Feb. 20, 2026

NEWS: 2026 OSCARES Award Winners, Haunt Tours, & More

Show Notes
Transcript

The 2026 OSCARES Award winners have been announced, honoring excellence across the haunted attraction industry ahead of the March 28th ceremony at TransWorld.
Also this week: Glenwood Caverns Files for Bankruptcy After $116M Verdict; Dark Masquerade Returns in March After Sold-Out Debut; Derry Halloween Proposes Ticketing System for 40th Anniversary; East Coast Haunters Convention Announces Haunt Tours; HAA Live Auction Moves to Thursday Night; Midsummer Scream Haunter Pass Applications Open; 7 Gates Screampark Rebrands as Pine Street Horror. Read more here

WEBVTT

1
00:00:07.480 --> 00:00:10.279
Coming up your weekly roundup of news from around the

2
00:00:10.320 --> 00:00:17.440
haunt industry. Welcome to the show. I'm Philip on the

3
00:00:17.600 --> 00:00:21.239
HN Show. We bring you the haunt news, information, and

4
00:00:21.399 --> 00:00:24.839
education you need to prepare for Halloween. On Tuesdays, we

5
00:00:24.879 --> 00:00:28.359
bring you a roundup of news from haunts worldwide. Read

6
00:00:28.399 --> 00:00:30.679
more about these stories and so much more in our

7
00:00:30.719 --> 00:00:34.280
free weekly newsletter. Subscribe at the link in the show notes,

8
00:00:34.600 --> 00:00:37.039
and as always for the news roundup, I'm passing it

9
00:00:37.079 --> 00:00:37.640
off to Darryl.

10
00:00:38.359 --> 00:00:41.439
The Haunted Attraction Association has announced the winners of the

11
00:00:41.479 --> 00:00:45.039
twenty twenty six OSCARS Awards, the highest honors in the

12
00:00:45.079 --> 00:00:49.679
halloween and haunted attraction industry. The OSCARS Awards recognize excellence

13
00:00:49.679 --> 00:00:54.600
across multiple categories, celebrating new, established and legacy businesses and

14
00:00:54.640 --> 00:00:59.119
remarkable individuals. All winners are nominated by industry members and

15
00:00:59.159 --> 00:01:04.840
selected by thea's Board of Directors, focusing on innovation, creativity, efficiency,

16
00:01:05.120 --> 00:01:09.439
product development, and impact built contributions to the industry. A

17
00:01:09.480 --> 00:01:12.760
full list of twenty twenty six winners are for the

18
00:01:12.799 --> 00:01:20.040
Lifetime Achievement Ernie Romagialli Lifetime Achievement, Bobby Wiener First Year Attraction,

19
00:01:20.640 --> 00:01:26.480
Imminent Doom Haunted House Established Attraction, Milltown Haunt a legacy

20
00:01:26.519 --> 00:01:30.840
attraction with twenty or more years in business, Markoff's Haunted Forest,

21
00:01:31.280 --> 00:01:34.719
the first year vendor or under five years Illuma Bought

22
00:01:35.319 --> 00:01:40.239
Established Vendor, rib FX a legacy vendor twenty or more

23
00:01:40.319 --> 00:01:47.519
years Beastcraft Home Hunter Award, Nightmare Haunted House Special Recognition Award,

24
00:01:47.959 --> 00:01:52.000
Ricky Dick Castle Blood. Detailed profiles of each winter will

25
00:01:52.000 --> 00:01:54.799
be released in the coming weeks leading up to the ceremony.

26
00:01:55.200 --> 00:01:58.439
The twenty twenty six Oscars Awards banquets will take place

27
00:01:58.480 --> 00:02:03.040
at trans World's Halloween Traction Show on Saturday, March twenty eighth,

28
00:02:03.120 --> 00:02:06.680
twenty twenty six, in America Center, Room two forty one.

29
00:02:07.200 --> 00:02:10.439
Doors open at five pm and the ceremony begins at

30
00:02:10.439 --> 00:02:13.319
five point thirty. The event will feature a light carving

31
00:02:13.360 --> 00:02:17.039
station and cash bar. The ceremony is free and open

32
00:02:17.080 --> 00:02:21.560
to all trans World attendees. Recently renewed HAA members receive

33
00:02:21.599 --> 00:02:25.039
a free drink and priority seating. Members should visit the

34
00:02:25.240 --> 00:02:28.039
HAA booth prior to the event to pick up your

35
00:02:28.080 --> 00:02:31.360
cupeon Read about the twenty twenty five winners and watch

36
00:02:31.479 --> 00:02:34.919
last year's ceremonies by following the links in our show notes.

