Pre Season Haunts Top 10

​

Haunt Hunters App

Pre-Season 2026: The Top 10 Haunts Revealed. What Does AI have to say?.

​New, York, NY - The Haunt Hunters App leaderboard for the 2026 pre-season has finally been released, and the competition is tighter than ever. Each of these attractions is legendary, with owners constantly trying to out-scare and out-perform one another to climb the ranks. We spoke with several of the haunt masters behind this year's winners to get their thoughts on making the list.

​Starting with the #1,  Reaper's Revenge in Scranton, PA. Their owner, Mark, says, "Getting to that #1 spot is incredible. For us, it's about pushing the physical limits of our customers. We want them to feel every scrape and hear every whisper in the woods."

​Sliding into #2 is the immersive Woods of Terror from Greensboro, NC. Sarah, the founder, explains their strategy: "People come to us because they know it’s not just a maze. It's a complete psychological takeover. We are building detailed nightmare scenes that stay with you long after you leave the parking lot."

​In third place, the massive Field of Screams in Mountville, PA, continues its dominance with a terrifying mix of hayrides and indoor mazes.

​Fourth place belongs to a true icon: Blood Prison in Mansfield, OH, housed in the imposing Ohio State Reformatory. "You can’t fake the genuine atmosphere of this place," says lead haunt designer, Chris. "We don't need fancy effects to create tension. The walls already hold a century of real pain."

​A strong contender at #5 is Fright Kingdom in Nashua, NH, known for its creative, diverse themed attractions that offer a wide range of scares.

​Rounding out the top six is The Haunted Farm in Hendersonville, NC. This outdoor maze and trail offers an organic, rural terror that is hard to replicate.

​The seventh position goes to Blood Manor NYC, one of New York City’s premier scream zones. "We've always set the bar for intense, in-your-face chaos," says co-owner Mike. "This year, we’ve taken our top scares and made them even tighter, faster, and more intimate. We're honored to be in the top 10, but the hunt is far from over." (Blood Manor also graciously presents this year's rankings).

​Lehigh Valley Screampark in Orefield, PA, takes the #8 slot, proving its growth as a multi-attraction destination.

​At #9, 13th Hour Haunted House in Wharton, NJ, continues to craft intricate, narrative-driven experiences that have won it a dedicated following.

​Finally, at #10, is Halls of Horror, also from Pennsylvania. This high-intensity haunt has earned its reputation for pushing boundaries. "Making the top 10 list is a huge milestone for us," says owner Greg. "It’s a major achievement. This year we’re going darker than ever—we’ve created a more claustrophobic and personal environment. Be ready."

​These rankings prove one thing: the haunted house industry is not resting on its laurels. Every owner on this list is hungry to climb higher and terrify more people. The 2026 season looks to be the most terrifying yet.

Bringing the Terror to Life: Inside Scranton's Grudge Doll Workshop

A doll workshop attendee takes a photo with
The Grudge Star Junko Bailey 
Photo: Haunt Hunters App 

by Tara Adams 

Writer, Haunt Hunters App 

​SCRANTON, Pa. — As the scent of clear coat spray wafted away from pale, ghostly dolls outside the Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel, the atmosphere inside smelled purely of the macabre. 

​Inside, during the inaugural Underworld Culture Convention on Saturday, horror fans sat hunched over tables, meticulously applying dark smudges to the lifeless faces. They weren't just painting, they were summoning ghosts.

​The workshop was led by Mary Jo Chudley, the artist behind Twisted Dolls. Chudley travels the convention circuit turning playthings into the stuff of nightmares. Past classes have tackled icons like Pennywise, Michael Myers, and Jason Voorhees, but on Saturday, the focus was squarely on the pale-faced, bone-chilling spirit from The Grudge.

​Chudley spent hours preparing the blanks ahead of time, leaving the spine-tingling details to the class.

​"Start close to the eyes and work your way out," Chudley instructed the room, guiding students through the delicate shading around the nose, mouth, and eye sockets necessary to carve out that signature hollow stare.

​The trick, she explained, keeps the dark pigments from pooling too heavily, creating a stark, unsettling contrast against the doll's ghostly white skin. 

And then there was a crucial warning for later: "The eyes glow in the dark."

