Ephemeral, High-Budget, & Highly Themed

Theme Parks & Installations

Installations / Activation / Pop-Up: An immersive experience created by transforming a story told in a different medium, usually for a very short duration of days, weeks, or months.

These are currently mostly built as a way of marketing a movie, television show, or book by allowing audiences to ‘experience’ the story in a novel, interactive way. They can be largely designed for audience members to take photos for social media or can be a more complete experience (see our San Diego Comic-Con coverage for specific examples). The trend is toward more active engagement as marketers realize the potency of immersive experiences.

Further, this category also covers theme parks and haunted locations (like The Queen Mary) that are transformed during the Halloween season with numerous haunted houses that are often referred to as “mazes.” These experiences are classic, linear, walkthroughs that are highly themed, well-produced, and feature some great scares.

Browse the company guide below to find large-scale attractions that might interest you. Scroll to the bottom to find our intensity guide.

Most installations, activations, and pop-ups are ephemeral, existing for a short period of time and thus, do not show up our intensity guide. However, the larger attractions at theme parks and The Queen Mary that consistently appear every Halloween do – occupying an intensity of level 3 – referenced by their loud noises, jump scares, and sometimes, roaring chainsaws. These events, much like haunted houses, aim to scare you – but do not offer any personalization. If you’d like more innovation beyond jump scares, try immersive horror.

Haunting Company Directory - Immersive Theater Extreme Haunts Haunted Houses Entertainment Horror

Campfire

Castle Dark

Experiential Supply Co

Ghost Train

Giant Spoon

Knott’s Scary Farm

LA Haunted Hayride

Meow Wolf

Meyer2Meyer Entertainment

Mycotoo

OA Experiential

Queen Mary, Dark Harbor, Haunted House, Theme Park, Large Scale Attraction, Long Beach, Los Angeles, CA

Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor (CLOSED)

Six Flags, Magic Mountain, Fright Fest, Halloween, Theme Park, Large Scale Attraction, Los Angeles, Santa Clarita, CA

Six Flags Fright Fest

Two Bit Circus

Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights

*Please click on each image for more information!

Haunting Intensity Rating Scale - Immersive Theater Extreme Haunts Haunted Houses Entertainment Horror

INTENSITY ZERO

Experiential

Supply Co

For an Intensity score of ZERO, audiences should expect traditional stage shows, non-horror events, or whimsically magical events. These separate audience and actor, don’t include contact, and are creative, fun, literary, or exploratory. These are perfect for first-timers, friends, and parents (I would bring my mom).

UNBOUND
PRODUCTIONS
THE GUEST
AND
THE HOST

WALK THE
NIGHT

49 BOXES

FORCE OF
NATURE
THE
ART
DEPARTMENT

TWO BIT
CIRCUS MEOW WOLF

INTENSITY ONE

For an Intensity score of ONE - IMMERSIVE, audiences will immerse themselves in a fictional world with no traditional stage. These experiences utilize real locations, strong production value and amazing actors to evoke emotion, usually with minor interactivity and no touch. These are great gateways into immersive entertainment.

ROGUE
ARTISTS
ENSEMBLE
THE
UNMARKED
DOOR
FIRELIGHT

COLLECTIVE

CAPITAL
W
SPEAKEASY

SOCIETY METAFORYOU

SCOUT
EXPEDITION
CO.
THIRD RAIL

PROJECTS
COACT

PRODUCTIONS

INTENSITY ONE

For an Intensity score of ONE - SENSORY, audiences will expect more sensory experiences that are still friendly, easily accessible, and lack contact. These includes themed dinners/cocktail parties, ASMR spas, VR experiences, and hikes. The experiences are meant to be fun, exploratory, and full of discovery.

WHISPERLODGE INFINITELY
DINNER

SOCIETY

DRUNKEN
DEVIL
DARK

CORNER
DRYCRÆFT

LA
DISCO
DINING
CLUB
ELK - OWL

SOCIETY MEYER2MEYER

ENTERTAINMENT

INTENSITY ONE

For an Intensity score of ONE - YARD DISPLAYS, audiences should expect Halloween themed arrangements in front yards or commercial spaces. While these have little to no interactivity or actors, they make up for it with innovative technologies, impressive set design, and plenty of photo opportunities. As such, they most often family friendly and community oriented.

