Full Moon Productions

13 Haunted Attractions That Turn Your Worst Phobias Into Thrills

KANSAS CITY – October 31, 2026 -- Fans of haunted attractions can now match their worst fear to a specific haunt: Amber Arnett-Bequeaith, known as the Queen of Haunts, has named 13 attractions across the US that turn common phobias into immersive experiences.

Arnett-Bequeaith works with her family's Full Moon Productions, which created Edge of Hell and Beast Haunted Attractions in Kansas City's historic West Bottoms. She admits her list has a hometown bias, but says she judges each haunt on storytelling, set design, scare timing and what stays with visitors afterward.

Inside Kansas City's Haunts: How Edge of Hell and Beast Scare You

KANSAS CITY – October 30, 2026 -- Two Kansas City haunted attractions, Edge of Hell (open since 1975) and Beast Haunted Attraction (open since 1991), build their scares on more than a monster in a mask, says industry spokesperson Amber Arnett-Bequeaith, known as the Queen of Haunts.

Sound, smell and touch do the heavy lifting

According to Arnett-Bequeaith, the real work happens before you see the monster. A scream from somewhere unseen builds anticipation. A damp, musty odor hints that something has been lurking for years. An unfamiliar texture or a dark passage gives the imagination room to run.

Smell has particularly strong connections to brain systems involved in emotion and memory. Combined with sight and sound, it can make an imaginary world feel convincing enough to trigger an instinctive response.