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
Scare Acting 101: Hiring, Training, and Firing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:51
In this Master Class we get Allen Hopps from Dark Hour Haunted House and Drew Badger from The Big Scary Show to discuss Scare Actor tips and tricks. Where to find them, how to hire them, ways to train them, and when to l…
Not Afraid To Slay: Women of the Haunt Industry [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:12
In this BONUS episode we talk to Jan Knuth, the author of Not Afraid To Slay, about her journey writing the book and what she learned in the process. We also talk about her Haunt, Grayhouse Haunts. Buy her book here. Bec…
The Psychology of Fear: How to Make Your Haunt Scarier [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:23:21
Matt Scott breaks down the psychology of fear and how you can create scarier sets and creepier characters inside your Haunted Attraction. To attend these LIVE Master Classes become a member at HauntersToolbox.com
The Future of the Haunted Attraction Association [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:27
Changes are coming to the Haunted Attraction Association. The new president, Spencer Terry, explains the future of the HAA and how BIG changes are coming. Are you a member? This original podcast episode was recorded by h…
Part 2: Transworld Halloween & Attractions Show [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:19
Part 2 of our Transworld Halloween & Attraction Show interviews. Go support the people heard in this podcast. :) Graphitti FX: https://graffitifx.com Psychotic Circus of Savannah: https://youtube.com/c/ThePsychoticCircus…
9 Interviews from the Transworld Halloween & Attractions Show [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:52
Maximus Bryant does all the work on this one! Max gets some of the show vendors, actors, and creators on this podcast from the Transworld Halloween & Attractions Show. He chats with: John Moran from Brimstone Haunt Creat…
Haunted Attraction Design Do's and Don'ts with Leonard Pickel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:40
Designing and building your Haunt will be one of the most time-consuming tasks that you'll do. That's why it must be done right or you'll spend valuable time doing things over. Leaonard Pickel, from Hauntrepreneurs.com,…
Do It Yourself Animatronics with Steve Koci (Replay) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:24
Steve Koci is having some medical complications currently, so we decided to dust this Master Class off and let you listen to the words of an Animatronic Master! Steve gives great advice on building your own animated prop…