​She laughed, recalling past participants who weren't aware of this detail and became startled when a pair of luminous eyes blinked back at them from a darkened house.

​"I'm scared," one attendee joked, raising a brush as she sized up her canvas, terrified of ruining the piece.

​Soon, the room fell into a quiet, focused rhythm, punctuated by occasional words of encouragement. "Yours looks so good," one creator whispered, leaning over to inspect a neighbor's progress.

​Once the shading was locked in, the class carried their creations outside to be sprayed with a clear coat, setting the stage for the finishing touch: blood. Using resin, participants painstakingly added glossy, wet-looking drips weeping from foreheads, corners of eyes, and lips, giving each doll its own custom splatter. 

To complete the look, everyone dressed their creations in miniature white dresses, similar to the cinema ghost's wardrobe.

​The real test, however, waited upstairs.

​With their dolls finished, the class lined up to meet Junko Bailey, the actor who portrayed the Kayako ghost in the 2019 reboot of The Grudge. 

In full costume and makeup, Bailey lit up as she inspected each handmade terror.

​She struck a terrifying pose beside the creators, glaring at them alongside the mini-monsters. Pointing at the tiny figures, Bailey grinned and said, "Mini-me" after the photos.

​Underworld Culture Convention Marketing Director Michael Castro praised Chudley's knack for inspiring everyday fans.

​"She's so talented," Castro said in an interview on Friday. "She's done workshops at other cons that have sold out."

​For Chudley, the appeal is simple. The workshops let horror lovers reach out and touch the franchises they obsess over, forging a tangible connection to the characters they love, and giving them a gruesome new centerpiece for their display shelves at home.

Chudley instructs the class on shading techniques. 
Photo: Haunt Hunters App 

Where Slasher Icons Meet Poppet Magic: Scranton’s Newest Convention Brings the Paranormal Out of the Shadows

 

Photo courtesy of Underworld Culture Convention 

by Tara Adams

Writer, Haunt Hunters App 

SCRANTON, Pa. – When local military veterans Laurissa and Allen Rex set out to build a convention in Scranton, they wanted to move past traditional vendor markets and tap directly into the uncanny. 

This weekend, Sept. 19–20, that vision takes shape as the inaugural Underworld Culture Convention fills the Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel, blending cinematic terror with the paranormal under one roof.

​The event arrives at a notable inflection point for genre gatherings. 

According to Marketing Director Michael Castro, pairing paranormal enthusiasts with hardcore horror fans is a deliberate strategy to keep both subcultures robust, noting that standalone paranormal events have experienced a cooling trend in recent attendance numbers.

​"The paranormal community needs to hang on to the horror fan to keep it alive," Castro said. "They complement each other very well."

And the Radisson was an excellent fit for the convention, given its historic charm and longtime stories of it being haunted, Castro said. 

According to numerous published reports, the hotel's basement served as a temporary morgue for local fallen World War I soldiers until their families could claim them.

​Festivities begin before the main exhibition doors open, starting with a midnight seance on Friday night at the nearby Electric City Trolley Museum.

​From cursed dolls to cinematic royalty

​Inside the hotel, attendees will navigate a floorplan that features nearly 100 vendors specializing in metaphysical oddities, spiritual supplies, cryptids, and horror.

Beyond the vendor tables, the convention will feature interactive workshops and appearances by veteran horror figures.

​The celebrity roster includes pro photo opportunities, autograph, and Q&A sessions with CJ Graham (best known as Jason Voorhees), Tony Moran (Michael Myers), Junko Bailey (Kayako from The Grudge), and Jeff and Willy from Mountain Monsters, among other celebrities.

​For attendees looking for hands-on experiences, the schedule features several ticketed masterclasses:

​The Grudge Doll Workshop (Saturday): Participants sculpt, shade, and texture their own cursed art dolls featuring dark eyes and aging details, with Junko Bailey present to sign finished pieces. The workshop is led by Mary Jo Chudley, owner of Twisted Dolls and Penn Paranormal.

Magic Workshops with Patti Negri: The psychic-medium hosts two distinct sessions. The first is a Saturday deep dive into poppet magic and haunted objects drawing from her book “Dollcraft:  A Witch’s Guide to Poppet Magick & Haunted Dolls,” followed by a Sunday afternoon workshop on practical modern magic.