37
00:02:35.479 --> 00:02:39.520
Trans World Vendor Spotlight Videos the vendor Spotlight videos or

38
00:02:39.599 --> 00:02:43.560
short form professionally produced video features filmed live on the

39
00:02:43.599 --> 00:02:47.280
show floor at trans World's Halloween and Attraction Show. Each

40
00:02:47.319 --> 00:02:51.039
spotlight highlights one new product or one best selling item

41
00:02:51.080 --> 00:02:55.800
in a focused, thirty second interview style format. These videos

42
00:02:55.800 --> 00:03:00.159
are editorial features distributed through the Haunted Attraction Network, a

43
00:03:00.240 --> 00:03:04.240
leading news resource for the Haunted attraction industry. Each Vendor

44
00:03:04.280 --> 00:03:08.479
Spotlight includes placement across the Haunted Attraction Network, including Haunted

45
00:03:08.520 --> 00:03:13.840
Attraction Networks, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, newsletter, LinkedIn and website,

46
00:03:13.919 --> 00:03:17.719
plus the opportunity to be tagged as a collaborator. Cost

47
00:03:17.840 --> 00:03:22.080
is three hundred dollars. Contact Philip at the Haunteddattraction Network

48
00:03:22.120 --> 00:03:26.599
dot com to book yours today. HAA Live Auctions New

49
00:03:26.680 --> 00:03:32.240
update Thursday March twenty six, The Haunted Attraction Association's annual

50
00:03:32.319 --> 00:03:35.919
Live Auction moves to a new night this year, Thursday

51
00:03:35.960 --> 00:03:38.840
March twenty six, from five point fifteen pm to six

52
00:03:39.000 --> 00:03:42.039
thirty pm at the trans World's Halloween and Attraction Show

53
00:03:42.479 --> 00:03:46.919
in Saint Louis, Missouri. Doors open at four thirty. Grab

54
00:03:46.960 --> 00:03:49.879
a drink and support HIA vendor members as you bid

55
00:03:49.919 --> 00:03:54.520
on unique one of a kind props, animatronics, and services.

56
00:03:54.639 --> 00:03:58.520
All proceeds benefit HAA members and operations by providing funding

57
00:03:58.560 --> 00:04:03.439
for education, SAFT initiatives, advocacy, and programs that benefit the

58
00:04:03.560 --> 00:04:07.599
entire industry. Those interested in donating a product or service

59
00:04:07.599 --> 00:04:11.439
to the auction can contact the HAA at info at

60
00:04:11.479 --> 00:04:16.319
Haunted Attraction Association dot com. For more information, visit the

61
00:04:16.519 --> 00:04:21.480
haa's official website. East Coast Haunters Convention has announced its

62
00:04:21.519 --> 00:04:24.879
lineup of Haunt tours for twenty twenty six. The convention,

63
00:04:25.040 --> 00:04:28.680
produced by trans World Trade Shows, takes place April twenty

64
00:04:28.720 --> 00:04:34.399
fifth through twenty sixth at the Greater Philadelphia Expocentre in Oaks, Pennsylvania.

65
00:04:35.000 --> 00:04:37.839
Hant tours on Thursday and Friday will precede the convention,

66
00:04:38.240 --> 00:04:40.879
and the weekend will culminate in a Saturday night party

67
00:04:40.920 --> 00:04:44.439
at s October Fest in Sinking Spring. The tour and

68
00:04:44.519 --> 00:04:48.240
party schedule Thursday, April twenty third. On the pre convention

69
00:04:48.399 --> 00:04:52.920
tour Kim's Crypt Haunted Mill in spring Grove, Pennsylvania and

70
00:04:53.040 --> 00:04:57.600
Lehigh Valley Scream Park in Orefield Friday April twenty fourth.

71
00:04:57.680 --> 00:05:02.040
The Friday Night Haunt Tour, Lincoln Mill Haunted House in Philadelphia,

72
00:05:02.360 --> 00:05:07.519
and the Penhurst Asylum in Spring City Saturday, April twenty fifth,

73
00:05:07.560 --> 00:05:12.759
the Saturday Night Tour and Party Shoctoberfest in Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania.

