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Zombie Camping at The Plague & Camp Nightmare Haunted Attractions with Travis Russell

The Plague Haunted HouseDr.Yorick moved into this small lakeside community years ago, and nothing has been the same since. His wife died when his experiments went wrong, leaving him a widower with numerous children. 

But no one has ever seen the Dr. or the children. They remain inside the modest building they call home. Assistants maintain the property and remain silent about what happens inside. 

The strong scent of burning flesh is dominant in the dark night, along with the sounds of victims of The Plague….

The Plague Haunted Attraction and Camp Nightmare Haunted Hayride are both located at the Americamps Lake Gaston Campground in Bracey, VA and owned by Travis Russell of Big T Productions. Travis used to be a Home Haunter and outgrew his home many years ago, which led him into a business opportunity to move all of his Halloween belongings to a friend’s campground. It’s been growing each year ever since!

The Plague is the indoor haunted attraction featuring infested patients, failed experiments, and screams of his missing children. Camp Nightmare is the outdoor haunted hayride where the escaped victims roam through the woods and zombies lurk within every shadow. If you think that’s not scary enough, then trying staying the night to survive the Zombie Camping experience where the undead take over the camp and leave no tent or camper safe from the infection. If you’re too scared for that, then just come for the kid friendly activities during the day and Travis promises to be easy on you…..maybe….

Travis Russell is not just a Haunter. His background in professional lighting, set design, and audio engineering have transitioned over to the Haunt Industry quite well. His company Big T Productions has coordinated events with groups such as the Rolling Stones and he is always available to help with your questions about making your show stand out from the crowd.

In this episode of HaunTopic Radio, we get Travis Russell to open up the doors of The Plague and lead us through the shadows of Camp Nightmare to see how he does it. Listen to the show for some cool tips and tricks for your Haunted Attraction or Home Haunt!

 

In This Episode We Talk About:

  • The best way to use professional audio/ lighting indoors and outdoors
  • The transition between home haunting & pro haunting
  • Quick building tips for your haunt set
  • Using a campground as your base for a Haunted Attraction
  • Turning your passion of Haunting into a business

 
 

Find Travis Russell Here:

  • The Plague/Camp Nightmare Haunted Attraction
  • The Plague on Twitter
  • The Plague on Facebook
  • Travis on Linkedin

 

July HaunTopic Giveaway! (Enter before July 24th) To get a chance to win one of these prizes make sure you are a member of our FREE newsletter “The Haunter’s Toolbox”. SUBSCRIBE HERE.

Halloween Artist

1) A personalized comic cover of your Haunt or Character by John O’Brien (the artist above)

2) A personalized color illustration caricature of you as your favorite monster. (also by John O’Brien)

3) A hand-crafted scarecrow mask by John Dean of TerroRealm in Rutland, VT.

Scarecrow Mask

If you want a chance to win next time make sure you’re a member of The Haunter’s Toolbox Newsletter!

Click Here to become a member of The Haunter’s Toolbox for FREE

 
 

All Music in this episode of HaunTopic Radio by Sam Haynes.

sam haynes-halloween music

 

HAuNTcon 2013 with Bobbie Weiner, Dick Terhune, Alex Lohmann, & Henry Cowen

Hauntcon 2013In this episode of HaunTopic Radio, Darryl Plunkie goes solo and gets a few of the attendees and vendors on the mic to talk all things HAuNTcon. Guests such as Bobbie Weiner from Bloody Mary Make Up, Dick Terhune the famous Voice From Hell, Alex Lohmann from 13th Street Morgue/Dungeon of Doom, and Henry Cowen who provides Theatrical Supplies to Haunted Attractions.

We also cover a few informative seminars and why you need to take advantage of them to succeed in the Haunt Industry. A peek into the Hearse Convention. And don’t miss out on the Haunt Garage Sale to get some deals on some discount products at the convention.

 

The Haunted Attraction Tradeshow and Conference (HAuNTcon) is an convention “Designed by Haunters, for Haunters” of every age and level of experience. Four fun-filled days and nights filled with Educational Seminars, Workshops, Trade Show, Haunted garage Sale, Custom Hearse Show and networking socials like the incredible Costume Ball, who’s theme this year is The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Masquerade.

Here is where you can find our guests:

 

HAuNTcon Special Links:

 

ENTER THIS MONTH’S CONTEST AND WIN FREE HALLOWEEN COOKIES FROM WHIMZKULLS! MAKE SURE YOU’RE ON OUR EMAIL LIST. SIGN UP HERE

 

 

John LaFlamboy: Zombie Army Productions, The Price is Fright, & Haunt Ownership

Zombie-Army-LogoIn Episode 38 of HaunTopic Radio we interview John LaFlamboy from Zombie Army Productions about the new game show The Price of Fright being debuted at the Transworld Haunt & Halloween Show.  The Price is Fright is like the Price is Right game show but with all Haunt related stuff! How well do you know the prices in the Haunt Industry? If you think you’re that good you may have a chance to win over $1,000 in prizes. It’s only $25 to get in. There is still time to donate prizes if you are a vendor and still time to register if you are going to Transworld. Check it out and sign up here: Transworld Event Registration

We also learn more about What The Zombie Army Really Is, The Mind of a Haunt Owner, What Projects Are in Store for John, & How He Started The Statesville Haunted Prison. If you are going to the Transworld Haunt Show, HAuNTcon, or The West Coast Haunter’s Convention then you may be able to meet up with John LaFlamboy and tell him you heard him on HaunTopic Radio. Listen to the podcast to hear much more about where you can find him.