FACTORY

DEFECT

COFFINWOOD
CEMETERY GREENEWITCH
CEMETERY THE HAUNT

WITH

NO NAME

CLYBOURN
MANOR

ROSEHILL
HAUNT

PIERDELL
CEMETERY FILLMORE

GRAVES GRIMWOOD
HOLLOW VANOAKS
CEMETERY WELCOME
FOOLISH

MORTALS

CATASTROPHE
CABIN CLOWN TOWN MYERS MANSION THE GHOULIE GRAVEYARD

INTENSITY ONE

For an Intensity score of ONE - FAMILY HAUNTS, audiences should expect Halloween themed Haunted Houses at homes or small businesses. These are passion projects and may have longer lines and/or limited runs. They are most often family friendly and community oriented.

GHOST TRAIN FORBIDDEN

WOODS CEMETERY MARINA
SPOOKTACULAR

STONEY POINT BONEY

ISLAND

PRISM

CASA CREEPY ROTTEN APPLE 907 OPECHEE HAUNT THE HAUNTED

GRAVEYARD

INTENSITY TWO

Intensity scores of TWO - IMMERSIVE provide a deeper step into the realm of immersive enterainment. With more interactivity between audience and actor, these experiences promote connection and emotion. Guests can often choose their level of engagement and explore and interact on their own. Audiences may even become a character, with the ability to impact the narrative.

CROSS ROADS

ESCAPE GAMES
HORROR
ESCAPES
LOS
ANGELES
SPY BRUNCH

OPTIKA
MODERNA
EPIC

IMMERSIVE E3W

ABC
PROJECT
THEY PLAYED

PRODUCTIONS

WHITE
HELIX PUNCH
DRUNK CANDLE HOUSE
COLLECTIVE GREAT
COMPANY STASH

HOUSE

CEASELESS
FUN

INTENSITY TWO

For an Intensity score of TWO - HOME HAUNTS, audiences should expect haunted houses located at homes & small businesses. These are passion projects, and may have longer lines, limited runs, and lower cost or are free. These often are more innovative and impressive than larger haunts; but expect similar labyrinthine mazes, jump scares, and group-focus.

REALM
OF SHADOW

SHIVER
COMMON
GROUND
CEMETERY

DESERT
DECAY
MANOR

CLUB
FEAR

SPOOKY
HOLLOWS
REICHLAND
ASYLUM
PUMKIN
JACK'S
HAUNTED
HOUSE BCR: A PLACE TO SCARE CAITLIN MANOR

BOOT HILL NIGHTMARE CIRCUS THE HAUNTED

SHACK

INTENSITY THREE

For an Intensity score of THREE - THEME PARK / ATTRACTION MAZES, audiences can expect themed locations or theme parks that are transformed during the Halloween season & filled with multiple haunted houses or labyrinthine mazes. Each maze sends groups through, often in a conga line, to experience jump scares, which are characterized by loud noises, flashing lights, and sudden movement. However, there is no contact & little to no interactivity between audience & actor. These have some of the best sets of any haunt out there.

FRIGHT FEST
LA
HAUNTED
HAYRIDE

KNOTT'S
SCARY FARM
HALLOWEEN
HORROR NIGHTS

DARK HARBOR

CASTLE
DARK

BLOODSHED
BROTHERS

FIELD OF
SCREAMS

INTENSITY THREE

PIRATE'S

CAVE

COFFIN
CREEK

An intensity score of THREE - HAUNTS is for haunted houses that focus on scares meant for teens and adults (non-family friendly). These haunts contain gore, mature themes, and innovative scares. While they do not contain deep narratives & world-building, stories still elevate each haunt. Most are group experiences, but some are solo experiences with very light touching.

REIGN OF
TERROR

TRILOGY
OF TERROR

THE
FLESHYARD
INTO
THE
BLACK RIZO

SCAREHOUSE

PERDITION
HOME
FEARS
GATE
THE
DREICH
SOCIETY MURDER HOUSE

PRODUCTIONS
BEWARE
THE
DARK
REALM

TWISTED MINDS
PRODUCTIONS COUNTYLINE

FRIGHT
ALL SAINTS

LUNATIC ASYLUM HIGH DESERT

HAUNTED
HOUSE

INTENSITY FOUR

Intensity scores of FOUR are immersive horror experiences, where guests become an essential part of the story. High interactivity and thrilling moments will result in a sense of dread that goes beyond a jump-scare. These are often group experiences with one-on-one encounters and light contact in service of the narrative.