74
00:05:13.279 --> 00:05:16.639
These tours give attendees the chance to experience attractions outside

75
00:05:16.680 --> 00:05:19.800
the regular season. We're really excited and looking forward to

76
00:05:19.839 --> 00:05:21.959
being one of the featured haunts in the East Coast

77
00:05:21.959 --> 00:05:25.000
Haunters Convention Tour this year, said Kim Yates, owner of

78
00:05:25.079 --> 00:05:28.399
Kim's Crypt Haunted Mill. A lot of other Haunters can't

79
00:05:28.399 --> 00:05:30.120
make it out during the Haunt season as we are

80
00:05:30.160 --> 00:05:32.800
open on the same nights, so this gives everybody the

81
00:05:32.839 --> 00:05:35.240
opportunity to check us out, as well as the other

82
00:05:35.319 --> 00:05:37.959
amazing haunts that will be featured on the tour. We

83
00:05:38.000 --> 00:05:42.319
are always creating new scenes, revamping, adding, upgrading and changing

84
00:05:42.319 --> 00:05:46.000
the attractions in Midway. Jim Werner, a Penhurst Asylum said

85
00:05:46.000 --> 00:05:48.079
the attraction will have some very special, one of a

86
00:05:48.160 --> 00:05:51.480
kind experiences lined up for the East Coast Haunters Convention Tour.

87
00:05:51.959 --> 00:05:54.759
Tickets for the Haunt tours will be available soon for

88
00:05:54.879 --> 00:05:58.720
registration and tour information. Visit the East Coast Haunters Convention

89
00:05:58.920 --> 00:06:03.839
official website. Midsummer Scream Haunter Pass applications open through February

90
00:06:03.879 --> 00:06:08.199
twenty seventh. Applications are now open for a complementary Haunter

91
00:06:08.319 --> 00:06:11.680
pass for Midsummer Scream in Long Beach, California. The event

92
00:06:11.759 --> 00:06:15.720
is offering pairs of VIP gold Bat passes for select

93
00:06:15.759 --> 00:06:19.160
owners of home and professional haunts to attend this year's convention,

94
00:06:19.600 --> 00:06:22.639
which is August seventh through ninth of twenty twenty six.

95
00:06:23.160 --> 00:06:26.240
These passes helped to ensure that the wide range of attractions,

96
00:06:26.439 --> 00:06:31.040
from large professional events to small amateur attractions are represented

97
00:06:31.120 --> 00:06:34.120
over the course of the weekend. A limited number of

98
00:06:34.120 --> 00:06:37.199
complementary passes were set aside for Haunters who apply and

99
00:06:37.240 --> 00:06:41.079
meet the eligibility requirements via the full list of requirements

100
00:06:41.160 --> 00:06:44.839
on the online application form. The deadline to apply is

101
00:06:44.879 --> 00:06:49.839
February twenty seventh. Glenwood Caverns files for bankruptcy following one

102
00:06:49.920 --> 00:06:54.560
hundred and sixteen million dollars wrongful death verdict. Glenwood Cavern's

103
00:06:54.600 --> 00:06:58.600
Adventure Park in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, filed for Chapter eleven

104
00:06:58.720 --> 00:07:02.720
bankruptcy on February Juary ninth of twenty twenty six following

105
00:07:02.759 --> 00:07:06.399
one hundred and sixteen million dollars wrongful death judgment stemming

106
00:07:06.399 --> 00:07:09.120
from the twenty twenty one death of a six year

107
00:07:09.120 --> 00:07:12.160
old girl in the park's Haunted Mind Drop ride. The

108
00:07:12.199 --> 00:07:15.439
park generates up to sixteen million dollars in annual revenue

109
00:07:15.680 --> 00:07:19.199
and continues to operate during the proceedings. The judgment was

110
00:07:19.240 --> 00:07:22.439
elevated from an estimated one point two million, which would

111
00:07:22.480 --> 00:07:25.639
have been covered by the park's five million liability policy,

112
00:07:26.079 --> 00:07:29.040
to one hundred and sixteen million after a judge ruled

113
00:07:29.040 --> 00:07:33.279
the park's conduct met the legal standard for a felonious killing,

114
00:07:33.879 --> 00:07:38.800
removing Colorado's statutory damages cap. A Colorado Department of Labor

115
00:07:38.839 --> 00:07:42.480
and Employment investigation found that ride operators were not given

