Benefits for Joining IAHA

WHAT CAN IAHA DO FOR ME?

IAHA was established to assist and advance the Haunted Attraction Industry through protection, promotion, education and communication. As a member of IAHA, you have access to a worldwide network of fellow haunted attractions and vendors, in order to exchange ideas, information, experiences, concerns, products and services. Through IAHA, you can communicate with other haunters via the internet, newsletter, educational opportunities, social functions and more.

Professional haunted attractions will benefit the most from being a member of IAHA, but anyone is welcome to join. IAHA is also dedicated to nourishing the symbiotic relationship between attractions and professional industry vendors. IAHA is always working to add to our ever-increasing list of member benefits, and has exciting plans for the future.

2010 Member benefits include:

• Listing on website (Vendor listed on vendor’s section/Convention listed on convention section of website).
• Free subscription to the official IAHA bi-monthly newsletter, The ScreamZine.
• Participation with an ongoing exchange of ideas and information with members worldwide via IAHA’s Online Forum and website.
• Eligibility for Group Insurance Program.
• Discounted admission to the annual IAHA Industry Awards Banquet.
• Special IAHA discounts from numerous haunted attraction industry vendors through the Vendor Discount Program.
• Discounts on IAHA’s safety seminar series – C.H.A.O.S.
• Discounts on activities, education and social events at various haunted attraction industry trade shows across the country.
• Opportunity to serve on a variety of IAHA committees.
• Access to members-only area of the IAHA website, which contains invaluable information for assisting your business.
• IAHA Membership ID Card.

Join Today!

HISTORY OF IAHA

In March 1998 at the Transworld Halloween Show in Chicago, haunters were invited to a meeting to discuss the formation of an association. Many ideas were brought forward, discussed, some hotly debated, but the direction was clear, haunters wanted their own association. Eighteen people volunteered to take on the task of forming the organization’s mission and bylaws, laying the groundwork for what was to become the International Association of Haunted Attractions.

The next evening, the original 18 members met in a 2nd floor hallway of the Stephens Center and agreed to donate their personal funds to get the organization going. The first leadership was determined:

Drew Hunter and Ernie Romegialli became co-presidents, Dusti Lewers Secretary, and Cliff Martin Treasurer. All of the original 18 members later became directors and were assigned tasks to get the organization on its feet. They selected the mission to “advance the haunted attraction industry through communication and education”.

The original founders include: Drew Hunter, Ernie Romegialli, Cliff Martin, Dusti lewars, Gene Braden, JB Corn, Tim Harkleroad, Oliver Holler, Dan Hornbeck, Michael Jubie, Pete Karlowicz, Ed Marks, Billy Messina, Leonard Pickel, James Shearer, Renee Spahr, Aven Warren, Jim Terebus, and Bob Turner. A special thanks to these haunters who’s idea to have their own industry association became the start of the International Association of Haunted Attractions.

Due to the dedication of these original 18 members, we now have an organization that has over 400 members in every state and many countries internationally, promoting haunted attractions and haunters everywhere.

Scream As One!

Pat Konopelski March : President (2010)

In 1991 he started his first haunted hayride called Maniac Mountain. Three years later he created Field of Screams Haunted Hayride located on one of his picnic groves. Wanting to create a larger event, he added the Toxic Asylum Haunted Hospital and Monster Midway and changed the events’ name to Shocktoberfest. Wanting to add a third attraction, in 2003 he along with his team designed and built the Prison of the Dead, a 50,000 sq. ft. indoor and outdoor haunted compound. Around the same time, Patrick designed, built, and owns Zombie World, an interactive laser shooting haunted dark ride open all summer long located on the board walk in Wildwood New Jersey. With his two attractions Patrick entertains almost 100,000 people a year.

A haunt veteran for close to 20 years, “Tattoo” as he is known in the industry, is a co-owner of Bad Boys Scenic Designs and Terror On The Fox in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Seeking to underline the importance of volunteering and to highlight the altruism of the Haunt community, in 2005 Mike founded Team Halloween. Born from his participation in “Against the Tide”–a fundraiser benefiting the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition–Team Halloween has garnered the international support of haunters and other industry professionals and well as media interest.

