Halloween Haunt 2026
- Thread starter mtorange
- Start date
Totally understand but a popular IP still brings money. People still patronize the likes of Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park, Harry Potter, despite poor recent installments or in some cases bad publicity. Diablo is not as mainstream as those, but look at any cross promotion with a popular show or video game despite poor later seasons or poor later sales and it’ll still sell.
I’m not saying this is some huge ComicCon announcement that you can finally enter the world live, and they expect thousands to travel to Doswell to experience this. Heck Act-Blizzard may have even approached Six Flags or cut them a deal for brand promotion. I still think this will draw an interest from a small sect of people nostalgic for or curious of the brand.
Can you blame him? The first two games are older than him.
I can see this being a big hit, even with people who’ve never played the games. Gothic horror and demons from hell make for a pretty solid foundation.
All they'd have to do for Blair Witch is remove all the props and actors from Grimm Woods.True, this IP does seem underwhelming when surrounding Six Flags parks are getting Blair Witch Project, SAW, and Jason.
I wish that Luigi’s Mansion had been the choice instead; at least that video game is widely recognized. (I know this was never gonna happen, let me dream!!!)
Haha! Probably cost too much on Six Flag’s dime to remove 4 mini structures and a few books though. Looking at you Xtreme Skyflower…
Actually they don’t need to take anything out come to think of it. Just walk a camera through the empty GrimmWoods path, and sit guests down in the other side of action theater. Put the footage on the screen and Bam, new Blair Witch maze.And maybe the fog machines?
‘Diablo: The Infernal Path’ coming to Kings Dominion and Cedar Point this fall.
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I assume this is definitely a contract build and, for that reason, even if I think the IP investment is silly, I have VERY high hopes for this house. Cedar Fair has been doing a great job picking outside designers and builders for these big prestige-y houses the last handful of years. Over that same period, KD's in-house talent has been absolutely decimated and the recent house builds really show that in my opinion.
A fresh, professional, flagship-y house will do KD a ton of good.
I do hope MonsterCon is preserved though. Super unique house concept and a strong, comedy house theme. I'll advocate once again for its relocation over to FEAR.
A fresh, professional, flagship-y house will do KD a ton of good.
I do hope MonsterCon is preserved though. Super unique house concept and a strong, comedy house theme. I'll advocate once again for its relocation over to FEAR.
From the earnings call:
John Reilly, President and Chief Executive Officer, Six Flags Entertainment Corporation:
Our fourth quarter plan adds several demand drivers when we launch America’s biggest Halloween party, with 448 Halloween-themed experiences from coast to coast.
We’ll host visitors at 107 haunted mazes, immersing guests into some of the world’s most iconic horror franchises, with 11 new ones in 2026. Our commercial team is improving upon our Halloween event upsell experiences.
John Reilly, President and Chief Executive Officer, Six Flags Entertainment Corporation:
Our fourth quarter plan adds several demand drivers when we launch America’s biggest Halloween party, with 448 Halloween-themed experiences from coast to coast.
We’ll host visitors at 107 haunted mazes, immersing guests into some of the world’s most iconic horror franchises, with 11 new ones in 2026. Our commercial team is improving upon our Halloween event upsell experiences.
Honestly? Contract builds are the future, and have been received incredibly well. Improving haunt events and building a reputation of high-quality attractions would do wonders, and might allow some of the events that used to be separately ticketed to return to that model.
Hoping that some decent investment goes into makeup / masks / props! Lots of cool stuff you can do.
Hoping that some decent investment goes into makeup / masks / props! Lots of cool stuff you can do.
I never could get into the Diablo games, but I do think this is a great theme for a maze. Contract builds do great work from what I've seen. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the first couple years or so of Fear Fest were contract built attractions from Sudden Impact! Entertainment and those mazes, scare zones and shows got a lot of praises. I'm not sure who will be doing this maze, but I have high hopes for it.
I will caution that contract houses can suck—it's not a silver bullet. See: Six Flags Great Adventure where multiple IP houses were contracted out for FrightFest Extreme a few years ago (to RWS Global I believe?) and the majority turned out absolutely horribly—like some are almost certainly in contention for the single worst house build I've ever seen.
You can find a contractor to do work at any price point so if you're not willing to invest much/don't know what you're shopping for, the results can be awful. In this case though, Cedar Fair (and the merged chain last year) has demonstrated that they know how to pick high-quality contractors and are willing to invest the cash required to finance great work—hence my optimism in this case.
Just don't want people to get it in their head that contract builds are always better.
You can find a contractor to do work at any price point so if you're not willing to invest much/don't know what you're shopping for, the results can be awful. In this case though, Cedar Fair (and the merged chain last year) has demonstrated that they know how to pick high-quality contractors and are willing to invest the cash required to finance great work—hence my optimism in this case.
Just don't want people to get it in their head that contract builds are always better.
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That is very true - quality contracted mazes.
The dream would be to have mazes be cycled out. I believe Knott's Scary Farm retires 2 houses and builds 2 houses each season at 10 houses total. A base of 5 high quality haunts, one added each year leading into 2030, would set up KD Haunt (and the other parks' events) for major success. I believe Cedar Point is now at a whopping (3) IP mazes.
The dream would be to have mazes be cycled out. I believe Knott's Scary Farm retires 2 houses and builds 2 houses each season at 10 houses total. A base of 5 high quality haunts, one added each year leading into 2030, would set up KD Haunt (and the other parks' events) for major success. I believe Cedar Point is now at a whopping (3) IP mazes.
I also agree that contract builds can be a good thing, especially in a chain where corporate doesn’t want to give parks the funding to create things in-house. KD Haunt builds post-COVID haven't been that great at all in their first year.
Also, a contract build hopefully means that the maze will be 100% ready to go on Day 1. I don’t remember the last time a new Haunt maze was fully finished on opening night. They’re always adding stuff each weekend until like halfway through the season.
I’m all for contract builds as long as you hire local talent to scare in the houses (which I’m confident will happen here).
Also, a contract build hopefully means that the maze will be 100% ready to go on Day 1. I don’t remember the last time a new Haunt maze was fully finished on opening night. They’re always adding stuff each weekend until like halfway through the season.
I’m all for contract builds as long as you hire local talent to scare in the houses (which I’m confident will happen here).
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Wait Plague Productions are doing this let them cook
Ghost in the Machine is absolutely incredible. Where did you see confirmation they are working on KD’s though? Just curious