2024 Question and Answer With The Haunt

FloridaHauntedHouses.com recently sat down with Jaime Passakos of The Haunt, to discuss what's new at The Haunt for the 2024 Halloween Season!

What's new at The Haunt for 2024? Do you have any new rides, attractions, or special features that Haunt Seekers should know about?

This year, we’re celebrating our 5th season with four brand-new haunted trails designed to push the boundaries of fear:

Camp Carnage: Lights Out: A cursed campground where "lights out" is more than just a bedtime routine.
La Bruja’s Graveyard: Reanimated: Walk among the undead in a graveyard where death is just the beginning.
Psycho Path: The Last Laugh: A twisted carnival where clowns make sure their laughs are louder than your screams.
Florida Man II: Bushwhacked: Enter the swamps where the infamous Bush Lads will do anything to trap their next victim.

We’re also expanding our R.I.P. Lounge for 21+ guests, offering private access to a bar and air-conditioned restrooms, and introducing a special Pride Night to benefit SunServe.

We also offer our Family Friendly Haunted Trail (Oct. 20th, 26th & 27th) designed with families with small children in mind, in the safety of daylight a mildly scary walk through our Haunted Trail. Recommended for ages 10 and under. New this year, all Child tickets include a Safe Trick or Treat.

What are you most excited about for the 2024 Halloween Season?

We’re most excited to celebrate 5 Years of Fear! This milestone is special because it marks our growth from a new event into a South Florida Halloween tradition. Each year we’ve raised the bar, and for 2024, we’ve put extra effort into creating an unforgettable experience with new attractions, exclusive live entertainment, and more immersive scares.

What differentiates The Haunt from other local haunts in Florida?

What sets The Haunt apart is our timed entry system, which allows guests to experience each trail in smaller groups, creating the feeling that you're truly alone in the woods. This eliminates the "conga line" effect of many other haunts and makes every scare feel personal and unexpected. We also prioritize immersive storytelling through our trails, making it not just about jump scares but about pulling you into a full narrative experience.

How long has The Haunt been in business? Can you tell us a bit more about The Haunt's history?

The Haunt was founded in 2020 with the vision of creating a truly immersive haunted attraction in South Florida. Over the past five years, we’ve grown into one of the region’s most popular Halloween events. We started small but quickly gained a loyal following of horror fans and families alike, thanks to our commitment to delivering high-quality scares, themed entertainment, and memorable experiences.

What's your favorite experience since opening The Haunt?

One of my favorite experiences was watching the first group ever go through our trails back in 2020. Their reactions, the screams, and the way they clung to each other as they braved the scares—it was clear we had created something special. Every year since, I’ve been amazed at how our audience engages with the event, whether they come for the horror, the entertainment, or the family-friendly experiences.

How long is a typical haunt experience at The Haunt from start to finish?

The trails open at 8PM, but guests are welcome to enter as early as 7PM. Spanning nearly a mile in total, the four trails take the average guest about 20-30 minutes to complete.

Throughout the evening, guests can enjoy live entertainment, delicious food, themed cocktails, Instagram-worthy desserts, and plenty of photo opportunities to keep the fun going.

On a scale from 1 to 10, how scary would you say The Haunt is? Why?

We’d rate The Haunt a solid 9. The combination of immersive sets, timed entries, and professionally trained actors ensures that each scare feels personal and intense. Our trails are designed to build tension, with a few twisted laughs thrown in to keep guests on edge from start to finish. That said, we also offer less scary, family-friendly options, such as the Twilight Family Trail for younger children.

Does The Haunt's property have any real haunted history? Do you have a spooky encounter you'd like to share?

While we’ve never confirmed any real hauntings at Tree Tops Park, the atmosphere of the ancient oak trees and dense forest at night certainly feels eerie. There have been a few strange occurrences during setup over the years—unexplained noises, shadows moving in the trees—but it all adds to the mystique of the experience.

What inspired you to open up a haunted attraction? What's your favorite part of the business?

I grew up in Ohio and have great memories of haunted trails and hayrides. When I moved to South Florida, I realized there wasn’t anything like that here. I wanted to bring that same experience to the area so that families and people down here can make similar memories and traditions.

How has new technology (i.e. animatronics, special props, etc) helped you to enhance The Haunt?

As a fully outdoor event, we're limited in the technology we can use in the woods. Rather than relying on animatronics, we embrace the natural eeriness of the forest, combined with skilled scare actors, themed sets and actor-matronics to create a more authentic and immersive experience.

Can The Haunt accommodate large groups? How many people can experience The Haunt together as a group?

Yes, The Haunt can accommodate large groups. Our timed entry system ensures that groups of up to 10 people can enter together, but we keep the numbers manageable so the scares remain effective. For even larger groups, we can split them up into smaller clusters to ensure everyone gets the full experience.

Does The Haunt offer any special deals, discounts, or coupons?

Yes, we often run promotions leading up to the event, including early bird discounts, flash sales and group rates. Keep an eye on our website and social media for any special offers as the season approaches.

Anything else you'd like to let us know about The Haunt?

We’re thrilled to be celebrating 5 Years of Fear with bigger, bolder scares and more entertainment than ever before. From our new haunted trails to live music and the R.I.P. Lounge, there’s something for everyone. Whether you’re a hardcore horror fan or just looking for a fun night out, The Haunt promises a Halloween experience you won’t forget.