Haunted House Marketing Gimmicks: “We’re #1!” – But Are They Really?

Every Halloween season, haunted houses across the country unleash their scares—and their slogans. You’ve seen them everywhere: “The #1 Haunted Attraction in the City!” … “Voted Best Haunted House!” … “The Scariest Haunt in Town!”

But here’s the truth: most of those claims are nothing more than marketing gimmicks. With so many haunted houses saying they’re the biggest, best, or scariest, how can fans really know which ones live up to the hype? Let’s dive in and look at the bigger picture!

The “#1 Haunt” Problem

Haunted houses don’t exactly have a universal scoreboard. There’s no official “Haunted House Olympics” where judges hand out gold medals. Instead, many haunts declare themselves “#1” based on vague polls, local newspaper blurbs, or even just… because they said so.

That means in any given city, you could have four different haunted houses all claiming they’re the top dog. Which leaves visitors asking: #1 according to who?

While there are several websites that claim to be Haunted House Review Sites, sometimes these sites are just run by fans of haunted houses. It is a great way for them to get free access to attractions across the country!

As with the claim that there is no official “Haunted House Olympics”, most of these sites do not judge haunts by the same criteria. Some are very knowledgeable,  but some are just Haunt Fans. The same can be said about the “Top Haunts List” created by publications, or sites. Every year the ASYLUM and HOTEL FEAR gets approached by different companies with the offer that if they pay to advertise in their publication, they will guarantee to be listed in their  “Top 10 Best Haunts” Listing. They were even approached to be on a television program about haunts across the country but would have to pay to cover the cost of them filming the attraction!

Needless to say, the ASY

LUM and HOTEL FEAR has never paid to acquire a listing  or be on any list.

Why Haunts Use This Gimmick

From a marketing perspective, it makes sense. Being “#1” grabs attention. It makes customers feel like they must be at the hottest haunt in town. To be honest, most haunts HAVE to say they’re number 1 or the customers thinks it’s sub par. It creates urgency: If this is the best, why go anywhere else?

But the danger here is oversaturation. When every haunt says they’re the best, the message loses its bite. The “#1” title becomes less about truth and more about noise.

What Really Matters in Haunted Houses

So you may be asking yo

urself, “How can I tell if a haunt actually deserves its hype?”

First let’s look past the slogans and the hype. When you are thinking of attending a couple of haunted house look at them using the same criteria. Ask these couple questions about each attraction :

• Longevity: If a haunted house has been running for decades, there’s a reason people keep coming back. If a haunt is just starting out or fairly new, how can it really be number 1 already??
• Production Value: Do the sets feel like movie scenes? Are the sets detailed? IS there a mix of actors and animations? If so, are the animations used as distraction or the only scare? Are the actors believable and intense?
• Reputation: Check real customer reviews—not just the haunt’s own ads. Social media can be very helpful, but you have to be wary. Most social media or search programs make sure they list both positive and negative reviews. Be sure to glance at ALL the reviews, not just the couple presented from each category. Look for patterns. If ten people are all saying how intense it was and how great the sets were, then one guy says it was not scary and just black walls…you might not put much credibility in that negative comment.

Unfortunately, you get actors, cast members or just friends who think they are doing their attraction a service by ripping into their competition! Bottom line, reviews are great, just take them in context.

• Recognition: Maybe talk to your own friends and acquaintances and get their opinion. Have they been to several of the attractions? What did they like or dislike? Your friends may have the same tastes so their opinions will carry more weight!

ASYLUM & HOTEL FEAR: Las Vegas’ Longest-Running Haunted Attraction

Here in Las Vegas, AS

YLUM & HOTEL FEAR doesn’t need to hide behind a “#1” gimmick. If they do post a listing, it is usually one that has been validated or carries actual clout. For 27 years, it’s been Nevada’s largest and longest-running haunted attraction. During the Covid shutdown, they actually rebuilt the ASYLUM from the ground up instead of just waiting around for the outcome. They were the ONLY walk through attraction that was allowed to open because of their Covid Plan that had to be ok’ed on the State level! Instead of making hollow claims, they have built a reputation through:

