2012 West Coast Haunters Convention
Convention and Tradeshow June 1-3
Portland, Oregon
KEY NOTE - Friday June 1st at 9:00 am
Michael Krausert
Director
"America's Horror Scream Park"
The Fear at Fenway
www.redsox.com/spookyworld
Nightmare New England
www.nightmarenewengland.com
SpookyWorld
www.spookyworld.com
Bad Boys Scenic Design
Cutting Edge Scenic Design
Michael began designing and building attractions over two decades ago at the age of 18. Throughout his career he has designed and built for numerous charitable organizations such as the Jaycees, non-profit arts programs, the Optimist Club and he helped these groups raise millions of dollars in the process. During this time, he began to grow his own company and design team with other friends and haunt enthusiasts. This team has a well deserved reputation within the haunted attraction Industry as a group of talented designers willing to share ideas, techniques, and their collective experience to help novice and professional haunters alike learn how to raise the level of detail and realism in their own attractions.
As one of the founders of Bad Boys Scenic Design he helped to design and build their most well-known attraction--Terror on the Fox. During the 13 years operating Terror on the Fox, the Bad Boys continued to advance, promote, and elevate the artistry in the haunted attraction industry through teaching their methods of foam carving, sculpting, scenic design, and sponsorship writing.
In 2007, he co-produced the Frozen Tundra Fright Tour, a tour developed with the purpose of showing how the haunt industry could work together as one. The tour was an overwhelming success; it resulted in securing over 40 sponsors and raised over $25,000 for IAHA. (International Association of Haunted Attractions)
In that same year, he was the recipient of the prestigious Isabella Award which honors an individual whose achievement is measured by his/her contributions towards improving and strengthening the haunt industry as a community of artists and enthusiasts and who set a positive example for others to follow.
In 2008 he embarked on his new role as Director of Operations for Nightmare New England, an ambitious new scream park featuring 4 original haunted attractions. One year later the park acquired SpookyWorld and added three more attractions. In three short years, his guidance and experience has elevated Nightmare New England and SpookyWorld to be one of the largest most successful scream parks in the country. Today the park features 7 haunted houses, a midway, live music, restaurants, games, rides and more. He is responsible for the design, construction, marketing, and staffing of over 300 seasonal employees.
In September 2010, the producers of ABC’s Extreme Makeover Home Edition invited him to lead the scenic design team for their first ever Halloween episode where the haunt “Nightmare Factory” was redesigned, re-themed, and modernized to improve fundraising for the Oregon School for the Deaf. Working closely with show producers as well as film director and musician Rob Zombie, he guided a team of talented artists and volunteers to produce an incredible attraction. Extreme Home Makeover showcased to a national audience the level of artistry and innovation that our industry is capable of. The leadership that he brought to this challenging project was just another example of his ongoing commitment to bringing people together to work towards a common goal.
Mike Krausert continues to devote his time and energy towards advancing the artistry and professionalism of this industry. His expertise has been consulted and relied on to educate and inform the New England Fire Marshalls Association about haunt safety as well as the latest fire prevention materials and applications available to our industry. Mike adapted colleague Kelly Allen’s Employee Safety Handbook to reflect safety and emergency protocols specific to Nightmare New England and SpookyWorld. This handbook has been instrumental in serving two purposes beyond ensuring the safety within his attractions—it has helped to educate local, state and national inspectors about the importance emphasizing safety in the design of haunted attractions but also underscored the professionalism of our industry.
Last September Mike was a guest speaker at the annual meeting of the New England Fire Marshalls where the National Fire Protection Agency was also represented. Mike spoke passionately and knowledgably about the advancements within our industry, conducted a lecture on life safety in the haunted attractions and presented his version of the Employee Safety Handbook. The New England Fire Marshalls Association elected to make this handbook available online for fire inspectors nationwide to consult and reference. Mike continues to work with these important organizations at local, state and national levels to promote our industry in a professional manner and to work closely with them to evaluate, inform and develop the code for special amusement attractions.