In 2007 he co-produced the Frozen Tundra Fright Tour, a tour designed to show how our Industry could work (scream) together as one. The tour was an overwhelming success securing over 40 sponsors and helping to raise over $25,000 for IAHA. In 2008, Mike was key in the creation of Nightmare New England in Litchfield, New Hampshire.

Jim Smith : Treasurer (March 2010)

Mr. Smith is a founding member of IAHA and currently serves as the chair of Association’s Finance Committee. Jim has been haunting professionally since 1989 with the Niles Haunted House in his hometown of Niles, Michigan. He has been a member of the Board of Directors for the Niles Haunted House, Inc., the non-profit corporation that operates the Niles Haunted House, since 1992.

Brett Bertolino is the Assistant Program Director for Operations and Special Events at Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site in Philadelphia, PA. Brett got his start in the haunted attraction industry when he joined Eastern State’s three person administrative staff in 2000. Today, the penitentiary’s annual Halloween fundraiser, Terror Behind the Walls, has grown to become one of largest and most successful haunted attractions in the world. In 2008, the event was named the “Number One Haunted House in America” by AOL City Guide.

Brett has been a fervent proponent of professionalism in the haunted attraction industry. He was the keynote speaker for the Frozen Tundra Fright Tour in 2007 and has led seminars on marketing, promotions, haunted attraction operations, and ticketing at various tradeshows including IAAPA, Transworld’s National Haunt and Attractions Show and HAuNTcon. Brett is also in charge of the operations and special events for Eastern State’s year round Daytime Prison Tour program. He previously served the IAHA as Vice-President in 2008.

Bill Criscione (March 2010)

Bill Criscione is the owner and operator of Ghostly Manor Thrill Center in Sandusky, OH.

The Ghostly Manor Haunted House is one of the countries largest year-round haunted attractions and has been named one of the “Top 10 Walkthrough Attractions in the United States” by Darkride and Funhouse Enthusiasts (DAFE). Bill previously served the IAHA as Vice-President.

Jay Wright (March 2010)

Co-Founder and Co-Owner/Operator of GoatMan Hollow in Riverdale Maryland. In the winter of 2002, an idea came to a group of 4 talented Washingtonians that knew they were onto something they felt was innovative to the haunted attraction industry. The feeling was mutual that if they were going to join this young industry and make an impact, that they should bring something fresh, and experimental along with them. A concept was born.
By the summer of 2002 the concept, beginning to take on a life of its own, was named GoatMan Hollow. The concept: a theatrical style, walk thru, haunted experience, run entirely by a cast and crew of volunteers. The inaugural season was a huge success.

Randy Young (March 2010)

A Founding Member of IAHA, an eleven-year Member of the Board, and an attorney in private practice in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Randy established and led for twenty-six years a haunted event known as the St. Vincent Scouts’ Haunted Castle, Black Forest, & Pharaoh’s Revenge. Randy left Scouting in 2006, and now does some limited consulting on the business side of operating a haunted event.

Shawna has been involved in haunted attractions of some manner since her youth. In college, she volunteered with a local fraternity’s annual haunt for 4 years. After college, she worked at Hangman’s House of Horrors in Fort Worth, TX. from 1996 until 2001. There Shawna did everything from marketing, to makeup, volunteer coordination, sponsorship recruitment and eventually was their Assistant Producer. From 2001 to present she has owned Bare Bone’s Productions which produces haunted attractions; as well as other special events. Shawna currently owns and operate Texas Scaregrounds in Kennedale, TX. ; Which features CHAOS Haunted House (One of the Largest haunts in the country at approx. 42,000 sq. ft); Acres of Fear-which is a haunted hay ride and walking trail. Texas Scaregrounds also hosts Nightmares haunted house and The Asylum haunted house. In Mansfield,TX. Shawna co-own Terrorplex, which features Midnight Manor and 3 other attractions. She also assisted in founding G.H.O.S.T. (Greater Haunt Owner Society of Texas).

A full time auctioneer, Trey Cottle owns & operates one of Georgia’s oldest and largest antique auction companies; Montrose Auction, Inc. Conducting over 500 auctions in the past 10 years alone. Self-employed since 1992, Trey Cottle is a licensed firearms dealer and travels the country buying antiques and firearms.

