Salt Lake City — The Fear Factory (http://fearfactoryslc.com/), Salt Lake City’s only truly haunted attraction announced that its general manager, Spencer Terry has been unanimously elected President of the International Haunted Attraction Association (HAA). HAA Presidents are approved by board members and typically serve 1-2 terms.

“I’m following in some very large footsteps and am honored to lead a very talented and dedicated team of industry experts as we shift, refocus, rebrand and increase the membership of the Haunted Attraction Association,” says Terry. “I’m grateful to the team at Fear Factory for their support as we do our best to represent an industry we all love.  We’ll work collectively to strengthen the association for the benefit of all of our members and the overall success of the industry.”

The international association began in the late 90’s and is the only official association for professional haunt owners, operators, designers, vendors, enthusiasts, home haunters and artists, worldwide. Its mission is to protect, promote, and educate through trade shows, magazines, seminars, events, approved suppliers, and expert sources to drive the ongoing success of the haunt industry.  Made up of nearly 5,500 attractions, haunted attractions make up a decent amount of the $8 Billion in consumer spending related to Halloween.

“Spencer has always been a passionate supporter of the haunt industry and I can’t think of a better person to lead the HAA and help grow its membership,” says Brett Hays, former president of the HAA. “I feel confident turning the reins over to Spencer and know that we’re in good hands as we unite in building the haunted attraction industry.”

Since 2015 Terry has helped the Fear Factory be recognized as one of the scariest haunted houses in the United States by media outlets such as USA Today, BuzzFeed and the Travel Channel. In 2018, the Fear Factory received legendary haunt status from the HAA, and in 2020 Terry and the Fear Factory led the global entertainment industry as the first haunted attraction to open world-wide, during the pandemic, and set the stage for successful safe operations, that helped hundreds of attractions open. Terry spent nearly 20 years in the hospitality, non-profit, retail and corporate human resources fields and has been an avid home haunter since he was a child.

“We’re proud of Spencer and knew that with his dedication and passion for the haunt industry that it was just a matter of time before he was elected to lead the association and help it continue to deliver on its mission of protecting and promoting our industry,” said Rob Dunfield, Fear Factory Co-Founder and COO. “We know that when people have a good experience at one haunted house they want to go back and experience others, and to that end, we are committed to supporting the HAA and haunt owners throughout the United States.”

The Fear Factory’s 2021 season kicks off on Friday, May 21 and Saturday, May 22 with its annual Halfway to Halloween event and will re-open on Friday, August 13, for a special Friday the 13^th weekend. The 2021 Halloween season officially opens on Friday, September 10 and will be open on weekends through September. On Friday, October 1, the Fear Factory will be open Thursday – Sunday before opening nightly on Friday, October 15. The 2021 season will end with the Fear Factory’s traditional Lights-Out event on November 5th and 6th, 2021.

The Fear Factory is located at 666 West and 800 South in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. For a complete list of the Fear Factory’s 2021 events including monthly Ghost Tours and to buy tickets to the 2021 season visit,www.fearfactoryslc.com.

ABOUT THE FEAR FACTORY

Fear Factory is one of the top Halloween attractions in the world, made up of 6 buildings, up to 6 stories high, with 2 underground passages, and is a massive haunted attraction in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. With awards ranking them as #3 in the world (buzzfeed.com), and top 10 in the US (USA Today & Travel Channel) Fear Factory has quickly grown to be one of Utah’s – and the world’s – favorite Halloween entertainment attractions. Its vastness requires a waiver to be signed prior to entry, and opens each fall, plus periodically throughout the year for special events. Home to over 11 documented historical deaths, featured in movies and films, boasts over 100 nightly live actors, and heavily awarded within the industry, it’s a great place to bring family, friends, coworkers and more for an evening of entertainment, thrills and fun. For more information visitwww.fearfactoryslc.com.

ABOUT THE HAUNTED ATTRACTION ASSOCIATION:

The Haunted Attraction Association (HAA), with roots going back to the late 90’s, and a mission to protect, promote, and educate, is the only official association in the haunt industry, serves as the voice of the haunted attraction industry.  Member-operated haunted attractions, and the HAA itself, can be found in USA Today, Time Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, and other national and international publications.   The HAA represents professional haunted attraction owners, operators, designers, vendors, enthusiasts, home haunters, and artists who have turned the business of fright and fun into a multi-million dollar industry with its own tradeshows, experts, suppliers, magazines, educational seminars, and events as it leads the way to make Halloween America’s #1 favorite holiday, in terms of attendance and record-breaking attendance sales.  Just last year alone, over 81.5 million Americans says they planned to attend a haunted house.  Each year, HAA partners with many organizations for networking, showcasing, safety training, and seminars from the best in the business.  More info:www.hauntedattractionassociation.com.