Last March, Mike was the recipient of the Haunted Attraction Associations Presidents award, an award that recognizes an individual for their level of artistry, skill and leadership in the field.
This past season Michael and the team at Nightmare New England designed, built and ran The Fear at Fenway, a new and unique Halloween park located at Fenway Park, the home of the Boston Red Sox in Boston Massachusetts.
Mike’s career in the haunted attraction industry has been chronicled through numerous industry and national magazines, newspapers, television shows, and the recently published book “Spooky, Creepy Boston” where he was featured and interviewed to show the connection between haunted houses and Halloween in historic New England. More than anything, Mike is known as someone who is intelligent, approachable, generous and sincere. He brings the passion he has for haunting to every aspect of his life and continues to share what he has learned with those around him.
Leonard Pickel
Editor, Haunted Attraction Magazine
Owner, D.O.A. Design and Consulting Firm
Broker, Hauntrepreneurs(R) International
Owner, Mayhem Manor(R)
Director, Haunted Attraction National convention and Tradeshow (HAuNTcon)
Leonard Pickel has amassed a lifetime of Haunted Attraction Design and operations, from October seasonal events to year round attractions and dark rides. He has designed over 80 successful events since 1976.
As a sophomore year of college at Texas A & M Univer¬sity, Leonard produced his first commercial haunted house in 1976 as a fundraiser for the dormitory he was living in. He organized, designed and marketed the two night event. With a budget of $300 and a $0.50 per person admis¬sion price, the operation grossed over $1,000. He experienced similar success with two more dorm-sponsored horror productions in 1978 and 1979, before graduating with an architectural design degree in 1980.
In 1982, during his architectural apprenticeship in Dallas, Leonard volunteered his horror production expertise to the local March of Dimes Haunted House and as chairman of the charity Halloween Event from 1983 1986, Leonard was in charge of design and construction of the Haunted Attraction. During this time, Leonard formed the basis for what later became known as the “Pickel Theory of Haunted Houses,” a high startle, low gore, high throughput, low theatrics approach to dark amusements. This inno¬vative and non-offensive style of Haunted Attraction lead Leonard down a different design path than most of the industry, which generally relies on heavy blood and gore to “gross out” rather than to frighten patrons. These Haunting concepts are outlined in three room design idea booklets, written by Leonard for use by commercial haunted house designers. His creative accomplishments include the industry’s first turn-key Haunted House ‘kits,” the first adaptation of the “Field Theory” for Haunted Attractions (The Triangular Grid System), and the first to promote the multi-element approach to Haunting.
In 1987, Leonard created the name “Hauntrepreneurs(R)” when he formed his first haunted house design firm, and was granted a Registered Trademark for the name in 1992. During his long career, Pickel has designed over 80 original and creative Haunted Attraction designs for major venues including Madison Square Garden, Universal Studios Florida, Six Flags St Louis, Six Flags Great America, Six Flags Over Georgia, Six Flags AstroWorld, Paramount’s Carrowinds, Paramount’s Kings Island, Kentucky Kingdom, and SCREAMS Terror Park. Leonard has designed Haunted Attractions in foreign countries including Puerto Rico, Canada Russia and India. Over 1 million people from Los Angeles to New York, Orlando to Seattle, have experienced the “Pickel Theory” first hand.
Leonard applied his October seasonal experience toward a summer seasonal haunted house in 1993, with Mayhem Manor® in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. In the seven years that followed, Mayhem Manor provided Pickel a hands-on testing facility for new fright concepts, which were then implemented into new designs for his clients. Leonard learned a great deal about the differences between a Halloween Haunted House and one that needs to operate for the full summer season or year round. Decreasing overhead and maximizing the experience within a small foot print are key lessons Leonard implements into all designs.
Those who do not study history are doomed to repeat it, and Leonard has done extensive research in the field of dark amusements, both past and present. Each year in October, he travels around the country, experiencing as many Haunted Attractions as possible. In one year alone, he experienced over 60 Haunted Attractions. This research provides invaluable insight into the state of the haunting industry, and keeps him up to date with the latest trends.
