Are haunted house attractions still operating and safe amid the pandemic?

2020 has already been filled with enough scares, but for those craving even more thrills, it's still the season for heart-pounding haunted houses.

While COVID-19 has limited long-distance travel, especially by air, these Halloween events often attract more local visitors, meaning they may not be as impacted by fewer long-haul trips this year.

However, they are facing a different set of challenges.

Back in 2019, the big questions were all about: Which haunted houses are the scariest? And which ones are the best to visit?

In the cautious days of 2020, the questions have shifted: Are haunted house attractions even opening this year? And if they are, is it safe to attend?

With COVID-19 cases rising again, health experts recommend a cautious approach to any outings.

A mix of openings and closures.

To get a sense of what's happening, Dinogo Travel reviewed its list of the top 10 haunted houses in the U.S. for 2019 to see how they are adapting to the pandemic in 2020.

The findings: Seven are open this year, while three have chosen to close for 2020. The seven still operating are:

– Bates Motel, 1835 Middletown Road, Glen Mills, PA 19342; +1 610 459 0647 – The Dent Schoolhouse, 5963 Harrison Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45248; +1 513 445 9767 – Erebus, 18 S Perry St., Pontiac, MI 48342; +1 248 332 7884 – Haunted Overload, 20 Orchard Way, Lee, NH 03861; +1 855 504 2868 – Netherworld Haunted House, 1313 Netherworld Way, Stone Mountain, GA 30087; +1-404-608-2484 – Scream Town, 7410 US-212, Chaska, MN 55318; +1 888 317 7308 – The 13th Gate, 832 St Philip St, Baton Rouge, LA 70802; +1 225 389 1313 Due to safety concerns surrounding COVID-19, three of the top 10 haunted houses from 2019 will remain closed this year: Freakling Bros. Trilogy of Terror in Las Vegas, the Haunted Trail of Balboa Park in San Diego, and Scared by the Sound at Playland Park in Rye, NY.

In a statement on their website, Freaking Bros. in Nevada explained, 'Current regulations prevent us from delivering the high-intensity horror experiences we're known for, and we cannot ensure the safety of our guests, staff, and volunteers during this pandemic.'

'After months of careful thought and consideration, we've reluctantly concluded that the safest course of action is to prioritize health and safety, and remain closed for the 2020 season.'

The venues that are staying open this year are placing a strong focus on COVID-19 safety measures.

For instance, The 13th Gate in Louisiana has dedicated an entire page to its COVID-19 safety protocols. Visitors familiar with this summer's amusement park experiences will find these measures quite similar.

The 13th Gate's safety measures include mandatory masks for both guests and actors, virtual queues, limited capacity, temperature checks, and redesigned layouts to promote social distancing.

A behind-the-scenes look at one of the attractions.

Dinogo Travel spoke with Ben Armstrong, co-owner of Netherworld near Atlanta, to learn how the attraction is adjusting to the pandemic as it enters its 24th season.

Armstrong explained that planning for a major Halloween attraction is a year-round process, and it quickly became clear that the pandemic would still be a factor when their season kicked off in late September.

"We spent months working on this. We had to find new ways to deliver the experience. It was touch and go right up until the last minute," Armstrong said. "We weren’t even sure we could open, or if we should, given how the situation was unfolding."

Armstrong mentioned that they had to develop plans to open safely, collaborating closely with the Georgia Department of Public Health in the process.

A shift in operations.

One of the changes includes operating fewer days than usual.

"We’re taking Mondays and Tuesdays off to avoid overworking our staff and to allow some recovery time between sessions," Armstrong explained.

Armstrong explained that they had to consider both staff well-being and visitor safety when planning an opening that would minimize the risk of COVID-19 spread.

"We wanted to deliver the high-quality experience we’re known for, but safety was our priority. The challenge was finding a way to balance both objectives," he said.

"We’ve cut back on the number of actors in the attraction and drastically reduced the number of attendees. Additionally, we’ve enhanced the experience with around 100 more special effects and animations," Armstrong shared.

Armstrong mentioned that the way actors interact with guests has also been adjusted.

"Actors no longer make their usual sounds. They now use voice amplifiers and pre-recorded noises. They remain silent when scaring visitors, employing unusual sound devices to startle guests. Props are used to surprise people, and their entire approach to engaging with guests has shifted significantly," Armstrong explained.

Actors at Netherworld wear masks, and they’ve introduced one-way traffic patterns to prevent guests from retracing their steps.

