The sheer scope of the spectacle, combined with movie-quality settings, costumes and special effects, make Halloween Horror Nights the nation's premier annual Halloween event. We invite you to discover it's origins, explore the event's growth over the years, and face the iconic images of the recent past...
ORIGINS 1991-1995
Fright Nights emerged in 1991, a 3-night event. Like Dr. Frankenstein's monster, it was stitched together, born from Classic Tales of Terror, Known Nightmares and Legends of the Macabre. It's power grew as it became more horrifying and was ultimately renamed Halloween Horror Nights in 1992. A growing legion of dedicated fans returned year after year, and by 1995 it had personality all its own.
EARLY YEARS 1996-2000
Halloween Horror Nights tested its limits in search of its true power and ability to terrify guests. Parades were launched, Haunted mazes emerged, Street shows were introduced. Its twisted values were taking shape. Like a disturbed experiment gone horribly wrong, it searched for its identity and attempted several themes. Then in 2000, the event uncovered its true identity - Jack the Clown.
EXPANSIONS 2001-2005
As Halloween Horror Nights evolved into the feared face of true terror, unique styles of haunted house design began emerging. More detailed and cryptic creatures appeared. In 2002 found virgin soil at Universal's Islands of Adventure, and evolved further to span both parks in 2004. It wasn't long before 2005 welcomed the horror fest that culminated all of its elements in Terra Cruentas, a world of blood.
ICONIC YEARS 2006-Present
Halloween Horror Nights matured and iconic images emerged. The era began when characters became the face of the event. Jack, The Caretaker, The Storyteller and The Director came together to celebrate a Sweet Sixteen return to Universal Studios, And in 2009 Universal's Frankenstein, Dracula and Wolfman were Ripped from the Silver Screen as The Usher greeted each guest.
Halloween Horror Nights is renowned for creating terrifying original creatures. Where some clowns make you laugh, ours make you shriek. When most fairy tales are bedtime stories, ours keep you awake. Where the dead should rest in peace, ours linger and torment. Those chainsaws you hear aren't used to cut wood. You may tell yourself it's only a nightmare...all of the screams are real.
It seeps like a thick fog into the streets. It pours over the looming shadows. It's presence lurks in the darkness...waiting. What appears to be an abandoned asylum is anything but abandoned. The owners of that decrepit mansion may be dead, but they most certainly haven't left.
Step foot inside Halloween Horror Nights and you'll see that reality has taken an unexpected turn. things here are not quite what they seem - they're much worse.
From concept to design to execution, Halloween Horror Nights is conceived, developed and produced by a team of highly talented, industry experts. The attention to detail rivals even the most sophisticated movie studios. It takes a year of planning, and the final product is always different and more terrifying than before. The guests demand it, and Universal never lets them down.
