s6, e017 | BEHIND THE SCARE: Dark Nights. Hersheypark | the Attractions Group Podcast

Season 6, Episode 017:

  • “Behind the Scare: Hersheypark”

 

🎙️ Hersheypark Dark Nights: Behind the Scenes of Fear, Planning & Design!

What does it take to turn Sweet Town into a realm of pure terror? In this exclusive episode of The Attractions Group Podcast, host David Detling sits down with two of the creative masterminds behind Hersheypark Dark Nights:

  • 🎃 Brewer Lister – Managing Director of Immersive Experiences
  • 🕷️ Chris Brown – Director of Planning & Design

 

Whether you’re a theme park insider, an event producer, a dark ride enthusiast, or a haunt fan, this deep-dive conversation delivers an unmissable look into how Hersheypark concepts, designs, and executes one of the Northeast’s premier fall events.

🔍 IN THIS EPISODE, WE COVER:

  • The Evolution of Dark Nights: How Hersheypark elevated its seasonal strategy to build a immersive, multi-haunt ecosystem. Master Planning & Spatial Design: How Chris Brown and the planning team integrate high-capacity haunted houses and scare zones into the existing park footprint without disrupting daily coaster and attraction operations.
  • Creating Immersive Worlds: Brewer Lister reveals the storytelling, scenic direction, atmospheric lighting, and audio design required to transport guests into original Dark Nights lore.
  • The Logistics of Fear: Balancing guest flow, queue design, safety protocols, and operational throughput during peak autumn event nights.
  • What’s Next for Hersheypark: Behind-the-scenes insights into how early guest feedback shapes year-over-year expansions and haunt revisions. ⏱️

 

CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS

  • [00:01:12] – Introducing Brewer Lister & Chris Brown
  • [00:02:05] – Professional Backgrounds: How Chris and Brewer ended up at Hersheypark
  • [00:05:01] – History of Hersheypark Fall Events: From 90s family-friendly to “Haunted Harvest”
  • [00:07:19] – The Three Rules of Engagement
  • [00:09:26] – Leadership vision and launching Dark Nights in 2022
  • [00:12:13] – Hiring design consultants (Epic Entertainment Group & Zeitgeist Design)
  • [00:13:35] – Evolving to In-House Ideation and Long-Term Partners
  • [00:17:13] – Annual Timeline: November wrap-up to March purchasing and summer build-out
  • [00:19:10] – Day/Night Dichotomy: Family-friendly trick-or-treating to evening thrills
  • [00:20:04] – Avenue of the Afterlife: Providing non-scary, high-energy entertainment
  • [00:24:32] – Passholder Lights-On Tours and the New “Meet and Shriek”
  • [00:25:05] – “Kill & Fill”: the 1970s haunted service station rooted in Hershey Estates history
  • [00:29:43] – Culinary: Spirits Rooftop Patio, Tasting Passes, and Seasonal King-Size Shakes
  • [00:32:07] – Favorites of the Event: Hay mazes, midways transformed by fog, & park energy
  • [00:36:35] – The Great Chain Saw Debate: Finding the right spot in Haunted Coal Mine
  • [00:38:02] – Guest Reactions: Unscripted scare actor moments in the Fallout Zone
  • [00:40:19] – What’s New for the Current Season
  • [00:43:10] – Christmas Candy Lane & Estate of Evil Holiday Open House
  • [00:45:50] – Rapid Fire Q&A

 

🔔 SUBSCRIBE & STAY CONNECTED If you love theme park design, guest experience strategy, dark rides, roller coasters, and the business behind seasonal events, HIT THE SUBSCRIBE BUTTON and click the notification bell 🔔 so you never miss an episode!

 

👍 Liked this episode? Leave us a comment below sharing your favorite Dark Nights haunted house or scare zone this season!

 

🌐 Hersheypark Official Links 🎢 

  • Official Website: https://www.hersheypark.com/
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hersheypark
  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hersheypark
  • X (Twitter): https://x.com/hersheypark
  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/hersheypark

 

🎙️ The Attractions Group Podcast Podcast

  • Website: https://www.attractionsgroup.com/podcast
  • YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube me.com/@AttractionsGroup
  • Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-attractions-group-podcast
  • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/attractionsgroup
  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/attractionsgroup
  • X (Twitter): https://x.com/attractionsgrp
  • The Attractions Group Official Website: https://www.attractionsgroup.com/
  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-attractions-group
  • Contact & Consulting Inquiries: https://www.attractionsgroup.com/contact

 

#Hersheypark #DarkNights #HersheyparkDarkNights #ThemeParkDesign #HauntedHouse #ThemeParkPodcast #AttractionsIndustry #ImmersiveExperiences #ThemeParkOperations #HersheyPA #HauntSeason #TheAttractionsGroup #RollerCoasters #DarkRideDesign #IAAPA

 

Hersheypark, Dark Nights, Hersheypark Dark Nights, Brewer Lister, Chris Brown, David Detling, The Attractions Group, The Attractions Group Podcast, Theme Park Design, Theme Park Operations, Theme Park Industry, Immersive Experiences, Haunted House Design, Haunt Operations, Seasonal Events, Halloween Haunt, Hershey PA, Roller Coasters, Theme Park News, IAAPA, Dark Ride Design, Guest Experience, Event Planning, Theme Park Logistics, Hersheypark Halloween

«

About The Author