​Horror Legends Screenings: Screenings accompanied by actor Q&As feature titles such as Halloween, Friday the 13th Part VI, and Scream.

​A Community Approach

​Organizers emphasize that despite the focus on cinematic killers and spirit-summoning workshops, the atmosphere is designed to be inclusive and family-friendly. Organizers are also directing a portion of all ticket proceeds to Fisher House, an organization supporting military families.

​"We're really all about good vibes, man," Castro said. "It's all ages. Families are welcome. It's going to be super cool."

​Tickets and workshop passes are currently available for the weekend event. More information about the event may be found at https://gounderworld.com/. 

​Beyond the Ring Light: The Case for Journalism and Physical Art

 ​

by Tara Adams
Haunt Hunters App

There is a profound difference between being told how to feel by someone staring into a ring light and standing face-to-face with a story that demands you think for yourself.

​These days, opening up a social media feed is like being trapped in a crowded room where everyone is shouting for your attention, while offering nothing of substance. We have traded the hard-earned craft of looking outward for a culture of looking inward. 

The modern digital landscape is choked with influencers flapping their lips, treating every cultural touchstone, product, or news item merely as a backdrop for a selfie. They are not reporting; they are performing. And in that performance, the actual subject gets swallowed up.

​The formula is always the same. An influencer makes themselves the inescapable focal point of every frame. The product, the art, or the event is just a prop held up next to a face, reduced to an aesthetic marker or a discount code. This approach lacks any real depth, insight, accountability, or originality. When your entire business model relies on keeping eyeballs glued to your personal brand, you cannot afford the luxury of nuance.

 True reporting requires stepping back, getting out of the way, and letting the facts or the subject speak for themselves. An influencer can never do that because, to them, the story is always just a vehicle for themselves.

​Contrast that with the tactile, grounding world of physical media, traditional journalism, photojournalism, and physical works of art.

​Holding a heavy, ink-stained newspaper feature, studying the framing of a single, decisive moment captured by a photojournalist on film, spinning a vinyl record from cover to cover, or standing before a physical painting opens doors that algorithms keep firmly locked. These mediums demand active participation. They give you the space to wander, to question, and to form your own conclusions. They do not hold your hand or tell you what reaction to drop in the comments.

​Physical works of art and rigorous reporting respect your intelligence. They carry the weight of real labor, the kind of work that involves traveling to a beat, verifying facts, sitting through tedious public meetings, or spending months in a darkroom or a studio. That sort of dedication builds an institutional memory and a standard of accountability that a three-minute vertical video can never replicate.

​When everything becomes about personal branding, culture flattens out into a series of hot takes and unearned authority. But when we invest our time in physical art and journalism that actually looks at the world instead of a front-facing camera, we reclaim our ability to think critically. We stop consuming content and start engaging with reality.

Six Flags Teases New 'Blair Witch: No Signal' Haunted Mazes for the 2026 Season

 

by Tara Adams
Writer, Haunt Hunters App

​Haunt season is right around the corner, and Six Flags is already dropping clues about what’s waiting for horror fans in the woods this autumn.

​In a social media announcement, the theme park giant revealed a brand new haunted attraction titled Blair Witch: No Signal. The tease features vintage, unsettling imagery, including a weathered VHS tape with "There's something out there" scrawled across the label and a "Missing" poster background reminiscent of the 1999 found-footage horror classic.

​Horror enthusiasts won't have to travel to Burkittsville, Md., to experience the terror. Six Flags confirmed that the new haunted mazes will be arriving at two specific locations for their upcoming fall events:

​Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom (Allentown, PA)

​Six Flags Great America & Hurricane Harbor (Gurnee, IL)

​While exact details on what lies within the mazes are still under wraps, the "No Signal" subtitle and the video equipment imagery suggest guests will likely be navigating a high-tension, dark forest environment where technology fails and something malicious watches from the shadows.

​Both parks are expected to launch their respective Halloween events, including Dorney Park's Halloween Haunt and Great America's Fright Fest, in mid-September.

Halloween Haunt at Dorney Park is scheduled to run on select nights from September 18 through October 31, 2026.

Fright Fest at Six Flags Great America is expected to run on select nights from September 19 through November 1, 2026. 

