MASON, Ohio — Last year, Halloween Haunt at Kings Island was canceled due to the pandemic, but have no fear. With a better understanding of how to operate amid the challenges of the pandemic, Haunt is returning this season. 

What You Need To Know

  • Halloween Haunt is returning after a pandemic canceled year

  • Kings Island is actively prepping the theme park for Haunt

  • It is actively hiring scare actors and ride operators to staff the park

  • Kings Island is excited to welcome back guests to Haunt

Like a zombie coming back to life, Kings Island’s Halloween Haunt is back from the dead. Last year, the pandemic canceled the signature spooktacular, but now preps are underway to make sure the southwest Ohio theme park is ready to scare and surprise. 

Kings Island Director of Communications Chad Showalter said all the hard work is worth it. 

“We are so excited to welcome our guests back to Halloween Haunt this year,” Showalter said. “You know Ohioans love their Halloween, and that was most evident recently when we won our USA Today Best Theme Park Halloween Event in the country. We’re not going to let our guests down when they come through the gates.” 

Showalter said it takes about two months to transform Kings Island from summer to spooky, but planning started back in January. 

A big part of making sure the park is ready to host the living is recruiting enough scare actors, so the park is actively hiring for those roles and more. 

“Could you imagine getting paid for scaring people? It’s one of the most fun jobs we have at the park and this year it’s paying $17 per hour,” Showalter said. 

Musical performances will also be a part of the festivities at Haunt as well as the 13 trick-or-treat stops located all through the park. 

“Kids in costume go up to the door at each stop, knock on it, and a character appears to give them a treat,” he said. “We also have games, crafts and activities and all of Planet Snoopy for their kids to ride rides.” 

It’s a race against the clock to get the park dressed for a scare by Sept. 24, but just like a mummy, it’s something they’ll have under wraps in time to open for the season. 

“Everyone knows that’s the finish line and you know they’re racing toward it,” Showalter said. “We’ll be ready to go on Sept. 24, we can’t wait to welcome guests.” 

For more information on Haunt, visit the Kings Island website.