In 1994, Leonard co-founded Haunted Attraction Magazine, the premier publication for the dark amusement industry, and as Editor in Chief, he is the driving force behind this growing publication. Today the magazine strives to provide information vital to the success of the industry, with in-depth articles on the country’s major attractions, “How To” instructions for the latest new effects, historical spotlights and commentary on timely industry news. An accomplished speaker, Leonard has given seminars on numerous aspects of the Haunted Attraction industry ranging from design and code compliance, to how to get started and effective scare techniques. He has spoken at Haunted gatherings and industry conventions including the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, Haunted Attraction National Tradeshow and Convention (HAuNTcon), Midwest Haunters Convention, HauntX, Ironstock, the Pennsylvania Spring Amusement Ride Safety Seminar, both the Chicago and Las Vegas National Halloween, Costume and Party Show, North American Farmers’ Direct Marketing Association Convention, National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (ARVC), Carolinas Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (CARVC) the Global Halloween Convergence, Detroit’s Haunted Attraction Workshop, Design Lab, Horrorfind Weekend, Rue Morgue Festival of Fear, and the Texas Haunter’s Dinner. Pickel’s “Getting Started in the Haunted Attraction Industry” seminar has grown into a 3 hour annual favorite presented regularly to standing room only crowds.
In 1997, Leonard took on the task of forming the Haunted Industry’s first trade association, the International Association of Haunted Attractions (IAHA). Against heated opposition from some factions of the industry, Leonard was instrumental in establishing and organizing the fledgling association. In less than one year after IAHA’s non-profit incorporation, the association had an impressive 150 voting members and in the 5 years that followed the membership reached 500.
The worlds largest supplier or props for the haunted attraction industry, Philip Morris of Morris Costumes in Charlotte, North Carolina, contracted Leonard in 2000 to facilitate the creation of a muli-element October seasonal Haunted Attraction, that would double in the off season as a display case for the Morris Costumes line of Haunted Attraction Props and equipment. Leonard was in charge of all facets of the event, including design, theme, code compliance, construction, art direction, installation, first year operations and marketing. Opening on time and under budget for October of 2000, this event has more props per square foot than any Haunt in the world.
In 2004, Leonard launched the first national convention for the Haunted Attraction Industry. The Haunted Attraction National Tradeshow and Convention (HAuNTcon), designed for Haunters, by Haunters. This annual exposition moves to a new location each year and has become a must attend event for Haunted Attraction owners from a cross the country.
Called the “Godfather of Haunting” by others in the Haunted Attraction Industry, Leonard was honored with a question using his name in the Millennium Edition of the game Trivial Pursuit. He was also appeared as an industry expert in several television programs including the Travel Channel special about Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Florida, and America’s Best Haunted Houses, where Pickel offered insight into what makes a great Haunted Attraction and the theory behind fright.
Leonard is constantly searching for new challenges and striving for new heights in his Haunting career. His vast 30 years of experience designing all types of commercial Haunted Attractions, and his unique vision for the future of Haunting, has kept Leonard two steps ahead of his closest competitors. His industry accomplishments, leadership ability and high moral character has garnered Leonard great respect from his peers and set a lofty standard for those who would try to follow in his haunted footsteps.
Cliff Allen
Owner/ Director/ Consultant
Worst Nightmare Productions, LLC
An accomplished Actor and Director on stage and off. He has been haunting the public for over 13 years. Cliff has Actor/Director training from Western Kentucky University and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. He is currently attending the Art Institute of California-Sacramento for Film. Cliff was introduced into the business of haunting by Allan Clifford of Louisville, KY (Nightmare Forest). Since then, Cliff has been involved in various haunted attraction projects, such as Nightmare Forest (KY), Waverly Hills (KY), Deadman's Trail (TN), and Dr. Juggernaught's Castle (CA and OR), Darkwing Manor (OR), Heartstoppers Haunted House (CA), just to name a few. Cliff lives in Placenta, California with his wife of six years, Jennifer, two cats Pandora & Shortie, and two dogs Emeril & Roscoe. Currently Cliff is in production on his film directing debut, "The Haunting Truth", a Documentary.
