HOWL - Hands On Workforce Learning
Nevada is an industry leader in Experiential Entertainment.
We’re ALSO #1 in haunted attractions...
as well as #5, #7 & #8 out of a total of 83 cities across the United States.
It shouldn’t be a surprise, since we have haunts involving notable experiential creatives, as well as an ever expanding spooky fan base.
To clarify;
#1 - Enterprise, Nevada
#5 - North Las Vegas
#7 - Las Vegas
#8 - Henderson
As of last season, we had 22 haunts spread around the state including locations in:
Boulder City, Carson City, Elko, Fernley, Logandale, Reno, Spanish Springs, Sparks and Winnemucca.
In 2025, Dark Prison in Carson City was officially ranked among America’s elite haunts by the Haunted Attraction Association - Platinum Honors
If we’ve got it, why don’t we haunt it?
So, What is Howl?
Just so you have an idea how extensive and inclusive these plans are, I am outlining a large portion of a program from the FANS portion of my proposal. (This is not a currently functioning program. I do not believe anything like this currently exists.)
HOWL is a rotating Haunt primer project allowing participants to get hands on experiential entertainment training - for NSHE students, job force trainees and other qualified participants.
This is an ideal training opportunity for several areas of experiential entertainment and encourages participants to assist each other in several different roles.
Haunts have always been collaborative projects, which allows working in different groups with different mentors, and trying different roles. It also allows for the freedom of failure. (It may not work as intended, but if it still looks weird, cool, or spooky, - and it's not dangerous - we can still use it!) It takes away the fear of proposing and trying new ideas.
Participants get to work in different teams with an experienced mentor, applying skill sets learned from the FLUX program, and reinforces the processes that go into creation from the ground up.
Other educational departments can participate as well as local businesses. The program is developed in a progressive rotation, with a main and secondary narrative, expanding over time to develop an original "horror" IP.
This is also a great opportunity for people who love Halloween and all things spooky, creepy or gory. Actors, when well trained, are an essential part of any story driven installation.
Year One...
Participation
The year we work toward proof of concept.
Create a stand-alone haunt to operate during a standard six week open, with IR line interaction / app, adequate parking, traffic control, safety and accessibility considerations. Archive entire process from start to finish. (Provide participants with process photos to accompany micro credit certifications).
Make necessary program changes/improvements and additions for year two, while set pieces, costumes and animations are stored in a scannable system, so components can be pulled and shipped as necessary year two.
Create IP and character bible as well as visual database and reference library. All installations must also work as stand alones.
Community Outreach and Collaboration Proposals for the HOWL program.
1) Work with any other interested haunts in the surrounding area for cross promotion and inclusion in the eventual road trip plan. Also highlight any surrounding spooky small businesses to help support the community. Invite business owners and their employees to a free behind the scenes tour and mixer before hard launch.
2) The week before final launch and installation, host a "green light night" (where any red bulbs are replaced with green to keep visual gore to a minimum. Scares rated for kids 10+ Invite local public education teachers to apply to be a "Special Guest Scare Actors". Provide costume and makeup. Friday and Saturday, 7 weeks out, scare actors from different locations.
Proceeds from the green light weekend divided and distributed among the actor's schools for "start small" improvement programs.
3) Put a call out for a "bullet list" of items the builders would like to have, asking for community donation for items or furniture they would be donating or trashing. (ex. broken bed frames, dining chairs, curio cases) that can be repurposed as prop and set pieces. In return, accepted donations score a four pack of tickets (either a green light or standard weekend) as well as a copy of the documentation showing how the item was used and a floor map so they can see it in use during their walkthrough.
Year TWO...
Recruit mentors and project manager for second location and training in established process. Pull and ship pieces as needed, create collaborative haunts covering different time periods of the IP. Update archive. Publish video regarding previous year's lore. Release IR app.
Work with Nevada Travel & Tourism to publish a road trip plan between the two locations, with spooky stops along the way. Edit and release lore video in advance of year 3. Repeat as needed.
Program Perks
Year THREE...
1) Official archivists will be hired for every build and seasonal expansion. Each participant will receive a complete set of archived process photos and official certification documenting their specific contributions, signed off on by their mentor(s), and available after each year's haunt launch. Participants can add them to online portfolios and LinkedIn
2) Sizzle reels and smaller builds will be taken to industry shows along with digital portfolios for participants looking for long term employment / nearing graduation. Mentors and program administrators will be available to answer questions and provide links to portfolios and contact information to vetted industry professionals.
If the shows take place in Nevada, FANS may arrange mixer and networking opportunities, as well as in person interviews. FANS may also be able to provide a limited amount of passes for participants, mentors and instructors.
Open third location. Distribute assets.
Proceed as planned. Include any new certifications or degree programs that may have been introduced from FANS system.
Begin "passport" program - give out haunt specific book detailing even more off the beaten path experiences, such as The Valley of Fire Tarantula migration , small businesses, camping locations, haunted motels and events happening around the state such as shipping micro-installations to the locations hosting the NSHRA rodeo events during that time,
Small businesses, eateries, visitors centers and other participating locations would give out free "passport stamps". At the end of their trip (their last haunt) each passport would be stamped out, with the number of collected stamps relating to a free piece of merch (from something small like a postcard up to something like a T-shirt).
A trip souvenir - “Passports” will change from year to year, making them collectible. Along with the stamp rally, and location / merchandise information, the passport can contain spooky facts about their current location, special offers from businesses near the stamp location, etc.
HOWL assisting TERM
Year FOUR...
As part of TERM's small studio relocation program, a majority of those studios will probably be production small budget horror programs and features. By working in tandem with TERM, HOWL will have an archived and accessible stock of props, set dressing and costuming, as well as a trained workforce ready to take on any new builds.
HOWL can provide tie in experiences (such as IP based haunts) as well as photo opportunities, walk arounds for press and create themed areas for film festivals and screening.
HOWL may also provide seasonal opportunities and tent pole events for industry investors as well as traveling installations for interactivity and attention at film industry and relocation messaging events.
Passports unlock a new perk for road trip participants. HOWL will
produce exclusive merchandise, each item / style / design available at a maximum 3 locations (located around the main intrastate map route, allowing collectors to pick up pieces even if they can't complete the entire route. )
Each merch collection and it's display will be shipped to participating locations and provided free of charge. Participating locations must agree to terms including only one piece of merch saleable to one passport holder for the length of the season, period. Sales are split 50/50 until the program is reimbursed for it's spend. Any other sales stay with the business 100%. All unsold merchandise must be shipped back to the program at the end of the season.
Year Five...
Open a licensing program where outside states pay for their own road trip haunt from FANS original IP. Teams and graduates from the previous year's haunts will deploy to other states as part the program approvals and build process. FANS will assist and oversee all build teams, making sure elements and safety are up to program standards and any necessary changes don't break cannon. Merchandise and other program aspects may be available, so long as they are executed in the spirit of the original FANS program.
FANS launches a new IP in Nevada.
Again, this isn't a complete run down, but I wanted to break out at least one program proposal so everyone could see the scope.