Howl-O-Scream Tampa 2003

Despite the local competition’s decade-plus head start, Howl-O-Scream Tampa was deemed “America’s number one haunted theme park attraction” by HauntWorld Magazine. It wasn’t just reinforcement, but a massive, public endorsement of the event’s burgeoning strategy - elaboration before expansion. Four of the previous year’s five haunted houses returned, each with workshopped revisions and tweaks. Escape from Insanity received an entirely new story that served as a sequel for returning guests. The only new house - Darkheart’s Fear Fair - featured four different ways out. Another scarezone was added, bringing the total to a then-record five. In the spirit of Bill & Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure at Universal and The Hanging at Knott's Berry Farm, Busch Gardens Tampa presented their own pop culture parody show called Eternal Reward, with an ending chosen by the audience.