Start Your First Haunted Attraction | Imminent Doom

Start Your First Haunted Attraction | Imminent Doom

Author: Brian Foreman & Darryl Plunkie: Haunters, Scare Actors, Haunt Owners December 24, 2025 Duration: 1:41:32
What's it really like to open and operate a Haunted Attraction business? Can your dream really come true? Can you do it by yourself?

We answer all of your questions in this Master Class with Conner Beets from Imminent Doom Haunted House.

Conner, a lifetime Haunt enthusiast, started and operated his first commercial haunted attraction this year (2025). At the age of 20 years old!
 
Conner's 5 Top Tips for starting a brand-new haunt are…
 
1. Build outside city limits if possible! If you happen to be in the city limits… be in CONSTANT communication with your local Fire Marshall and don't try to fight them on codes. Believe me… You will not win that battle lol!
 
2. Invest Wisely! As cool as some of those massive props are at TransWorld… the quality often isn't what it is at the show when you receive your copy. When at a show, be sure to thoroughly inspect a prop to make sure it is built to last and will be a worthwhile investment for your show!
 
3. Train your actors!!! As cool as your sets and props may be, your guests only want one thing… to be terrified!!! You can have the most beautiful and high-tech animatronics known to man. Still, if you don't hold your actors to a standard and train them how to scare, develop characters, and pace themselves properly… your show will definitely suffer!
 
4. Work with and collaborate with your other local haunted attractions! We did a huge project this year called The Frightful Four of East Texas, featuring four local haunts, and it absolutely blew up into a huge deal! You can learn a lot from working with fellow industry experts from your area, and since you are all near each other… There is room for everyone to succeed by working together to drive more guests to your area around October!
 
5. Stay Humble! I cannot stress this one enough! Don't be a giant Douche for lack of a better word! Your show is not the best thing in the world, despite what you may think, and you will always have to work to improve your show year after year! Also, don't be afraid to ask for help. I haven't seen many haunts that absolutely one person builds, so I'm definitely willing to work with others!

Ever wondered how the chilling atmosphere of a professional haunted house is really built, or what it takes to make a scare actor’s performance truly unforgettable? HaunTopic Radio: Haunted Attractions | Haunted Houses | Halloween | Haunters pulls back the heavy black curtain on the world of professional scares. Hosts Brian Foreman and Darryl Plunkie aren’t just commentators; they’re working haunters, scare actors, and haunt owners who live this passion year-round. In each episode, they sit down with the artists, builders, and visionaries who create the terrifying events we love, capturing their personal stories and hard-won expertise. This podcast is built on practical, real-world advice, focusing on how you can design effective scares and build compelling attractions without relying on a massive budget. It’s a deep, conversational dive into the craft, from makeup techniques and set design to the psychology of fear and the business of Halloween. You’ll hear the triumphs, the creative problem-solving, and the dedicated community that brings the haunting season to life. Tune in for an authentic look behind the screams, where passion for the art form is always the main topic.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

HaunTopic Radio: Haunted Attractions | Haunted Houses | Halloween | Haunters
Podcast Episodes
How to get more people to your Haunted Attraction: Philip Hernandez [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:44:16
Philip Hernandez, the founder of the Haunted Attraction Network and CEO of Gantom, answers all of your marketing questions. He has experience in social media, marketing, video & audio, theme parks, haunted attractions, p…
Create Killer Videos and Photos of Your Haunt with Haunting Media [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:38:44
Scott and Jewel Simonson answer all of your questions about creating killer videos and photos at your haunt, marketing on a budget, retaining your actors, haunt technology, and other questions you have about Haunted Attr…
Ask the Haunt Expert: Leonard Pickel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:38:44
Start, grow, and scale your Haunted Attraction at HauntersToolbox.com In this episode, we discuss many things like Scare Actors, Safety, Timed Ticketing, Wall panels, Haunt Construction, Tent Haunts, Outdoor Trails, Inte…
The Evolution of Haunted Attractions with Beverly & Nick Pappas [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:46:11
It stinks that we don't get to travel during October to visit haunted attractions because most of us are busy with our haunt businesses and projects. Nick and Beverly Pappas have traveled thousands of miles yearly as Hau…
How does your Haunt compare? The 2024 Haunt Industry Report [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:40
HauntPay created the annual Haunt Industry Survey because they needed reliable, recent data about the haunt industry. This is the fourth annual report and haunters revealed some surprising insights for the coming season!…
Manage & Organize Your Scare Crew with Sithon.io [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:30
A complete walkthrough of the Sithon management platform for haunted attraction staff/actors, why communication with your team is important, and things you can do this season to keep your staff coming back every year! Th…
Special FX Makeup Tips from the Dead Factory Haunted House [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:48
It's 30 minutes before the haunt doors open. You need a quick way to make some realistic wounds, cuts, and bruises that will stay on all night. We have those answers inside this podcast! You can also watch the full video…
Upsells & Upgrades: Make More Revenue At Your Haunted Attraction [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:28:14
There are a few ways to make more revenue with your attraction: 1) Raise your prices 2) Get more customers 3) Sell more to your current customers We will focus this master class on selling more to your current customers…