DELUSION
JUST FIX IT

PRODUCTIONS
PSEUDONYM

PRODUCTIONS

MAJESTIC
REPERTORY
THEATRE

SINISTER
POINTE

INTENSITY FIVE

Intensity scores of FIVE mark the intersection between non-contact & full contact experiences. This level is characterized by FULL CONTACT experiences in the immersive horror genre. Experiences like this allow audiences to be touched or taken, but this is often in service of a game-mechanic or narrative and is not aggressive or forceful. The horror experiences at this level are mostly group shows, and the solo experiences (you go in alone) are often less scary; instead, inviting participants into a surreal or abstract world, encompassing a full spectrum of emotion.

INTRUDER
ESCAPE

ALONE

GREAT HORROR
CAMPOUT (CLOSED)

SCREENSHOT
PRODUCTIONS

SHINE ON
COLLECTIVE

INTENSITY SIX

Intensity scores of SIX are experiences that exist in the space between immersive horror (4’s and 5’s) and extreme horror experiences (7’s and above). While not as extreme as extreme horror, these companies often have triggers or content that can be intense for the normal immersive horror participant, such as violence against children. This is not aggressive intensity, but more mental intensity. The companies at this level are also varied in their style and tone, so please do your research to understand the experience you are buying a ticket for before you do so.

FACELESS
VENTURES
ZOMBIE
JOE'S
UNDERGROUND

INTENSITY SEVEN

Intensity scores of SEVEN signify entry-level EXTREME HAUNTS like The 17th Door and Freakling Bros' Gates of Hell as well as more evocative story-based EXTREME IMMERSIVE HORROR (EIH) experiences like The Experiences or nocent. These experiences will provide an excellent entry point for those looking for a bit more from traditional experiences. The extreme haunt variants will add in minor shocks, full contact and mature themes and are not solo experiences, while the immersive horror experiences will focus more on evoking emotion and enveloping you in a larger world, adding in high levels of personalization.

GATES OF HELL
17TH

DOOR

THE EXPERIENCES

BL4KM4SS nocent

(Los Angeles)

INTENSITY EIGHT

Intensity scores of EIGHT signify theatrical EXTREME IMMERSIVE HORROR (EIH) experiences. These experiences push boundaries by sending participants through alone. They incorporate aggressive contact, nudity (actor and optional participant), sensory deprivation, and fear of the unknown. These are theatrical experiences with simulated torture--and while guests will definitely have their limits pushed, they won't be faced with actual violence and torment.

SANTU

DELIRIA

BLACKOUT

STAG

INTENSITY NINE

For intensity scores of NINE, audiences should expect EXTREME HAUNT and EXTREME IMMERSIVE HORROR (EIH) experiences with a strong narrative focus and increased intensity. These are experiences that aim to push boundaries through the use of physical brutality and aggression, sensory deprivation, visceral imagery, and psychological fear. Some experiences will leave participants with intended marks (scratches, bruises, and beyond), while others achieve this through fear of the unknown. These are usually individual experiences, and we recommend researching these companies before attending.

QUIETUS
HORROR

(BELGIUM)
LA CASA
DE
SATANAS
(CHICAGO)

MIASMA
(CHICAGO) SHOCK
THEATER

(NEW YORK)
HERETIC
(CLOSED)
HVRTING

(LOS ANGELES)

INTENSITY TEN

For an Intensity score of TEN, audiences should expect the most extreme experiences. These are EXTREME HAUNTS that focus on theme over narrative. Guests will individually face all aspects of simulated death: electrocution, suffocation, drowning, physical aggression, and being buried alive. This is not for newcomers and we highly recommend doing a level 9 extreme experience prior to doing one of these events.

THE
VICTIM
EXPERIENCE CASTLE OF
CHAOS

{Not Currently
Recommended)

If you are the creator of an experience and would like for us to add your company to our immersive guide or our intensity rating scale, please email us and we can discuss.

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