27. Pirates of Emerson, Fremont, California www.piratesofemerson.com
28. The Asylum, Las Vegas, Nevada www.lasvegashaunts.com
29. Field of Screams, Mountville, PA www.fieldofscreams.com
30. Bennett's Curse, Baltimore, Maryland www.bennettscurse.com
31. Land of Illusion, Middletown, Ohio www.thelandofillusion.com

Top 10 Amusement Park Halloween Events: 2009

1. Universal Studios Horror Nights, Orlando, FL - www.halloweenhorrornights.com
2. Knott’s Scary Farm, Los Angeles, CA - www.halloweenhaunt.com
3. Tampa Busch Gardens, Tampa, FL - www.howl-o-scream.com
4. Universal Studios Horror Nights, Hollywood, CA - www.halloweenhorrornights.com
5. Kennywood Amusement Park, Pittsburgh, PA - www.kennywood.com
6. Busch Gardens, Williamsburg, PA - www.howl-o-scream.com
7. King's Island Haunt, Cincinnati, OH - www.visitkingsisland.com
8. Cedar Point Haunt, Sandusky, OH - www.cedarpoint.com
9. Six Flags Fright Fest, NJ - www.frightfest.com
10. Old Tucson Studios Nightfall, Tucson, AZ - www.oldtucson.com

Best Screamparks/Haunted Hayrides: 2009

1. Headless Horseman, Ulster Park, New York www.headlesshorseman.com
2. Bates Motel, Glen Mills, Pennsylvania www.thebatesmotel.com
3. Shocktoberfest, Reading, Pennsylvania www.shocktoberfest.com
4. Field of Screams, Mountville, PA www.fieldofscreams.com
5. Creepyworld, St. Louis, MO www.scarefest.com
6. Spookywoods, High Point, North Carolina www.spookywoods.com
7. Bayville Screampark, Long Island, New York www.bayvillescreampark.com
8. Jason’s Woods, Lancaster, Pennsylvania www.jasonswoods.com
9. Halloween Park, Strinestown, Pennsylvania, www.halloweenpark.com
10. 7 Floors of Hell, Cleveland, Ohio www.7floorsofhell.com

Top 5 Places to get Scared in America: 2009

1. Salem, Massachusetts www.salem.org
2. Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada www.cliftonhill.ca
3. Winchester Mystery House, San Jose, California, www.winchestermysteryhouse.com
4. The Mortuary Haunted House, New Orleans, Lousiana at www.themortuary.net
5. Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Louisville, Kentucky www.therealwaverlyhills.com

For more information on this year’s Top Haunted Attractions as well as other top industry lists, please visit www.hauntworld.com or see the entire list here: http://hauntworld.com/featured_article/americas_best_haunted_houses_2009.

About Hauntworld Magazine:
Hauntworld Magazine (www.hauntworld.com) is the premier haunted attraction magazine in the industry. Coupled with its online component, hauntworld.com, Hauntworld provides insider access into the world of haunted houses and attractions. Readers can find information regarding the top haunts around the country and internationally, Halloween vendors, manufacturers, events, tips and forums. Originally created to serve haunted attraction industry members through its unique editorial content and discussion boards, Hauntworld now helps nearly four million people find the best haunts each Halloween season. The magazine/website and its editors have been featured in publications such as USA Today, The Wall Street Journal and on the Travel Channel, among other media outlets.


Media Contact:
Sean Carney
Dukas Public Relations
(646) 808-3610
sean@dukaspr.com