Howl-O-Scream
| Company type | Event |
|---|---|
| Industry | Amusement parks / Entertainment |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Founder | United Parks & Resorts |
Area served | Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, SeaWorld San Antonio, SeaWorld Orlando, SeaWorld San Diego |
| Products | Halloween haunted attractions, scare zones, live performances |
| Owner | United Parks & Resorts |
Howl-O-Scream is a yearly Halloween celebration managed by United Parks & Resorts, taking place every October at locations including Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, SeaWorld San Antonio, with recent additions at SeaWorld Orlando and SeaWorld San Diego. These parks maintain regular operations during daytime hours but shift into the Howl-O-Scream experience after dusk, offering attractions such as haunted mazes, designated "scare zones," and live performances.
At Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Tampa, Florida, Howl-O-Scream serves as a direct competitor to Universal Studios' Halloween Horror Nights. Both events are distinguished by their intense haunted attractions and scare zones featuring mature themes like violence, gore, and suggestive content. Admission is restricted to guests aged 18 and older.[1][2]
History
Conducted on selected weekends throughout October, Howl-O-Scream emphasizes themed haunted houses—enclosed walkthroughs with narratives and immersive decorations utilizing strobe lighting, fog effects, and other special effects to build suspense. Scare zones are outdoor areas along main walkways populated by actors in costume, props, and atmospheric enhancements. The live shows blend Halloween motifs with dark humor and adult-oriented content.
Prior to the debut of Howl-O-Scream in 2000, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay offered the family-friendly PG-13 event "Spooky Safari" in 1999, which featured a haunted trail, fireworks displays, pumpkin patches, hayrides, and activities suitable for all ages.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
| Name | Year | Icon | Houses | Scare Zones | Shows | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Spooky Safari | 1999 | None | Haunted Jungle Trail | None | Pumpkin patch Hayrides Face painting Pyrotechnic/magic show | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Howl-O-Scream | 2000 | Dr. Livingsdoom | Labyrinth of Lost Souls Dark Caverns Haunted Jungle Trail Evening Serengeti Safari Tours |
Creatures of the Night Monster Free Zone Woocies |
Butch Patrick The Amazing Kreskin: The World's Foremost Mentalist 1961 Cadillac Hearse | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Howl-O-Scream You wanted scary? Be careful what you ask for! (Originally "This Time Terror Takes Control," renamed after 9/11.) |
2001 | Torment, Mangler, and Pernicia Gloom | Escape from Insanity Screaming Reality Night Stalkers in 3-D Creeper's Crypt The Curse of King Tut's Tomb |
Jungle of Doom Inferno Express Grisly Gardens |
RIP TV Fiends | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Howl-O-Scream Face Your Fear |
2002 | Death Spirit | Escape From Insanity Bloody Bayou Tortured Ripper Row The Mortuary Demented Dimensions |
Grisly Gardens Cursed Agony Express X-Ecutioners |
RIP TV 2 Fiends | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Howl-O-Scream Fear Has a New Face |
2003 | F.E.A.R. | Escape From Insanity: Residents' Revenge Darkheart's Fear Fair The Mortuary Ripper Row Demented Dimensions Tortured |
Grisly Gardens Cursed Agony Express Whiplash Speed Demons |
Fiends Eternal Reward Theatre De La Morte: Guillotine Show | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Howl-O-Scream No Escape. No Mercy. Nowhere Else |
2004 | Hack | Escape From Insanity: Lockdown Darkheart's Fear Fair Till Death Do Us Part Corporate Nightmare The Mortuary Chaos! |
Garden of the Cursed Beware! Agony Express Sliderz |
Fiends Depraved Reality | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Howl-O-Scream Your Childhood Fears Don't Go Away. They Just Get Worse |
2005 | An evil jack-in-the-box | After Hours: Dead Of Night Freaked! Deathly Departed The Hunted The Mortuary: The Mourning After The 3rd Dementia |
Bone Grinders Restless Death Wicked Woods Widows Walk Root Of All Evil |
Fiends Haunt Me Baby One More Time | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Howl-O-Scream No One 2 Trust (I'm Closer Than You Think) |
2006 | Muse/N/A | Freaked! After Hours: Club Muse Deathly Departed The 3rd Dementia Trapped In The Walls The Hunted |
Bone Grinders Pharaoh's Revenge Restless Death Zombie Junction Wicked Woods |
Fiends Control-Alt-Deceased The Awakening | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Howl-O-Scream A New Spin On Horror |