"We’ve expanded the outdoor midway. While we were planning for this change, the pandemic has led to major adjustments to our campus layout," Armstrong noted.

Precautionary measures are also being taken across the Atlantic.

Several haunted attractions across Europe are also reopening, following similar safety precautions.

A popular spot in Cornwall, England, is the historic Bodmin Jail, which was constructed in 1779 during the reign of King George III.

Bodmin Jail has created an entire webpage detailing what visitors must do before and during their visit to stay COVID-safe. They have implemented a timed entry system, removed interactive elements, and adopted a one-way flow of traffic, similar to what Netherworld has done.

Despite the ongoing pandemic, Movie Park Germany is hosting its annual Halloween Horror Festival. The park, located near the Rhine River in Bottrop, is offering terrifying experiences like a Circus of Freaks and an eerie, unwelcoming hostel. However, the park has been carefully planning since summer to ensure the scares are safe for visitors.

In an interview with the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, Manuel Prossotowicz, the director of marketing and sales at Movie Park Germany, explained that they would expand outdoor queues, implement a one-way flow for guests, and cancel pre-shows that typically gather crowds in confined spaces.

A focus on the great outdoors.

Some haunted house attractions that already had outdoor elements are now making better use of these areas. For the newly opened The Forge: Lemont Quarries, being an outdoor-focused park from the start gave them an advantage.

Located about 22 miles from downtown Chicago, The Forge offers a variety of outdoor activities such as zip lines, ropes courses, and rock climbs. It opened on July 17, amidst the ongoing pandemic. Thanks to the park’s spacious layout and unique activities, they faced fewer challenges than typical theme parks.

Co-founder Jeremie Bacon explained that this outdoor setup helped with the park's pandemic opening, as well as in planning their signature Halloween event — a laser tag Zombie Apocalypse.

"In addition to the obvious health benefits of an outdoor venue during Covid, The Forge's environment is perfect for creating a one-of-a-kind Halloween experience," Bacon said. "We have eerie forests to conceal creepy creatures and a stunning array of outdoor lighting that amplifies the spooky atmosphere."

Bacon also shared that the zombie laser tag game will take place in a secluded, heavily wooded area of The Forge. "Two teams will engage in tactical laser tag while fending off zombies hungry for human flesh," he explained.

In addition, the attraction has implemented the now-typical Covid-19 safety measures: reservation systems, virtual queues, social distancing markers, and more.

Drive-thrus and drive-ins.

With the resurgence of cars and road trips during the pandemic, Halloween attractions have adapted by offering drive-thru and drive-in experiences. This way, visitors can remain safely distanced from others while enjoying the spooky entertainment.

Kowagarasetai, a Japanese horror event production company, has created a haunted house drive-in located in a nondescript parking garage in downtown Tokyo. Visitors get a 360-degree, front-row view as they experience the terror of being trapped in a car during a zombie apocalypse.

U.S. attractions are following suit, including The Haunted Drive in Houston and The Haunted Road in Orlando, Florida, where visitors drive and park at various scenes of fright.

Hopefully, your car won't get possessed and start driving itself like Christine!

But is it safe to attend?

Even with precautions in place, it's still a valid concern: Is it wise to visit these attractions while the pandemic is ongoing?

Dr. Shannon Hopson, an endocrinologist from Corvallis, Oregon, and a mother of two boys who love theme parks, shared her thoughts with Dinogo Travel as both a medical professional and a parent.

"We've never visited haunted houses before, but my kids are at an age where they're beginning to enjoy spooky experiences, and they've been asking about going this year," she explained. "I told them no – enclosed spaces with crowds, where not everyone may be wearing masks, just doesn't seem safe to me."

However, she's more comfortable with outdoor attractions than indoor ones.

"Any haunted houses indoors seem like a risky choice, and I'd advise avoiding them altogether. Some places do offer outdoor versions, which feel much safer to me, although overcrowding can still be a concern," she explained.

However, if you're still considering attending, we wanted to know what advice she would offer.

"In addition to sticking with outdoor-only haunted houses, I would also prioritize locations that require masks and restrict the number of visitors allowed in at once," she advised.

"It might seem unnecessary to wear a mask outdoors, but if you encounter someone from another group who gets startled and unintentionally gets too close while laughing or screaming, it’s a very real possibility," she cautioned.

Armstrong from Netherworld argues that we still need opportunities to escape mentally from what has been an incredibly challenging year.

"We’re offering an escape from reality – a chance to step into a fantasy. At this moment, I truly believe people need that kind of reprieve. It’s crucial," he said.