• Film-Set Quality Production: The sets are so detailed they’ve been used in movies like the RUST Trilogy and Immortal Wars—as well as in several music videos.
• Intertwined Storylines: Unlike generic scares, the Asylum and Hotel Fear weave a continuing saga of two twisted families, immersing guests in a unique horror universe.
• National and Industry Recognition: Featured in travel guides, haunted attraction rankings, and industry publications, ASYLUM & HOTEL FEAR has earned respect far beyond Las Vegas. In the industry, their creator Rich Strelak, has taught classes at the national convention/trade show and wrote many articles that help teach the next generation of haunt owners and operators.
• Loyalty & Longevity: Nearly three decades of fear means generations of Nevadans keep coming back year after year—because the experience delivers. They are a volunteer staff and many of the cast members have been there 15 to 20+ YEARS! Cast members have met spouses and even had “Haunt Grandkids” during their tenure with the ASYLUM & HOTEL FEAR! They really live to provide you this experience every year!

A Better Way to Market Fear

Instead of leaning on the tired “#1” gimmick, ASYLUM & HOTEL FEAR tells its story. It highlights its history, its characters, and its legacy of scares. That authenticity is why it doesn’t just attract locals—it draws thrill-seekers from across the country who want more than hype, they want an experience!

Final Thought

This Halloween, don’t

fall for every “#1” claim. Remember this whole experience is totally subjective. What do YOU like? The ASYLUM & HOTEL FEAR are totally original in sets, characters and story. If you were only looking to see the licensed characters you know from the movies, you might not rate it as high. The same goes with other personal likes and dislikes. Maybe you hate clowns if so, you’d love the ASYLUM because there aren’t any!

My best advise is to clear your m

ind and attitudes and enter a haunt like it is your first experience ever. Without reservations you can allow yourself to enjoy the experience. React if you get startled, jump if you must, but mostly laugh and have a good time sharing this experience with your friends and loved ones. Sure, it helps if you notice things like the level of detail in the haunts, do they stay true to their theme, are their actors engaging and enthusiastic, does the haunt try to live up to the hype it created?  This all helps create the over all experience that you paid for.

Look deeper, do a little research, and support haunted houses that actually deliver the scares—not just the slogans. In Las Vegas, that means stepping inside the twisted worlds of ASYLUM & HOTEL FEAR—if you dare.

Visit LVHaunts.com for tickets, dates, and info.

 

 

 

How to Find the Perfect Halloween Haunted House Attraction Near You

Halloween season is creeping closer, and the hunt for the ultimate scare is officially on. Whether you’re chasing bone-chilling screams, immersive storylines, or family-friendly frights, the right haunted attraction is out there—if you know how to search for it. So how do you search for the RIGHT Haunted Attraction?

First you might start by trying to remember the name of the haunted house your friends were talking about. Was it the Asylum? Hotel Fear? Hollywood Horror Nights?…. No, wait, that’s in California! So maybe you just jump on a search engine and type in “Haunted House”. Is this really the most effective method?

I tried, first I see listings for houses that people claim are actually haunted, then a Wikipedia listing for haunted houses in my state, a redit lisiting of paranormal locations, and even a poem ”Haunted Houses” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow!!! But you wanted to go to that cool Haunted House in the Mall! It was the Meadows Mall…. Now I am getting listings on shopping Malls…. then online shopping start popping up…. what does Temu have to do with Haunted Houses??? And so starts the Rabbit Hole that ends up with us online watching videos of cats when we just wanted a haunted house!

Maybe we can avoid the “cat trap” if we just look for “best”? But by who’s standards are we judging “best”?  Is this listing the best, or the best one that advertised the most? Now I am getting the Top Ten Halloween Costumes for 2025!!! I just want a Haunted House so someone will scare the crap out of my friend, and I get to laugh! Maybe we need a step-by-step guide to uncover the best haunted houses for this October, using smart search strategies that can lead you straight to the heart-pounding horror you crave, something local, hopefully right to the Asylum and Hotel Fear!!

1. Start with “Near Me” Searches

Most people begin their haunted house hunt with location-based searches. On your phone or laptop, type:

• “Haunted house near me”
• “Halloween attractions near Las Vegas”
• “Scary haunted house near me”

Tip: If you have location services enabled, Google and other search engines will prioritize local attractions so you can find nearby events without hours of scrolling. There might be a Halloween themed event that you didn’t even know existed but is near you. If you are not searching “near me”, you might get a cool event but if it’s 4 hours away or in the next state it won’t do you much good for tonight!