Check out the Blair Witch: No Signal teaser here: 

Blairstown Diner Set to Host Jam-Packed "Dusk 'Til Death" Horror and Music Fest This Saturday

by Tara Adams
Writer, Haunt Hunters App

BLAIRSTOWN, N.J. -- ​If you’ve ever wanted to throw a baseball at Jason Voorhees or sit behind the wheel of television’s most famous demon-hunting muscle car, your Saturday plans are officially locked in.

​On July 18, the historic Blairstown Diner, immortalized by its role in the original Friday the 13th, is embracing its horror roots. The landmark NJ-94 eatery is hosting the Dusk 'Til Death Market and Music Fest, a day-long celebration of all things macabre, metal, and Jason Voorhees. 

Mike Rumsey, owner of Blairstown Diner, said the spooky restaurant hosts monthly horror-related events that draw horror fans from all over the world. 

That interest is a statement on the popularity of the hockey-masked slasher, who's been a part of horror history for more than 45 years.

“He has a cult following at this point,” Rumsey said. 

Blairstown offers visitors the chance to see the filming locations of the first Friday the 13th up close, including the diner, which is decorated in Jason-related memorabilia and merchandise and serves themed menu items. 

​Here is what you need to know if you're planning to head out to the event, which is being held rain or shine:

​The Free Vendor Market (10:00 AM – 4:00 PM)

​The festivities kick off in the morning with an outdoor vendor market that is free to attend. Dozens of small businesses and artists will be set up on the grounds, offering a massive variety of oddities. 

Expect to find:

​Horror-themed artwork, candles, wreaths, and home decor.

​Vintage toys, collectibles, and hard-to-find horror merch.

​Custom hot sauces, themed cookies, and a physical presence from the Buffalo Bills House team.

​A "Critter Corner" where visitors can learn about exotic bugs and insects.

​Sit Inside "Baby" from Supernatural

For fans of the hit CW series Supernatural, one of the day’s biggest highlights is a guest appearance by "Baby,” the iconic 1967 Chevrolet Impala driven by Dean and Sam Winchester. For $30, fans can take photos and actually sit inside the legendary hunter vehicle.

The Green Goblin from Maximum Overdrive 

​Meet the Icons of Horror

​The diner is playing host to a lineup of horror actors, directors, and creators for exclusive signings and photo opportunities.

​Heading the guest list is Ari Lehman, the very first actor to portray Jason Voorhees on screen. Joining him are several prominent franchise alumni and indie horror icons, including:

• ​Warrington Gillette (Friday the 13th Part 2)
• Lauren Marie Taylor (Friday the 13th Part 2)
• Xander Goldman (Writer/Director/Actor)
• ​Amber Brooke (Actress/Model)
• The Platon Twins
• Kevin Redzinski

​Dunk Jason and Live Music 

​If you've ever wanted some lighthearted revenge on Camp Crystal Lake's most infamous resident, the diner will feature a "Dunk Jason" tank. Baseballs are $1 each (with a $5 minimum) for a chance to send the slasher splashing into the water.

​As the sun starts to set, the event shifts gears into a ticketed live concert running until 10:00 PM. Tickets for the concert are $30.

​The stage will feature pre-concert acoustic performances by Carmine Gontz and Jerry Other, followed by the heavy-hitting evening music lineup:

​5:00 PM – 5:50 PM: First Jason (fronted by Ari Lehman)

​6:05 PM – 6:45 PM: Edgeways

​7:00 PM – 7:40 PM: Burned Into Existence

​7:55 PM – 8:45 PM: School's Out (An Alice Cooper tribute band)

​9:00 PM – 9:50 PM: Horror Scene

​Event Details

​When: Saturday, July 18, 2026

​Hours: 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM (Market: 10 AM – 4 PM | Concert: 5 PM – 10 PM)

​Where: Blairstown Diner, 53 NJ-94, Blairstown, NJ

​Tickets & Info: Entry to the vendor market is free. Concert tickets, meet-and-greet passes, and "Baby" photo-op tickets can be purchased in advance at blairstowndiner.com.

Photo: Blairstown Diner 

How 'Goldilocks: Halloween Havoc' Creeped Out Texas Frightmare Weekend

 

Photo Courtesy of William Instone 

by Tara Adams

Writer, Haunt Hunters App 

IRVING, Texas – Goldilocks didn’t stay confined to a booth at Texas Frightmare Weekend.

