Transforming Haunted Attractions: SurgeFX at TransWorld’s HAA Show 2025
If there’s one thing we took away from TransWorld’s Halloween & Attractions Show (HAA Show) 2025, it’s this: The haunt industry is pushing boundaries like never before.
This wasn’t just a trade show—it was a gathering of the most innovative haunt owners, escape room designers, and special effects pros in the world. And we were right in the middle of it all, showcasing the next generation of stage effects that will take haunted attractions to terrifying new heights.
But the best part? Meeting YOU—the masterminds behind the industry.
The Most Common Challenge Haunt Owners Face
We spoke with hundreds of haunt professionals at HAA Show, from small-town scream parks to massive, multi-location attractions. And while every haunt is unique, one common challenge kept coming up:
🎃 “How do I make my haunt more immersive and unpredictable?”
Haunt owners aren’t just looking for good scares—they want memorable, Hollywood-quality experiences that keep guests coming back year after year. The answer? Special effects that engage every sense.
How SurgeFX Helped Haunt Owners Upgrade Their Shows
At our booth, we didn’t just talk about our products—we showed haunt owners firsthand how pro-grade effects can elevate their scares and storytelling. Here’s what people were most excited about:
💨 Fog & Haze Machines for Maximum Suspense
A haunt without fog is like a horror movie without a soundtrack. The right fog machine doesn’t just add atmosphere—it manipulates visibility, builds tension, and hides your best scares.
🔥 What haunt owners loved:
- Our Haze Master Pro created a thick, lingering haze that made lighting effects pop.
- The SF-VF3000 Vertical Fog Machine shot towering fog plumes that paired perfectly with strobe lights for jump scares.
- Many haunts wanted multi-angle foggers for unexpected, disorienting effects.
⚡ Cold Spark Machines for High-Impact Scenes
We had haunt owners come to our booth skeptical about cold spark machines—until they saw them in action.
🔥 Why haunts are using them:
- Simulates electrical malfunctions, supernatural bursts, or explosive energy.
- 100% safe—no heat or flames, just pure visual impact.
- DMX-controlled, allowing haunts to sync them perfectly with sound and lighting cues.
👻 One haunt owner told us: “This is exactly what we need for our laboratory scene—it looks like a fuse is blowing out!”
💥 CO2 Jets: The Ultimate Jump Scare Tool
At the show, we had multiple haunt designers looking for non-traditional jump scare methods—and CO2 jets were the perfect solution.
🔥 How haunts are using them:
- Sudden, loud bursts of fog create a visceral startle effect.
- Perfect for hallways, scare zones, and blackout mazes.
- Works great in outdoor and large indoor spaces without fog lingering too long.
One haunt pro told us they planned to replace air cannons with CO2 jets for a more immersive scare that combined sound, motion, and a blast of cold air.
🎭 Dynamic Lighting: The Key to Mind Games
Many haunt owners came to us looking for ways to manipulate perception using lighting. The right combination of shadows, strobes, and UV effects can make a haunt feel like a living nightmare.
🔥 Most requested lighting effects:
- Moving head lights for shifting shadows and eerie motion.
- UV LED lighting to make blood splatters and hidden messages glow.
- Battery-powered LED Pars for flexible, wireless setups in extreme locations.
One haunt owner running an underground, no-electricity haunt was thrilled to find battery-powered, waterproof lighting that could operate in total darkness.
The Future of Haunted Attractions Is BIGGER & BOLDER
Walking around TransWorld’s HAA Show, it was clear that haunts are getting more ambitious—not just in scare tactics but in theatrical production value.
High-end special effects are no longer optional—they’re expected.
💀 The biggest haunts aren’t just scaring people—they’re immersing them in an experience.
💀 Guests want more than jump scares—they want cinematic horror environments.
💀 If you’re not investing in pro effects, you’re losing repeat customers.
That’s why we’re here to help.