2. Use Experience-Specific Keywords

Not all haunted attractions are the same. Narrow your search by adding the type of experience you want. This is more important OUTSIDE Las Vegas:

• “Haunted hayride near me” – Perfect for outdoor chills, just not many in Las Vegas.
• “Interactive haunted house” – If you want actors to get really close. But just because they “touch” you, doesn’t guarantee it’s actually scarier.
• “Haunted corn maze tickets” – For a mix of jump scares and getting lost. More of a family event.
• “Escape room haunted house” – Great for puzzle-loving thrill seekers, but this is better for the escape room experience not an actual haunted house experience.

Using Key Words not only filters results but also helps you discover unique seasonal events you might not have heard about. Use Key Words that are actually available in your area. Back east there are Haunted Hayrides and Haunted Trail Walks EVERYWHERE. Living in Las Vegas or anywhere in the southwest high desert you are not going to find very many cornfields or wooded trails! This is a big reason why the Asylum and Hotel Fear are mobile attractions. There are not many corn fields, no big wooded areas and old buildings are just not available in Las Vegas, so our attractions are uniquely built to be mobile out of necessity.

3. Check for Reviews and Ratings

Once you find an attraction that looks promising, search for its name plus the word “reviews” or “rating.”
Example: “Hotel Fear reviews Las Vegas”

Checking for reviews by name will focus on the attraction you intend on visiting without wasting time on places you’re not visiting. Reading reviews for an attraction can prepare you so you don’t miss the best features.

  Why it works: Reviews on Google, Yelp, and Facebook often reveal what the scares are like, the wait times, and whether the event is worth the ticket price. Read more than one or two reviews so you can get a clearer picture on what to expect.

Why it DOESN’T work: Remember it is ten times easier to write a BAD review than to write a good review. If one small thing upsets someone, it will totally segue the review. We have had people claiming they waited HOURS in line, yet we had only been open for 45 minutes! Make sure you look for details in a review. You need to ask, did this person REALLY attend? Unfortunately, other attractions may get an overzealous actor who thinks they are helping by slamming the competition. Read more than just a few reviews. Look for trends. If the majority of reviews all talk about how detailed the sets were and how great the actors are then one reviewer claims it was nothing but dark hallways with no actors,  you might want to disregard that review. Look for specific details, see if they match other reviewers.

4. Search for Ticket Deals and Dates

Don’t just search for the attraction—look for special offers and availability. Try:

• “Las Vegas Haunts discount tickets”
• “Haunted house early entry pass”
• “VIP haunted attraction tickets”

You can also filter by date in search results to find events happening exactly when you want to go. Most Haunts are seasonal and only open on weekends. Some may have additional or specific dates. Pricing can vary from day to day. Some attractions offer coupons or discount days.

At the Asylum and Hotel Fear, we used to print coupons but people would forget the coupons, people would lose them, or sponsors would run out. So, while we do utilize a sponsor code that you can use online if you shopped at Smith’s or Sonic, we now utilize a sliding ticket price. Basically, YOU decide what discount you want. If you attend early in the season the tickets are cheaper. If you wait until Halloween night, you pay more! It’s simply supply and demand. Come early in the season for the best deal! Check other attractions as they too will be more expensive later.

5. Explore Social Media & Event Sites

Some of the scariest attractions don’t rank high in Google but have a strong social media presence. Search on:

• Facebook Events – Search “Halloween” or “Haunted” plus your city.
• Instagram Hashtags – Try #HauntedHouse + [City] or #Halloween[City].
• TikTok – Many attractions post sneak peeks and scare videos that never make it to their websites.

Even if you just get to see a couple scenes or just the outside areas (a lot of haunts do not allow filming inside) it helps to see if it is a truly professional attraction, or if you should spend your money somewhere else!

6. Use “Best Of” Lists

Every year, blogs and local news outlets post rankings of haunted attractions. Search:

• “Best haunted houses in Las Vegas 2025”
• “Top haunted attractions near me”

These lists often include details like scare level, recommended age, and special effects used—helping you choose the right fright level. Another advantage of sites like these is that if they are related to the industry they are comparing “apples to apples” . They will judge the attractions on more criteria than just  “…they had a cool chainsaw!”