116
00:07:42.519 --> 00:07:46.519
the manufacturer's manual, received as little as one day of training,

117
00:07:46.839 --> 00:07:50.199
and had no written procedures for seat belt management between

118
00:07:50.360 --> 00:07:54.160
ride cycles. The park is appealing the Felonious Killing Ruleague

119
00:07:54.160 --> 00:07:58.439
and Colorado Appellate Court. The case reflects a broader tendon

120
00:07:58.519 --> 00:08:03.399
rising insurance costs through across the attraction industry. US casualty

121
00:08:03.439 --> 00:08:07.240
insurance rates rose nine percent in Q four twenty twenty five,

122
00:08:07.600 --> 00:08:10.600
driven by a fifty two percent increase in jury awards

123
00:08:10.639 --> 00:08:15.800
exceeding ten million dollars for Haunted Attraction operators. This underscores

124
00:08:15.839 --> 00:08:19.759
the importance of investing in operator training programs and never

125
00:08:19.879 --> 00:08:24.560
treating safety training as a line item to cut Powerful analysis,

126
00:08:24.600 --> 00:08:29.360
including sourced details from the CDL investigation and bankruptcy filings,

127
00:08:29.519 --> 00:08:32.080
is available by following the links in the show notes.

128
00:08:33.000 --> 00:08:36.399
Dark Masquerade at the Queen Mary's Harbor returns in March.

129
00:08:36.919 --> 00:08:41.039
After a sold out inaugural event last weekend, Thirteenth Floor

130
00:08:41.159 --> 00:08:45.399
Entertainment Group is announced an additional weekend for Dark Masquerade

131
00:08:45.679 --> 00:08:50.480
Friday March thirteenth and Saturday March fourteenth, addressed to Haunt

132
00:08:50.720 --> 00:08:54.200
and Be Haunted at this after hours immersive takeover of

133
00:08:54.240 --> 00:09:00.000
the ship, replacing traditional mazes with story driven encounters, character interaction, music,

134
00:09:00.159 --> 00:09:04.279
and social spaces. Sway through a high energy masquerade dance

135
00:09:04.320 --> 00:09:08.039
party under dim chandeliers and creeping fog, then slip into

136
00:09:08.080 --> 00:09:11.639
the ship's belly for story driven encounters where Dark Harbor

137
00:09:11.840 --> 00:09:15.440
icons pull you deeper into their legends. The night includes

138
00:09:15.480 --> 00:09:19.679
a complimentary masquerade mask with themed food and drinks available

139
00:09:19.720 --> 00:09:22.960
for purchase throughout the ship. Tickets will go on sale soon.

140
00:09:23.639 --> 00:09:26.480
Sign up on the event's official website for first access

141
00:09:26.519 --> 00:09:31.279
to tickets. Seven Gate Scream Park rebrands as Pine Street Horror.

142
00:09:31.960 --> 00:09:35.879
Last month, Seven Gates Screen Park from Niagara Falls, New York,

143
00:09:36.279 --> 00:09:39.759
announced that they purchased a new permanent location and would

144
00:09:39.799 --> 00:09:43.799
rebrand for a new Haunt experience. This past Friday, the thirteenth,

145
00:09:43.919 --> 00:09:46.799
they unveiled that the new Haunt will be Pine Street Horror,

146
00:09:47.159 --> 00:09:50.559
located at thirty three Pine Street in Lockport, New York.

147
00:09:50.879 --> 00:09:55.080
Set inside a former furniture and undertaking building, this multi

148
00:09:55.080 --> 00:09:57.919
floor walk through haunted attraction aims to make guests feel

149
00:09:58.000 --> 00:10:00.000
like they have stepped inside a real life horror moved.

150
00:10:00.720 --> 00:10:04.200
The Haunt will open Fridays through Sundays October tewod through

151
00:10:04.200 --> 00:10:07.600
thirty first of twenty twenty six. Follow the attractions build

152
00:10:07.639 --> 00:10:11.960
progress over on their official Instagram page. Dairy Halloween plans

153
00:10:12.039 --> 00:10:16.240
ticketing system and mural for their fortieth anniversary. Dairy City

154
00:10:16.320 --> 00:10:20.200
in Straban District Council's Business and Culture Committee have approved

155
00:10:20.200 --> 00:10:24.360
a series of proposals to enhance Dairy Halloween from London Dairy,

156
00:10:24.559 --> 00:10:28.440
United Kingdom for twenty twenty six. Largely recognized as the

