NEWS: Herschend's Acquisition: Will Halloween Haunts Survive?

0:07 Coming up your weekly roundup of news from around the haunt industry. Welcome to the show. I'm Philip on the HN Show. We bring you the haunt news, information, and education you need to prepare for Halloween. On Tuesdays, we bring you a roundup of news from haunts worldwide. Read more about these stories and so much more in our free weekly newsletter. Subscribe at the link in the show notes. And as always for the news roundup, I'm passing it off to. Darryl her Shand, owners of Dollywood and other family friendly properties and parks Ronidos, have signed a definitive agreement under which Hershand will acquire all of Palace Entertainment's US entertainment properties from Parks Rondos. This year, we're celebrating seventy five years of bringing families closer together and looking ahead to the next seventy five, said Andrew Exler, CEO of Hershand.

1:02 Today's announcement marks a natural expansion and continuation of that vision. By growing wisely and staying true to our purpose, we are building a future where we can continue creating memories worth repeating for generations to come. The over twenty properties that will transfer to Hrshand include Kenny Wood in West Miffland, Pennsylvania, and Castle Park in Riverside, California, both of which host scary themed Helloween events. While Hershand has committed that no immedia changes to operations or planned for these newly acquired properties, the company has been known specifically not to do scary events at their parks. How could this merger potentially affect the Halloween events and the acquired parks. Philip and Scott discuss the implication in this week's episode of the Green Tagged podcast. Drowned Out Productions, in partnership with the Immersive Art Collective, invites Brave guests to experience Limos, an immersive psychic experience, April eighteenth through twentieth in downtown Los ag Angelus, California.

2:01 The fifteen to twenty minute intimate experience, which first ran during the twenty twenty four Halloween season, weaves together elements of Greek mythology and immersive horror to tell a tale of greed and destruction. This is our first time stepping out and creating something on our own from our day jobs working as theme park designers. We really threw in every tip and trick we knew to create both unique individual moments and a compelling overall experience for audience members, said producer Jackson Mancuso. The show really is our little love letter to all of the things horror and immersive. Tickets are on sale now, priced at forty dollars per private showing for parties of up to five people. Zombie Joe's Underground Theater Group presents Modern Myths Awakened. Prepare for an unrelenting journey to the darkest corners of folklore as Zombie Joe's Underground Theater Group from North Hollywood, California, brings audiences the Modern Myths Awakened on April sixth, twelfth, and thirteen.

2:56 Written and directed by Charlotte Cocker and produced by Zombie Joe, this forty five minutes sit down horror event will twist and transform the world's most infamous urban legends such as Laurona, the Babysitter and the Man Upstairs, Slender Man, and more into modern nightmares designed to unnerve even the bravest horror fan due to graphic content, nudity, and extreme scares. This experience is for audiences only eighteen and above. Tickets are on sale now for twenty dollars in advance and twenty five at the door. Follow the links in our show notes to get your tickets today. The John Wick Experience from Egan Productions has officially opened an Area fifteen at the Las Vegas, Nevada, allowing guests to enter into the dangerous and captivating world inspired by the hit movie franchise, where loyalty is tested, alliances are forged, and danger is just a breath away. Explore over a dozen immersive rooms, interact with live characters, and make choices that shape your path through this cinematic underworld. The twelve thousand square foot attraction is also including two themed bars and our retail shop.

4:01 Tickets are on sale now starting at forty nine ninety nine for general admission, sixty nine ninety nine for VIP admissions, and ninety nine to ninety nine for Ultimate VIP admission. The London Dungeon wants to borrow your haunted items from possessed dolls to cursed collectibles. The London Dungeon in London, United Kingdom placed a nationwide call out for fans to submit photos or videos of their eerie objects to potentially be included as part of the attraction's Easter Show. A grand prize winner will receive two annual passes to the Dungeons, and runners up will receive free single entry tickets. The new Cursed collection will be on display starting April fifth in the London Dungeon's Shadowy and Demonic Cabinet of Curiosity.

