From a small haunted attraction in Kennesaw to a nationally recognized Halloween destination, Netherworld Haunted House is celebrating three decades of monsters, cinematic storytelling and unforgettable scares.
For 30 years, Netherworld Haunted House has transformed Halloween into an immersive experience filled with towering creatures, elaborate costumes and larger-than-life special effects. Now, as the Atlanta-area attraction celebrates its 30th season, it is bringing back iconic characters and memorable scenes while introducing a new generation of nightmares.
Founded in 1997 by Ben Armstrong and Billy Messina, Netherworld began as an approximately 4,000-square-foot haunted attraction in Kennesaw, welcoming around 19,000 guests during its inaugural season. After subsequent years in Norcross, the attraction established its permanent home in Stone Mountain in 2017.
Today, Netherworld operates on 10 acres and welcomes more than 75,000 guests each season. What began as a seasonal haunted house has grown into an entertainment destination featuring two haunted attractions, five year-round escape games and the House of Creeps Monster Museum.
The Art Behind the Netherworld Monsters
Netherworld’s growth reflects its emphasis on original storytelling and elaborate production design. Artists, designers, fabricators, makeup artists and performers work together to create the creatures and environments that define the experience.
According to the attraction’s anniversary announcement, its productions feature more than 400 animatronics and special effects, more than 4,000 unique costume pieces and hundreds of original masks.
The team’s film and television backgrounds have helped shape Netherworld’s cinematic approach, combining detailed sets, elaborate makeup and live performers to bring its fictional worlds to life.
“From the beginning, we’ve always wanted Netherworld to be more than a haunted house,” Messina said in an October press release. “We wanted to create a place where artists, builders, performers and storytellers could come together to make something truly unique.”
That creative vision remains central to the attraction’s identity, particularly during its milestone anniversary season.
Opening the Vault on 30 Seasons of Screams
The 2026 season features two new haunted attractions: Curse of the Collector and Beyond Oblivion: Legacy of Evil. Both celebrate Netherworld’s history while introducing new characters, environments and storylines.
In Curse of the Collector, a supernatural conflict brings together familiar creatures from previous seasons, including gargoyles, gorgons, vampires, werewolves and the Army of the Dead. The experience revisits memorable scenes from Netherworld’s history, giving longtime visitors opportunities to recognize familiar elements.
Meanwhile, Beyond Oblivion: Legacy of Evil follows the infamous Mangler as he launches another horrifying experiment. Guests navigate a grotesque world of laboratories, slaughterhouses, swamps and abandoned towns populated by supernatural creatures and mutant insects.
Netherworld describes the second attraction as its largest to date. Together, the two productions combine nostalgia with new scares, appealing to longtime fans and first-time visitors alike.
The anniversary celebration also extends beyond the haunted houses. The Halloween Midway features towering jack-o’-lantern displays, roaming monsters, themed photo opportunities, games and seasonal treats. Visitors can explore the House of Creeps Monster Museum for movie props and monstrous creations or experience one of the five Escape the Netherworld games throughout the year.
Netherworld’s Place in Atlanta’s Halloween Tradition
Over the years, Netherworld has become a recognizable part of the Atlanta area’s Halloween season. Its longstanding relationship with Dragon Con brings its monsters and elaborate costumes to downtown Atlanta each year. In 2026, the attraction again sponsored the convention’s Horror Track programming and participated in its annual parade.
The anniversary has also received recognition from Gwinnett County. On Oct. 6, the county’s Board of Commissioners presented a proclamation designating Oct. 13, 2026, as Netherworld Haunted House Day. The proclamation recognizes the attraction’s creative innovation, community contributions, and role in regional tourism.
“We’re incredibly grateful to Gwinnett County for recognizing Netherworld’s 30th anniversary and for giving us a place to grow for nearly three decades,” Armstrong said in the proclamation announcement.
Netherworld has also earned national recognition during its anniversary season, placing number two on America Haunts’ 2026 Top 5 Fan Favorite Haunted Attractions list and number 4 in USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards for Best Haunted House / Attraction.
These milestones reflect the contributions of the artists, builders, performers and employees who bring each season to life, as well as the fans who return year after year.
Looking Toward the Next 30 Years
To commemorate its anniversary, Netherworld released a five-part YouTube docuseries narrated by Armstrong. The series explores the people, creativity and history behind the attraction, offering fans a closer look at the stories that have shaped its legacy.
Three decades after its beginnings in Kennesaw, Netherworld has grown into a nationally recognized destination built on theatrical storytelling, imaginative creatures and immersive entertainment. Its 30th season celebrates that history while continuing to introduce new experiences.
For an attraction defined by the unexpected, the anniversary is both a reflection on the past and a glimpse of what lies ahead. Thirty seasons have brought generations of guests through its doors, and Netherworld continues to build on that legacy one nightmare at a time.
Netherworld Haunted House is located at 1313 Netherworld Way in Stone Mountain. The 2026 season features Curse of the Collector and Beyond Oblivion: Legacy of Evil, along with the Halloween Midway and additional attractions. Advance ticket purchases are recommended. For operating dates and ticket information, visit FearWorld.com.
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