He drifted through the aisles, strands on his wig moving with a rigid bounce, mask fixed in a dead stare, quietly asking blonde women a single question: could he have a lock of their hair?

Some laughed. Some froze. A few backed away before he could explain himself.

“That’s kind of the point,” Filmmaker William Instone told Haunt Hunters App in an interview. “We’re trying to creep people out at first.”

The unsettling walkaround stunt was part guerrilla marketing and part character study for Goldilocks: Halloween Havoc, a slasher feature Instone wrote and directed. 

The man in the mask wasn’t just a cosplayer. He was Goldilocks, a serial killer character who has been haunting horror conventions, and now drawing real reactions, for three years.

Photo Courtesy of William Instone 

Instone brought the character,  played by Darren D. Davidson, to Texas Frightmare Weekend in May, where Goldilocks roamed the convention floor asking blondes for hair. 

Only after the initial discomfort did the pitch come: it was for a movie.

“Most people say no at first,” Instone said. “But they won’t forget us, and that’s the whole point.

The tactic has worked. Since first trying it at conventions several years ago, Instone and his team have collected roughly 80 locks of blonde hair. 

Early on, the process was as rough as it sounds.

“We were cutting off hair with a pocket knife,” Instone said, recalling a moment when a woman unexpectedly agreed to the request after seeing a fake trailer he had made for the concept. “Now we’ve upgraded to scissors.”

Some contributors have handed over long sections of hair, reaching to the middle of Goldilocks’ back when affixed to the character's wig.

The hair is real. The threat, of course, is not.

“It’s a publicity stunt,” Instone said.

Still, the creep factor was strong enough that the convention itself addressed it publicly. Ahead of the weekend, Instone posted on social media that Goldilocks would be “looking for hair.” Some attendees were unsettled. 

The convention responded on Facebook with a tongue-in-cheek endorsement.

“I’ve been getting reports (since last year’s event) that there was some creepy guy asking for blonde hair,” the post from Texas Frightmare Weekend read. “He’s a vendor. He’s making a movie. Did he creep you out? Good! That’s what horror movies are supposed to do.”

“It’s probably the best promo for a film I’ve seen in a while,” the post added.

Photo Courtesy of William Instone 

In Goldilocks: Halloween Havoc, the unease is baked into the character. 

Goldilocks is a deranged serial killer whose fixation on blonde women traces back to childhood abuse by his mother, who also had blonde hair. He stalks victims on Halloween, when a wig and mask allow him to disappear into the crowd.

Instone said the character draws inspiration from both real and fictional killers, including Dennis Rader, known as BTK, as well as Buffalo Bill from The Silence of the Lambs and Norman Bates from Psycho. The mask and wig were influenced by Rader’s use of doll masks, something Instone describes as “so unnerving.”

Goldilocks is built as a physically imposing killer, something the film never explicitly explains but quietly reinforces. The actor playing him is an ex-wrestler, and Instone said that background shows up in the performance.

He’s muscular and strong and does use some wrestling moves in the movie.

The violence, Instone added, is intentionally brutal.

“It’s not necessarily gory,” he said. “But it’s brutal. He beats them to death with his fists. He’s not trying to make it quick.”

That cruelty, Instone said, ties back to the character’s hatred and the personal nature of the trauma that drives him.

The feature film serves as a prequel to the fake trailer Instone initially circulated at conventions. That trailer unexpectedly drew enough attention to push the project into full production. 

To recreate the right atmosphere, the crew even staged Halloween in May, with households decorating along a street to sell the illusion.

Instone plans to keep the film under two hours and expects to self-distribute, with hopes of theatrical screenings in Texas and eventual placement on streaming platforms. He also wants to bring the finished film back to Texas Frightmare Weekend next year for a screening.

A sequel is already written. For now, the focus is wrapping up shooting and moving on to post-production. A Kickstarter campaign to cover those costs is expected to launch Friday, June 12, 2026. .

Until then, Goldilocks will keep walking the floor, unsettling, unforgettable, and doing exactly what Instone set out to do.

“We’re trying to scare you,” he said. “It’s supposed to be creepy.”

The following photos from Goldilocks: Halloween Havoc are courtesy of William Instone: