Pre-Season Tour of Universal Horror Unleashed, Las Vegas August 23, 2025 – Sponsored by HAUNTPAY!
The most highly anticipated haunt opening since Terror on Church Street in the early 1990’s has to be the NEW UNIVERSAL’S HORROR UNLEASHED! And you are invited to experience the most cutting-edge year-round scream park only days after it opens in Las Vegas, NV.
There have been year-round haunts attempted in Vegas before, all of which failed quickly, but never with the budget, or backing of Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights creative behind it, and never as an actor heavy, multi-element format. Still, the industry is skeptical that this can succeed, even as Horror Unleased has announced that more locations in process, including Chicago, IL in 2027.
Multi Element
Not just a single haunted house, Universal Horror Unleashed includes four haunted “mazes,” plus food and couple of bars. On this tour you will see it all. Unlimited trips through the haunted attractions, food in the themed eateries. Join haunters from across the country to experience this state-of-the-art attraction before the paint is even dry on the sets.
But that’s not all. Included in this tour package is a self-guided tour of Meow Wolf’s Mega Mart, PLUS an exclusive backstage lights-on tour of Escape IT, themed after the IT film with Pennywise the clown, and an exclusive backstage lights-on tour of the immersive John Wick Experience.
Ticket price for this once in a lifetime behind the screams haunt tour includes Themed Lunch and Dinner, admission to all attractions, bus transportation from the Haunted El Cortez Hotel, tips and tax. CLICK HERE for tickets! Do it now, this tour has a limited capacity, and it will sell out! Details on discount Hotel reservations are available after you purchase your tour ticket.
What does the tour cover?
- Unlimited Tours of all FOUR Universal Horror Unleashed Haunted Houses
- Meow Wolf’s Mega Mart Immersive Experience
- Exclusive Back Stage tours of:
- 1) The John Wick Experience
- 2) Escape IT – Both Games
- Ticket includes: Themed Lunch and Dinner, admission to all attractions, and Bus Transportation from the Haunted El Cortez Hotel, tips and tax.
Universal Horror Unleashed: A Living Laboratory of Legends
Finally, the reason we are in Las Vegas, perhaps the biggest development in the Haunted Attraction industry since the invention of pneumatics, Universal Horror Unleashed represents the newest and most expensive attempt at a permanent, year-round haunted house. Already the king of the hill as far as Halloween events rank, if anyone can make a year-round version of the world-famous Halloween Horror Nights work, it would be Universal Studios.
But the haunt industry is rightfully skeptical. Year-round haunts have been tried before—even in Las Vegas—and most have failed miserably, largely due to high overhead costs and a poor quality experience and low attendance. If anyone can break the curse, it would be the team from Universal Creative, and this tour is your front-row seat to see if they can pull it off.
The Experience
Prepare to step into a 110,000-square-foot venue dedicated entirely to cinematic horror. This is not a single attraction but a curated collection of immersive haunted “mazes,” each a self-contained world. The entire experience acts as a hub from which attendees can venture into vastly different worlds of terror, anchored by a common courtyard with a darkly themed tavern and restaurant—perfect for gathering to discuss and analysis the attractions between walkthroughs.
Backstory & Themes
The Las Vegas attraction will immerse you in four distinct worlds of terror. Expect to come face-to-face with icons of horror from classic monsters to newly envisioned nightmares, all brought to life with the Halloween Horror Nights level of quality with theatrical-grade sets, detailed costuming, and state-of-the-art special effects. The announced maze lineup includes:
- The Exorcist: Believer
- The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
- Scarecrow: The Reaping
- A brand new maze dedicated to the iconic Universal Monsters
Each attraction tells its own story, complete with a detailed backstory and a meticulously crafted environment designed to fully immerse you in its narrative.
Why This is a Must-See for Pro Haunters
This tour is your opportunity to witness the pinnacle of horror IP integration. If you’ve never been able to get away from your own haunt to see a Horror Nights haunt during the Halloween season, now is your chance. You will see firsthand how a multi-billion-dollar company translates iconic film properties into a physical walkthrough experience, complete with cinematic lighting, sophisticated sound design, projections, and the subtle environmental cues that create a constant state of dread. Don’t miss this masterclass in executing horror on the grandest of scales.
Universal Creative has long been the industry leader in immersive walkthrough experiences. With the launch of Horror Unleashed, they are setting a new, permanent standard for themed horror attractions. Our tour, this is not just a visit, we will analyze Universal’s approach to large-scale operational challenges, their mastery of theatrical lighting and sound, their innovative queue management systems, and their techniques for delivering intimate scares within a high-capacity environment. This is a rare, ground-floor opportunity to study the execution and craftsmanship of what will undoubtedly become the new benchmark for attractions across the country, and to discuss this cutting-edge advancements with their haunt owners and designers.
CLICK HERE for tickets, while they last!
Escape IT: The Future of Interactive Horror?
What happens when you merge the high-fidelity scenic design of a top-tier haunt with the interactive, story-driven nature of an escape room? You get the first exclusive tour, Escape IT, a revolutionary take on horror entertainment that represents a new and highly profitable business model. Spanning a massive 30,000 square feet in the heart of Las Vegas, this attraction has cracked a code many have struggled with: how to create a high-throughput, interactive experience that doesn’t sacrifice story or scares.
The Experience
This is not a single room with a one-hour timer. Escape IT is a sprawling journey through the world of Stephen King’s IT, featuring more than 20 interactive rooms across two distinct, multi-room adventures. You will navigate some of the film’s most iconic locations, brought to life with state-of-the-art special effects, animatronics, and live actors. This is a fully immersive world where guests must physically engage with the environment to survive.
Two Chapters of Terror
Our exclusive backstage tour will include both unique adventures:
- Chapter One: The Search for Derry’s Missing. Based on the 2017 film, your journey will take you through the ominous sewers of Derry, past the unsettling Hanlon Farms, and right up to the front door of the infamous house on Neibolt Street.
- Chapter Two: The 27-Year Reunion. Based on the 2019 sequel, you will recover the lost memories of your childhood as you revisit iconic locations like the Losers’ Clubhouse, the Jade of the Orient restaurant, and the chaotic Derry Canal Days Festival.
Why This is a Must-See for Pro Haunters
Escape IT’s most important innovation is its business model. While praised for its engaging puzzles and incredible attention to detail, reviewers consistently note that it feels more like a walk-through experience with puzzle elements than a traditional escape room. This hybrid approach allows for higher guest capacity and throughput than a standard escape room, solving one of that industry’s biggest limitations.
This is your chance to analyze how to successfully give your guests “agency”—the ability to interact with and affect their environment—without bringing your entire operation to a halt. We will deconstruct how they integrate puzzles into the storyline, create meaningful interactions, and turn guests from passive observers into active participants in the horror. It’s a masterclass in the future of interactive attractions. CLICK HERE for tickets, They won’t last long!
The John Wick Experience: Monetizing Immersion
What if your attraction wasn’t just a place to visit, but a world to inhabit? Our next stop is a backstage tour of The John Wick Experience, which answers that question by brilliantly blending interactive theater, escape quests, and live-action role-playing into a premium, story-driven event. This attraction represents the pinnacle of building a brand that extends far beyond the main experience, creating multiple revenue streams from a single, powerful intellectual property.
The Experience
Your visit is an initiation into the high-stakes world of assassins. Upon checking in at the meticulously designed Continental Hotel, attendees are no longer a guests—they are a players in the John Wick world. Patrons are given a mission and must navigate themed rooms, interact with live actors playing Continental staff and deadly assassins, solve complex puzzles, and even engage in a firearms training simulation. Every choice has a consequence, and the goal is to complete the mission and survive a stay at the infamous hotel.
Building a Lifestyle Brand
The true genius of the John Wick Experience is how it monetizes the guest’s desire to remain in the world after the mission is over. This is not an afterthought; it is a core part of the business model. The experience is anchored by two key elements:
- The Continental Bar: A high-end, themed bar where guests can retreat after their mission. Every drink is an artful blend of precision and indulgence, turning a simple cocktail into part of the narrative and a significant revenue driver.
- The Gift Shop: Not just a souvenir stand, but a treasure trove of exciting items designed for those who live boldly. It allows guests to take a piece of the world home with them, extending the brand’s reach and profitability.
Must-See for Pro Haunters
This attraction is a living blueprint for how to monetize your haunt’s IP. Many haunts have a great theme but stop making money the second a guest exits the maze. The John Wick Experience teaches a different philosophy: the end of the haunt should be the beginning of the retail and social experience.