4:44 Get your ticket today on the attractions official website. For over two decades, Mike Rochester has entertained guests in King's Island in Mason, Ohio. A recent article in the Dayton Daily News highlighted his career, which includes playing various care at both the Halloween Haunt and Winterfest. Most notably, in two thousand and eight, Rochester has served as the Undertaker the host of Helloween Haunt. This role has led him to be featured in the event's promos and commercials, as well as received his own show to interact with guests on nights of the event. Rochester's profound love for acting and truly loves his time with King's Island. I had a moment of profound appreciation, said Rochester, referring to the recent finale of Helloween Haunt. Just profound emotional appreciation for the trust at the park and the company put into me into what I've always wanted to do, which is entertained but on a grand scale. Home Depot is teasing their Ultra Skelly animatronic. At the recent Home Depot Store Manager's meeting, attendees were given a sneak preview at certain highlights from the twenty twenty five Halloween collection. A new member of the Skelley family will be arriving later this year, Ultras Skelly. While just over half the size of the iconic twelve foot skeleton, Ultraskelley will feature move moving arms, LED lights, a Bluetooth speaker, and support for app controlled interaction.

6:06 It will include five preset recordings, as well as the ability to create a custom thirty second recording via a compatible app. Like its twelve foot counterpart, Ultra Skelley will have the recessed LED life eyes that blink and squint. Seasonal eye themes such as birthday confetti, Saint Patrick's date, clover, dragons, and even the American Flag will allow for year round fun. The Home Depot is yet to officially add Ultra Skelly to its website or release any pricing Information. Winners have been announced for the twenty twenty four Arizona Haunters Awards. Categories include Best Costumes, Characters, Best Prop, Best Display, and Best Walkthrough. View the award winners and all entries on the Arizona Haunters official YouTube playlist. Follow the links in our show notes to watch the presentation. Today, Halfway to Halloween Expo returns to ann Arbor, Michigan. A hauntingly good time awaits the Halfway to Halloween Expo and Anna Arbor, taking place at the Washington Off Farm Council Grounds on Saturday, May tenth. The Halfway to Halloween Expo offers an array of costumes, props, decorations, haunt and horror goods, custom pieces, and more. In addition to the vendor floor, the event features a walk through Haunt, first car show, and food trucks.

7:20 Costumes are encouraged. Tickets are on sale now for five dollars per adult, and children in twelve and under are free. The fifth annual It's Alive Designing Sci Fi, horror and comic book genre of film and TV panel returns to wonder Con in Anaheim, California, on Saturday, March twenty ninth, at noon, join industry professionals as they reveal how they bring your favorite worlds and characters to life through the artistry of editing, music, sound, and more. Panelists include Brent W. Bachmann, Ace Companion Art and Is re Recording Mixed, Christina Chewi. When What We Do in The Shadows Season six VFX supervisor and second unit director Johnny Han and DC's The Penguin Editor and director John Takowski, Star Trek Discovery and composers Leo Berenberg and Zach Robinson, Cobra Kai and your Friendly Neighborhood spider Man. The moderator will be director, actor, writer co founder of Not Your Daddy's Films Carly Tammerin Wonder con Badges are on sale now at the Offense official website. Some upcoming events this March through may include the Spooky Swap Meet in Los Angeles, California, April twenty fifth and twenty sixth, The East Ghast Haunters Convention in Oaks, Pennsylvania April twenty sixth and twenty seven, The Halfway to Halloween Expo and Anna Arbert Michigan on May tenth, and the Monster Palooza from Pasadena California, May thirtieth to June first.

8:45 And that's all for the news this week. Today's episode was produced by me Philip Hernandez, with reporting by Daryl Plunky post production by David Swape. This Haunt News Update is a production of the Haunted Fraction Network and you can sign up to our weekly newsletter at Haunt Attraction Network dot com. Support for this episode comes from Gantum Lighting and Controls. Until next time, Haunters Stay Scary. This is a Haunted Attraction Network production.