2007 | The Death Jockey | Catch Your Breath Trapped In The Walls The Hunted Radiation Alert 3-D Taste Of Blood After Hours: Club Muse |
Zombie Junction Eternal Midnight Masters And Monsters Pharaoh's Revenge Wicked Woods |
Fiends Freak Show 2007 Sweet Dreams | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Howl-O-Scream Raven Twins: Bad Twin. Worse Twin. (Not All Nightmares Happen When You Sleep) |
2008 | The Raven Twins | After Hours: Last Call Trapped in the Walls Eat Your Heart Out Taste of Blood Death Row: Vengeance Reconstruction: The Doctor is In |
Wicked Woods Eternal Midnight Zombie Junction Roaming Hordes |
Fiends One Wild Night Killer Klownz | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Howl-O-Scream The House of Vayne (Evil Never Goes Out Of Fashion) |
2009 | Ms. Vayne, Anya, Erik, and Elsa | Nightshade Toy Factory Delta Epsilon Delta: Pledge Week Trapped in the Walls 13 Taste of Blood Death Row Vengeance Reconstruction: The Doctor is In |
Unearthed Banshees El Carnaval Del Muerto Werewolves Roaming Hordes |
Fiends Full Moon Cabaret: The Magic of Jason Byrne Club Envy Howl-O-Scream Shop of Horrors House of Vayne Fashion Show | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Howl-O-Scream My X (Revenge Rocks) |
2010 | Sylvie, lead singer of MyX | MyX: Revenge Rocks Alone Nightshade Toy Factory: Son of Nightshade Delta Epsilon Delta: Extreme Rush Trapped in the Walls: Ghost Chasers Taste of Blood: A Different Vein Death Row Vengeance: No Escape Deconstruction: The Doctor is Out of Control |
Road-Trip Crazed Love Xtreme Fanatics Light of Doom Spiders & Snakes Zombies and Clowns |
MyX Live Fiends Blood Relations | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Howl-O-Scream The Dark Side of the Gardens (Zombies Live Here) | None | Zombie Mortuary Nevermore Ultimate Gamble: Vampire Casino Alone Nightshade Toy Factory Death Row Vengeance: Fear The Dead Deconstruction: The Doctor is Out of Control | None Zombie hordes parkwide | Fiends The Midnight Hour |- valign="top" | 2012 | None | Blood Asylum Circus of Superstition 3-D Zombie Mortuary Nevermore Ultimate Gamble Vampire Casino : Condemned Nightshade Toy Factory: Mutation Alone | Faded Memories The Family Plot | Fiends |- valign="top" | Howl-O-Scream The 13 (Once Every Century, On Precisely The Thirteenth Year, Evil Comes Out To Play) | 2013 | The 13 | Death Water Bayou The Basement Circus Of Superstition 3-D Zombie Mortuary Nevermore Blood Asylum Ultimate Gamble: Reversal Of Fortune The Experiment (Tut's Tomb) | The 13 Harvester's Haunt Pain Lane | Fiends |- valign="top" | Howl-O-Scream Cursed (Don't Listen) | 2014 | The Cursed Ones | Dead Fall Zombie Containment Unit Death Water Bayou The Basement Circus Of Superstition 3D: The Show Must Go On Zombie Mortuary Asylum The Experiment: The Final Test | None | Fiends |- valign="top" | Howl-O-Scream Unearthed (We dug too far) | 2015 | Scarlett | Unearthed: Scarlett's Revenge Zombie Containment Unit 15: Moving Targets Dead Fall: Thirst for Blood The Basement Death Water Bayou Circus Of Superstition: The Last Laugh Zombie Mortuary | Unearthed | Fiends |- valign="top" | Howl-O-Scream Evil Encore (The Show Must Go On) | 2016 | Carver | Unearthed Zombie Containment Unit 15: Moving Targets Motel Hell Death Water Bayou Circus of Superstition 3D: The Last Laugh Zombie Mortuary The Black Spot | Beware | Fiends |- valign="top" | Howl-O-Scream | 2017 | None | Unearthed Zombie Containment Unit 15: Moving Targets Motel Hell Death Water Bayou The Black Spot Undead Arena: Live Demented Dimensions | Class Deceased Wasteland The Playground Carnie Camp Meat Market | Fiends |- valign="top" | Howl-O-Scream | 2018 | None | Insomnia Simon's Slaughterhouse Unearthed: Search and Survive Death Water Bayou: Death of the Queen Motel Hell: No Vacancy The Black Spot: Bloodshed | Meat Market Maniac Midway Camp DOA Deadly Toys Hell On Wheels Día De Los Muertos | Fiends |- valign="top" | Howl-O-Scream 20 Years of Fear | 2019 | Returning Icons from years past | The Residence Insomnia: Patients' Revenge Simon's Slaughterhouse Death Water Bayou: Wrath of the Queen Motel Hell: Infestation The Black Spot: Bloodshed | First Fear Little Nightmares Carpe Noctem Meat Market Maniac Midway Camp DOA Deadly Toys Hell On Wheels Día De Los Muertos | Fiends |- valign="top" | Cancelled due to delays and restrictions related to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. | 2020 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |- valign="top" | Howl-O-Scream | 2021 | None | N/A | N/A | Fiends |-
%} Busch Gardens Williamsburg
SeaWorld San Antonio
Busch Gardens Tampa BayPresented here is a compilation of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay locations utilized for Howl-O-Scream haunted attractions, encompassing warehouses, queue areas, and temporary setups.