This is your chance to study how to create a “total package” that dramatically increases your per-guest revenue. We will experience how they seamlessly transition guests from a high-intensity interactive experience into a relaxed, high-spend social environment as well as their approach to themed food and beverage, merchandise, and creating an immersive atmosphere that makes people want to stay and spend money. It is a vital lesson in building a truly profitable and sustainable entertainment business. CLICK HERE for tickets, it may be your last chance!
Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart: An Odyssey of Environmental Storytelling
Our next journey begins at Omega Mart, an apparently normal (if not deeply unsettling) supermarket. You’ll browse aisles stocked with bizarre, satirical products that you can actually purchase—from “Whale Song” deodorant to “Tattooed Chickens” and boxes of “Wake Up!” cereal. The air is filled with cheerful corporate jingles that mask a sinister undertone.
This is, however, just the first act. You will soon discover that not all is as it seems. A walk into a beverage cooler or a peek behind a janitor’s door reveals a “portal,” leading you into the vast, psychedelic, multi-level world behind the store. You will emerge into “The Factory,” the sprawling production facility where Omega Mart’s products are made, and from there explore otherworldly desert landscapes and strange corporate offices.
The Backstory & Theme
The official story revolves around the parent company, Dramcorp, and its charismatic but missing founder, Walter Dram. As you explore the 52,000-square-foot facility, you uncover a dark narrative of corporate exploitation, strange energy sources, and the commodification of creativity. The entire building is a puzzle box. By interacting with computers, watching video terminals, and exploring hidden passageways, you piece together the story of what truly happened to Walter Dram and the secrets behind Omega Mart’s success.
An Experience Unlike Anything You’ve Ever Seen
Omega Mart is a living textbook on environmental storytelling. It demonstrates how to embed a narrative into every single prop, sign, and hidden corner of an attraction. This is a masterclass in creating a non-linear experience that encourages exploration and drives immense word-of-mouth. We will explore how their designers guide guests without a traditional single pathway, how they reward curiosity, and how they build a world so deep that guests spend hours inside, determined to uncover its secrets. It will leave you asking one profound question: Could you transform your haunt from a linear path of scares into a “sticky,” immersive world that could be open year-round?
While not a traditional haunt, Meow Wolf installations are arguably the world’s most successful and innovative immersive attraction. Their genius lies in creating a layered, interactive narrative that encourages exploration and deep engagement—the holy grail for any haunt designer. Our visit to Omega Mart is a creative masterclass. We will focus on how they use environmental storytelling, non-linear discovery, and interactive technology to build a completely engrossing world. The goal is to absorb their philosophies on guest interaction and environmental design, sparking new ideas on how to add layers of depth, discovery, and intrigue to your own attractions.
CLICK HERE for tickets, what are you waiting for?
Base of Operations: The Haunted El Cortez Hotel
Every great mission needs a legendary base of operations. For the “Behind the Screams Tour Las Vegas”, headquarters will be the historic and genuinely haunted El Cortez Hotel & Casino. This isn’t just where you’ll sleep—it’s your first immersion into the power of authentic atmosphere and the official starting point for our daily excursions.
El Cortez Hotel & Casino Discount Code.
The Experience
As the host hotel for our tour, the El Cortez immediately surrounds you with the ghosts of Old Vegas. Opened in 1941, it is one of the city’s oldest and most historically significant casino-hotels. From the moment you check in, you will be walking the same floors as infamous mob figures and living within the walls where decades of paranormal activity have been reported by guests and staff alike. The experience of staying here is a constant, subtle lesson in how a real-world environment can generate a profound sense of unease and history.
Sleep Among the Ghosts of Old Vegas
The El Cortez’s most legendary spectral resident is none other than mobster Bugsy Siegel, a former part-owner before his violent death. For years, staff and guests have reported seeing a phantom figure believed to be Siegel, often in the hallways near his old top-floor apartment. His presence is tied to the “fatal business deal” that led to his murder, but his is not the only spirit said to linger here. Other paranormal claims include disembodied voices, phantom touches in the casino, and inexplicable cold spots.
Why We Chose The El Cortez
Starting our journey from a genuinely haunted location provides a frame of reference. Before we experience the high-tech scares of modern attractions, you will have already spent time in an environment where the “scares” come from pure atmosphere. It’s a lesson in subtlety and authenticity that you will carry with you as we visit the other locations.
CLICK HERE for tickets… do it now!
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