Known for its dazzling lights and packed casinos, Las Vegas, Nevada, is now home to something more terrifying. With the opening of Universal Horror Unleashed on August 14, a new site for terror arrived in Las Vegas. Ticket prices can range from $59 to $2,750.00 (for the VIP package). Universal Horror Unleashed is located at 3051 S. Rancho Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89102 and horror enthusiasts now have a year-round destination with jump scares Monday through Sunday 2 p.m to 10 p.m. The venue is closed on Tuesdays. Creepy monsters, scary clowns, and sets fit for a movie are all there to make the experience feel surreal.
The purpose of this year round attraction is to simulate a live horror movie. The experience has abandoned labs as well as haunted cemeteries; every room is carefully crafted. There are flashing lights, fog, and spooky sound effects all creating the suspense that will make the customers scream. The scare actors, however, are what really make the experience memorable because they make the scene come to life.
Jason Rivera, one of the actors, has over a decade of experience performing in haunted attractions. Scaring, according to him, is both an art and a skill. “Time and energy are key when it comes to scaring people,” Rivera said. “Some visitors enter with an air of confidence, but everyone has a moment when they lose it, and discovering that moment is what’s exciting.”
Sophomore Wesly Penn states, “I recently saw a video online, and I would never go there, that’s way too scary and gruesome for me.”
Guests are always taken by surprise when the spooky music begins and the lights begin to flicker.
In order to elevate the terror, Universal Horror Unleashed also made sure to include the company’s iconic monsters like Dracula, Frankenstein, and The Mummy, but reimagined them with new twists. Visitors transition between themed areas, each area intended to further engross them the horror.
The objective goes beyond simply frightening people, senior Isabel Ramirez, a horror fan here at Shadow Ridge says, “It’s so exciting to be able to experience something new and different here in Las Vegas.”
Already attracting large crowds, Universal Horror Unleashed is predicted to rank as one of the most visited non-casino attractions. This experience promises thrills that will linger long after they leave, whether they are a horror fan or just searching for something new to experience in the city that never sleeps.