157
00:10:28.519 --> 00:10:32.360
largest Halloween festival in Europe. Dairy Helloween is celebrating its

158
00:10:32.399 --> 00:10:36.320
fortieth anniversary this year, and it expects its largest festival

159
00:10:36.360 --> 00:10:39.320
to date. Officials have proposed the creation of a permanent,

160
00:10:39.399 --> 00:10:42.799
high impact mural and a large scale animation to serve

161
00:10:42.840 --> 00:10:45.360
as the centerpiece for the event. To manage the more

162
00:10:45.360 --> 00:10:48.919
than one hundred and twenty thousand annual attendees, the Council

163
00:10:48.960 --> 00:10:51.919
has proposed a new ticketing system for the Awakening the

164
00:10:51.960 --> 00:10:55.240
Walls trail within the upper Walled City in an effort

165
00:10:55.279 --> 00:10:58.840
to prevent dangerous congestion and long lines. The system would

166
00:10:58.840 --> 00:11:02.399
provide visitors with dedicated time slots. A small fee of

167
00:11:02.480 --> 00:11:05.759
two pounds per person or five pounds per family is

168
00:11:05.799 --> 00:11:09.240
being considered for the ticketing zone to cover this seventy

169
00:11:09.279 --> 00:11:13.519
thousand pounds required for enhanced stewarding and infrastructure. A similar

170
00:11:13.519 --> 00:11:16.759
ticketing system with slightly higher fees was proposed in twenty

171
00:11:16.799 --> 00:11:20.559
twenty five, but it was overwhelmingly rejected by Council members

172
00:11:20.559 --> 00:11:23.759
for Dairy Halloween, with some opponents citing concerns that it

173
00:11:23.759 --> 00:11:27.320
would exclude groups who could not afford the fees. Aiden McCarter,

174
00:11:27.639 --> 00:11:30.120
head of the culture at the Council clarified in a

175
00:11:30.200 --> 00:11:32.679
statement to press that he proposed fees would help meet

176
00:11:32.720 --> 00:11:35.840
the rising costs of infrastructure and safety. A small fee

177
00:11:35.840 --> 00:11:39.159
for individuals or families to access the Awakening the Walls

178
00:11:39.200 --> 00:11:42.240
Trail would be to cover the associated service and crowd

179
00:11:42.279 --> 00:11:45.559
control costs associated with a ticketing system to that area.

180
00:11:45.600 --> 00:11:48.639
The wider City Center program would remain a non ticketed

181
00:11:48.679 --> 00:11:52.559
area with free flowing, open access and programming content for

182
00:11:52.639 --> 00:11:56.200
everyone to enjoy and all these streets. Council officers will

183
00:11:56.200 --> 00:11:59.159
now move forward with developing the ticketing framework, and a

184
00:11:59.200 --> 00:12:02.120
detailed follower report will be presented to the Committee in

185
00:12:02.159 --> 00:12:05.480
the coming weeks. Some upcoming events from February through April

186
00:12:05.559 --> 00:12:09.240
twenty twenty six include trans World's Halloween An Attractions show

187
00:12:09.279 --> 00:12:12.840
from Saint Louis, Missouri, March twenty six through twenty nine,

188
00:12:13.080 --> 00:12:17.000
The Spooky Swap Meet from Los Angeles, California, April twenty

189
00:12:17.039 --> 00:12:22.159
fourth through twenty sixth, and the East Coast Haunters Convention, Oaks, Pennsylvania,

190
00:12:22.480 --> 00:12:24.879
April twenty fifth through twenty sixth.

191
00:12:25.440 --> 00:12:28.120
And that's all for the News this Week. Today's episode

192
00:12:28.159 --> 00:12:31.840
was produced by me Philip Ernandez, with reporting by Daryl plunky.

193
00:12:32.360 --> 00:12:35.720
Post production by David Swope. This hant news update is

194
00:12:35.759 --> 00:12:38.519
a production of the Haunted Attraction Network, and you can

195
00:12:38.519 --> 00:12:42.080
sign up to our weekly newsletter at Hanta Attractionnetwork dot com.

196
00:12:42.320 --> 00:12:45.600
Support for this episode comes from Gantum Lighty and controls.

197
00:12:45.919 --> 00:12:52.200
Until next time, Haunters, stay scary. This is a Haunted

198
00:12:52.279 --> 00:12:54.720
Attraction production.