Thrillvania is an immersive haunted house theme park located in Terrell, Texas.[1] [2] The park consists of 50 acres, and is considered a major international horror theme park.[3] [4] [5] Created by Lance Pope in 1996, Thrillvania was one of the first haunted house parks to use film special effects such as animatronics and pyrotechnics.[6] [7]
Lance Pope bought a Antebellum South-style attraction called Cannon Manor from four former Disney Imagineers. In 1996, Pope moved the attraction (renamed Verdun Manor) to Terrell, where it became the foundation for the currently-named Thrillvania. Pope died in 2002 (at age 37).[8] Thrillvania currently encompasses an immersive environment where the spectators are led through the experience.[9] According to the Travel Channel and Reader's Digest, Thrillvania constitutes one of the largest and top rated international horror theme parks.[10] [11]
Thillvania Haunted House Park includes three main sights, including Verdun Manor, Cassandra's House of Clowns and Sam Hain's Trail of Torment. Each house presents different themes.[12] Verdun Manor, the largest house, has a zombie, traditional haunted house theme. Cassandra's House of Clowns is the clown house. Sam Hain's Trail of Torment is a trail walk through that consists of mutated villagers who have been living on the trail for years.[13]