He is a member of both the Georgia Auctioneers Association and the National Auctioneers Association.

In 2008, a life-long dream was fulfilled with the opening of Haunted Montrose.

A Classic walk-through haunt, it is comprised of The Old Slaughter House, The Dark Maze, The Graveyard, and The Haunted Corn. With a successful first year, Trey is actively planning a larger Haunted Montrose in 2009.

A former city mayor, Trey remains active in his community and donates his auctioneering services to several charities, including Ronald McDonald House and Quail Unlimited.

Maggie Courtis (March 2011)

After attending Transworld in 2000, Maggie spent years conceptualizing a Halloween attraction. Her dream came to fruition with the opening of Fright Night Scream Park in Fresno, California: a four-attraction haunt with a staff of over one hundred and fifty people.

Mike Hundley (March 2011)

Mike is owner of Darkmoon Productions Inc. and executive producer of Ravenwood Manor formerly known as The Haunted Island in Wichita, Ks.
He has been working in the haunted attraction industry since 1991, first as a volunteer in a non profit attraction. Mike has operated a successful and safe haunted attraction since 2001 when he acquired the haunt and opened as a for-profit haunted attraction.

John LaFlamboy (March 2011)

Founder and Director of Zombie Army Productions. His work in Haunted Houses include: Designer, Director, Producer, Writer, Promoter, Builder, Actor, and Owner for the following haunts: Statesville Haunted Prison (1998-Present). City of the Dead Haunted House (2003-Present), Dragons Dome Haunted House (2006-Present), The Fear Haunted House (2008-present).

Bill Livingston (March 2011)

Co-Founder and Co-Owner/Operator of GoatMan Hollow in Riverdale Maryland, since 2002. Bill began yard haunting at the age of 9 and has been haunting ever since.

In addition to his haunted attraction experience, Bill has served on the Board of Directors and Executive B.O.D. for the Washington Printing Guild of the Printing & Graphics Communication Association located in Washington D.C. and has also served on the B.O.D. of the Printing Industries of America Trade Association.

Eddie McLaurin (March 2011)

Eddie has owned and operated Woods of Terror Haunted Theme park for 18 years. He has served on the Board of Directors for IAHA for four years, serving as President in 2006.

Beth Watson owns Spookers and CornEvil along with her husband Andy and daughter Julia. They have been involved in haunted attractions since 2000, with CornEvil, the Shearers Revenge Haunted Woolshed, and now Spookers. Beth has a post graduate qualification in Tourism. Spookers opened to the public on October 30th 2005. It is located in the Nurses Home and 40 acres of an old Psychiatric Hospital in Auckland New Zealand. It is the culmination of 10 years of developing their products through the Amazing Maze ‘n Maize and CornEvil franchises.

Spookers is totally unique in New Zealand as there are no other Haunted House Attractions, and the only other haunted attractions are the 3 other CornEvil franchises which are also operated by Beth and family.

Spookers is Beth’s only job as it is open all year ’round; in New Zealand they are not constrained by the Halloween season. They are particularly busy during November and December when they cater to the huge corporate market for company Christmas parties.

Beth & family travel frequently to the USA to attend conferences, tradeshows and to purchase props etc. They employ 6 full-time staff and between 80 and 150 part-time and casual staff depending on the season. They are currently negotiating to open the first international Spookers franchise, taking their brand off-shore.

Kris has been in the family entertainment business since 1986 managing all aspects of a medium sized mid Michigan fun center. Kris attended his first Trade show in 1998 and ran his first haunt that fall, called The Executioners Castle.

In the year 2000 in addition to his for profit haunt, Kris also ran a non-profit haunt for a local elementary school.

In 2003 he added a second on site haunt called The Circus of Fear

In 2004 Kris opened the redesign Saint Lucifer’s Haunted Asylum and for the last five years has attained steady growth in all areas of the business. During his eleven plus years of involvement in the haunt industry Kris has helped several other business’ open haunts and attain profitability.

Kris’ academic background is in marketing, branding and advertising. He holds two degrees from Michigan State University. His professional background is in managing, training and motivating a staff of 40 plus at a family entertainment center in Michigan.