If the site just “specializes” in Lists, beware. The listing can depend on how much advertising is bought on the site. We were approached by a site that even listed what each level of ranking would cost you!

7. Don’t Forget the Legends

If you’re into real history and ghost stories, combine “haunted house” with terms like “historic,” “real,” or “true story.” You may stumble upon real haunted hotels, asylums, or theaters that may also host Halloween events. Adding a Haunted Attraction to an actual hospital or jail can add a level of “eerie” that would be hard to replicate.   Unfortunately, we do not have many of these in Las Vegas. If a building gets old, we blow it up and build a new one! Other cities actually have REAL historic, horror locations or haunted buildings. We have to create the horror or the legend.

Some attractions just create a couple haunts that capitalize on what current trend or horror movie is current, like mixing clowns and pirates… they really have nothing to do with each other. We created our own legend about Dr. Vander and Meadview Asylum and how they interact with the Feoray Family and the Hotel they founded! The storylines intertwine so they are like chapters in a bigger story. Very early on we were contacted by a foreign film crew. They wanted to do a documentary about Meadview Asylum! They had read the story on our website and thought it was real!! It shows the power of good story.

🎃 Final Tips:

Search early. The most popular haunted houses sell out fast – especially for prime nights like the weekend before Halloween. While we may sell out the Asylum and Hotel Fear VIP tickets online, we do always have General Admission tickets available on site, you may just have to wait longer in line. Many other attractions will do the same.

Remember, the more specific your search terms, the closer you’ll get to the perfect creepy adventure. You do not want to show up with kids to an adult only haunt or show up with the guys from your ball team to end up at a kiddie attraction!

Watch out for the self-claims. Everyone claims that they are the “Scariest”, “Las Vegas’ BEST”, “Las Vegas’ Number One Haunt!”, “The only Vegas Haunt that [add the newest catch phrase here]”. Remember, it’s really hard to be Las Vegas’ Number One attraction when no one has even heard of you!  It’s always better when the claim comes from a reputable source. Listing a claim is  “according to X Publication”  is way better than “It’s the Number 1 Haunt according to Bob!”

The Asylum and Hotel Fear have been CONTINUOUSLY providing Las Vegas the highest levels of FEAR for 27 YEARS! We have seen a LOT of Haunts come and go and WE survive because we constantly change, update and improve. We unleash new horrors every year to keep our show fresh. People return to the Asylum and Hotel Fear because they know you will get a great show!! In the end, it’s all we can hope for.

Well, it’s the New Year!! Did YOU make a New Year’s Resolution? I usually make only ONE….to NOT make New Year’s Resolutions!!! But I do like to reflect and think how I can do things better. This year I’d like to add a few more Blog Posts….so here we go!!!

The Asylum and Hotel Fear aren’t really “Halloween Attractions”, we don’t do Halloween. We have highly detailed themed Haunted Attractions. So, we don’t have spooky ghosts, black cats, witches or the like. When I work on props, I am building things like a radiator to replicate an old stem heating unit in the Hotel or detailed “knick-knacks” to put in the Dr’s office at the Asylum!

An issue that always rears its ugly head is period stuff! Most haunts back east find tons of old stuff to populate their attractions from friends, at thrift stores or even on the curb during trash day! We live in Las Vegas. Most people move here from somewhere else, so they get rid of old stuff BEFORE they move. I scour thrift stores on a regular basis looking for “treasures”. Most times I must buy something that is new and then have to make it look old!! Or, more fun for me, is to make something I need out of stuff I don’t!

So, let’s start out the New Year with this first Blog Post! A “New to Old” prop segment…. The HOSPITAL WHEELCHAIR. I have several wheelchairs, but I wanted an old-style vintage looking chair. Well, they start at over $300 on eBay, so time to build! It will be a set piece just to add atmosphere to one of the scenes.

On a trip to Goodwill, I found a newer wheelchair. Then I found a kitchen chair. It had the right look and appeared to be close in size. So here I am in the store trying to jam a chair into a wheelchair…yes I got a few looks! Fortunately, it fit! Off to the register, then home to build!

