Minute Escape Rooms Are Trending In The Haunted Attraction Industry
Escape Rooms have become popularized in the entertainment industry over recent years and most take 45 minutes to an hour to solve. Haunted attractions have increasingly offered them to patrons seasonally or in year-round locations. Three to five minute Escape Rooms are the latest novelty which generates additional revenue in a space with a small footprint.
“For $5 customers can work as a group or team to try to solve ‘puzzle’ challenges for fun together, and if they win, they receive coupons for free or discounted merchandise” reports Kelly Collins.
Mr. Collins, an Operations Manager, created the first concept and successful business model for 3 Minute Escape Rooms at the ScareAtorium, in Columbus Ohio, in 2014. Scareatorium is a Haunted Attraction Entertainment Complex featuring 2 indoor attractions (the “Northland Asylum” and “RIPS 3D Funhouse) in a 40,000 square foot venue and 4 Escape Rooms; along with a Scare Store, Scare Lounge rental and services of the the Funhouse Faces Makeup Artist/Talent Agency by appointment.
Kelly and his wife Neena are 2 of the original founders of the Midwest Haunters Convention. On Friday, Kelly won a Haunted Attraction Association Board of Directors award honoring his dedicated and passionate work in the haunt industry and also at ScareATorium. This top honor is the highest award in the haunted attraction industry.
The Haunted Attraction Association (HAA), the only official association in the haunt industry, serves as the voice of the haunted attraction industry. It is made up of a network of members throughout the world who exchange ideas and educational programs through the association’s various conferences, networking events, socials, newsletters, and magazines throughout the year. Each year, this network of haunted attraction owners and operators come together to operate on the cutting edge of haunted attraction special effects. The Association’s Board of Directors is made up of 13 haunted attraction owners / operators from around the world.
Adding Escape Rooms to a FEC (Family Entertainment Center) can generate a significant increase in sales revenue for both small and large businesses. Customers enjoy the experience of working together in a small space with information overload and heightened excitement to find hidden objects or solve puzzles in such a short amount of time. Their reviews have been positive whether they ‘win’ or not. Several major attractions are now implementing X Minute Escape Rooms including Netherworld in Atlanta, Fear Fair in Indiana, as well as The Factory of Terror and Haunted Hydro which are both Ohio based attractions.
For more information, check out the official websites of ScareAtorium and The Haunted Attraction Association.
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