Did you know that John was in the video game BioShock??

The Zombie Army Productions’ mission is to provide the highest in production quality for the darkest of events, whether they be a haunted house, special event, or film production. The Zombie Army will organize its artistic professionals, design a production plan, staff all facets of the event and produce the final product. The Zombie Army is a coalition of independent artists and tradesmen from all walks of life, striving to bring their twisted artistic visions to the world.

Join the Zombie Army, bring your own brains… – ZombieArmyProductions.com

 

FIND JOHN LAFLAMBOY HERE:

 

LISTEN TO THE SHOW TO HEAR THE RULES FOR THE CONTEST & WIN BLOODY MARY MAKE-UP!!

 

 

Mike ‘Tattoo’ Krausert: Spooky World, The Interactive Haunt, & Becoming a Haunt Designer

In Episode 37 of HaunTopic Radio we interview Mike ‘Tattoo’ Krausert from Cutting Edge Scenic Design and the Director of the famous Haunted Attraction Spooky World about the Interactive Haunted House that his team builds every year at the Transworld Halloween & Haunt Show. His team is known for their quick set up times & flexibility when working with highly detailed mobile haunts. We also discuss his experience at Spooky World and how he got started designing and building Haunted Attraction all over the U.S. We also find out how he really got his nickname “Tattoo”! It’s not what you think…Cutting Edge Scenic Design

The Interactive Haunted House Showcase provides buyers with the opportunity to experience vendor products first-hand in a themed environment.

Working with show vendors, Mike “Tattoo” Krausert and the Cutting Edge Scenic Design creative team have developed 6 different scenes which are designed to highlight the versatility and impact of exhibitor products and services that can be found for purchase on the show floor.

There’s no better way for buyers to fully grasp the impact of exhibitors’ products than by experiencing them in an integrated environment as they are intended to be used.

New for 2013! We will be incorporating actors into these life like scenes!- HAASHOW.com

HERE ARE SOME OF THE TOPICS WE TALK ABOUT:

  • How to get started as a Haunt Designer in the Haunt Industry.
  • Behind the scenes of Spooky World & Nightmare New England.
  • What is the mission behind the Interactive Haunt at Transworld?
  • Where will Mike be at Transworld (just in case you wanna stalk him).

 

FIND MORE ABOUT MIKE:

CUTTING EDGE SCENIC DESIGNS

SPOOKY WORLD HAUNTED ATTRACTION

THE INTERACTIVE HAUNT AT TRANSWORLD (VIDEO)

 

IF YOU LIKE THIS, PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS OR LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW.

 

 

 

The Insane Shane Party, Disturbia Haunted House, & Transworld with Shane Dabbs

insane shane partyIn Episode 36 we get ‘Insane’ Shane Dabbs, the man behind the Disturbia Haunted House & The Insane Shane Pre-Transworld Party, to open up a bit about a few different topics.  Here are a few topics we discuss with Shane in this show:

  • How To Use A Token System to Make Your Attendees Wait Less
  • What To Expect At the Insane Shane Party at Transworld Halloween & Haunt Show 2013
  • How Shane Really Feels About Home Haunters
  • The Schedule for the Transworld Halloween & Haunt Show

If you are going to the Transworld Halloween & Haunt 2013 let me know and we may be able to meet up. I would like to see the faces of those who are supporting HaunTopic because you are the ones who make me & Darryl return each time. Thank You for all of your comments, compliments, & support all year long! Just use the comment tab and send me an email if you want to meet up this year.

The Winners for the 2 Haunted Halloween Calendars from Hector Turner.com are:

  •  Steve Reeves
  • Patrick Ward

 

We are also holding our first online seminar on February 6th at 9:00 pm CST with Leonard Pickel. Leonard will be teaching “THE TRUTH ABOUT OWNING YOUR OWN HAUNTED HOUSE” which will help open your eyes to the goals you really want to focus on before you even start a Haunted Attraction. Are you really made for the business of Haunting? What is it going to take to be successful? With the years of experience Leonard Pickel has in building, designing, operating, and consulting within the Haunt Industry you are guaranteed to learn something new. This online seminar can be found by clicking here.

Stay tuned for more interviews from our guests from the upcoming Transworld Halloween & Haunt Show on February 26th!