I dismantled the wheelchair, repainted it, took off parts I didn’t need, then attacked the kitchen chair. I had to cut off the legs, sand down the wood and then distress the whole chair. It needed to stained and weathered to look like it has been around for years.  Assemble the two pieces, add new foot pieces and suddenly a new wheelchair and kitchen chair are transformed into a vintage wheelchair!! Utilizing discounts at the register (remember, different colors equal different discounts!) stain, paint, a few screws and wood scraps, all I have invested in this build is less than $30 in materials and about 2 ½ hours in the shop!

So the lesson here is …if you can’t find it or afford it….you build it!! Besides…it’s more fun!!!

Rich

We are famous for our ALL VOLUNTEER Cast. Sometimes people ask why we use volunteers? Simple answer…Because they WANT to be here!! We actually tried a paid cast twice. Both times we had issues with the actors and our customers asked what happened to our actors, they weren’t as good as usual!!

Since Haunts only pay minium wage, AND we’re only open 18-20 nights, it’s really easy to just blow off coming in if anything else comes up! Paid actors seem to focus on their next break. The volunteer actors focus on the next SCARE!

Our Cast members are volunteer and they are here because they LOVE to scare people! It’s what motivates and invigorates them! We really take cast of pur crew because they become “family” members! We feed the cast because many come straight to the Haunts from work or school so having a free meal is really convienant for everyone. We have a big Awards Ceremony after the Season, usually at a cool place like Defy Trampoline Park. There are awards, actors earn t-shirts or the coveted Haunt Hoodie if you have perfect attendance. We do several activites throughout the year, all free to the actors. We go the places like Defy, Battle Blast Laser Tag, Pole Position, Cowabunga Bay Water Park, Galaxy Theatres. It gives everyone a chance to reconnect, relive past seasons and bond with their fellow actors!

Most of our Core Actors have been with us 12-15 YEARS!! Let’s face it, it’s just FUN to Scare the Piss out of someone!!! Yes we really scare people enough that they soil themselves, (on average 1.8 times a night). Our attractions are Actor Driven and our actors are the BEST!! So if you want to SEE the Best, come visit the Asylum & Hotel Fear. If you want to BE the Best, audition this season and experience it for yourself!

WELCOME TO OUR BLOG!!! Owning and operating a Haunted House Attraction is a unique business, to say the least! The questions we get are quite different from that of a “normal business”. We do get a lot of the same queries like: “How did you get in the business?”, “What else do you do?”, ” Is your real house haunted”, “How do you come up with ideas?”, “What’s scary?”….the list goes on and on. It seems the best way to answer these and other questions would be to address them in a BLOG! So again….Welcome to our Blog!

Besides questions about the haunts from customers, I get a lot of questions from other owners and operators. I have been outspoken in the industry since we first started in 1999. I have been a featured writer for Hauntworld Magazine, the industry’s leading publication, a featured seminar speaker numerous times at the TransWorld Haunted House Trade Show, and a speaker at IAAPA (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions), this is the convention for major parks like Disney, Universal, Six Flags and the like, even a Board Member for the industry’s Association. This isn’t just to brag (well maybe a little), but to show you that the information and knowledge I share has real value and content. People have paid hundreds of dollars to gain such information. You get access just for being a fan of Las Vegas Haunts!

Being heavily involved in the industry a big question I get is, “If you are so involved in teaching about the Haunt Industry, why don’t you do a Blog or Pod Cast?” So, I guess my answer has always been an excuse like I’m busy or I don’t know if people would be interested. Excuses to say the least. I do realize than a lot of people are like me, I LOVE to hear information from behind the scenes. I’ve been able to get special behind the scenes tours of many of the best haunts in the country, even a special tours behind the scenes of Disney’s Haunted Mansion and Tower of Terror! So, if I enjoy it, I think other people might too!!

If I take the excuses out of the equation, then I guess it’s time to start Blogging!  With an Asylum as one of our themes, there are definitely some whisperings coming from the shadows. Our Hotel Fear theme contains several hidden passages and secret doors, so it too has its share of whispering voices!  Hence the title, “Whispers from Within the Shadows”.  My goal will be to give you some insight into our attractions, a few non-spoiler behind the scene peeks and some insight into the haunted house industry! If you have some unanswered questions pertaining to our industry just log onto our Facebook page (www.LasVegasHaunts.com/Facebook)  and start a conversation!  So, buckle up and we’ll take this joint adventure into one of the most unique industries together!