Busch Gardens Tampa BayThe year 2000 saw Busch Gardens Tampa Bay introduce Howl-O-Scream, taking the place of the smaller-scale "Spooky Safari." This new event broadened its appeal from primarily children to include Halloween-themed attractions geared toward teenagers and adults. It offered four haunted experiences, appearances by celebrities, and a "Monster Free Zone" designed specifically for younger guests. By 2001, the focus shifted more toward older teens and young adults, featuring five new haunted houses alongside three scare zones, while still preserving children's activities within the "Land of the Dragons" section. In 2002, Howl-O-Scream presented six haunted houses—one carried over from the previous year—and four scare zones, two of which were newly introduced, maintaining its target demographic. In 2003, the event enhanced its narrative elements with five distinct experiences: four haunted houses and one trail. Additionally, there were five scare zones and three shows, some produced by external vendors. The 2004 edition faced challenges due to Hurricane Jeanne, which inflicted damage causing a delay and necessitating the relocation of the Corporate Nightmare haunted house. That year’s lineup comprised five haunted houses, one trail, four scare zones, and two shows. The 2005 event expanded to six haunted houses—five of them brand new—and added five fresh scare zones. A notable introduction was the "Hunted" house, which implemented a "victim" scare concept where cast members actively engaged guests in an aggressive manner. Although a minor fire led to a temporary closure, no injuries occurred, prompting heightened security measures afterward. During 2006 and 2007, Howl-O-Scream consistently featured six haunted houses with several new additions each year, five scare zones including newly created ones, and three shows. The 2007 event also debuted mini-scare zones populated by roaming performers that later inspired the development of park-wide scare zones. The event mascot "The Death Jockey" was spotlighted in a comic book series during this period. In 2008, attendees experienced six haunted houses—three of which were new—four scare zones including one fresh addition, and three shows with two premieres. This year marked the first implementation of an ongoing teaser marketing campaign on the Howl-O-Scream website. Celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2009, Howl-O-Scream expanded to seven haunted houses (three newly introduced), five scare zones (four brand new), and five shows (four premieres). Highlights included magician Jason Byrne and an adults-only Club Envy nightclub available at an extra cost. The 2010 edition grew further with eight haunted houses—two new—and introduced six new scare zones alongside three shows (two debuts). This year also launched the premium Alone haunted house experience as an additional paid option where guests could enter individually or in small groups. In 2011, there were seven haunted houses (three newcomers) and two shows (one new), while traditional scare zones were replaced by roaming actors throughout the park. The following year’s event in 2012 featured seven haunts (two new), two newly created scare zones including Faded Memories, a retrospective area honoring 13 years of Howl-O-Scream, plus one show. The 2013 event offered eight haunted houses (three new), three entirely new scare zones, and one show. In 2014, it maintained eight haunted houses with three fresh additions but eliminated scare zones; only one show was presented. In 2015, Howl-O-Scream included seven haunted houses (two new), a single scare zone, and one show. Busch Gardens WilliamsburgThe 2014 event showcased five haunted houses along with a park-wide scare zone and two shows. By 2015, it had grown to feature seven haunted houses—including three brand-new ones—five scare zones, and three shows. See also
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