2022 Question and Answer With Royal Haunted House

ArkansasHauntedHouses.com recently sat down with Michelle Griffis of Royal Haunted House, to discuss what's new at Royal Haunted House for the 2022 Halloween Season!

What's new at Royal Haunted House for 2022? Do you have any new rides, attractions, or special features that Haunt Seekers should know about?

Our design team has come up with some really cool and unusual props (machines) this year. Ready to see them in action! I think we are bringing on the GORE this year!

What are you most excited about for the 2022 Halloween Season?

We are always excited to see people from the year before return for another scare. People from all over Arkansas came last year. The farthest away was 2 1/2 hours and were thrilled! We look forward to scaring them again!

What differentiates Royal Haunted House from other local haunts in Arkansas?

We are in a historic, haunted movie theater. NO LIE! Just walking in the door you can feel it. When not a haunted house, we are the home to the Royal Players/Young Players. A Live Community Theatre! We are open year round and always have a show or some events going on. Come check us out anytime!

How long has Royal Haunted House been in business? Can you tell us a bit more about Royal Haunted House's history?

This is our third annual haunted house and excited to be able to do it again! When the world shut down because of Covid we were afraid we couldn't pay the bills. We are a nonprofit live community theater and had no way to keep it going. When the idea of a haunted house came up, we really started brainstorming how we could do it in a safe and healthy way and still social distance. It worked! And we are back!

What's your favorite experience since opening Royal Haunted House?

All the laughs! It's hard to pick just one. We have met alot of great new friends putting this together! To know that a group of friends that can put alot of volunteer work into something that people beg for every year...that's a favorite all on it's own.

How long is a typical haunt experience at Royal Haunted House from start to finish?

About 12 minutes

On a scale from 1 to 10, how scary would you say Royal Haunted House is? Why?

10! If you come one night you witness one thing, and come back a different night and see something totally different. What was there one moment is gone and pops up somewhere else. Lots of twists and turns that can change in a second. Keep you on your toes! LOL

Does Royal Haunted House's property have any real haunted history? Do you have a spooky encounter you'd like to share?

CHARLES! He has been seen, caught, heard, felt and played all kinds of tricks on us. We catch ourselves carrying on conversation with him. Charles died in the building behind us but has been seen in different parts of our theater and apartments upstairs for many many years. The Haunted House has told Charles' story. We can feel that he likes the attention. He is very much present!

What inspired you to open up a haunted attraction? What's your favorite part of the business?

The Royal Theatre has always wanted to do a haunted house but never quiet new how or when we would have the time to do it. When Covid shut down the world, it gave us that opportunity with no shows going on and time on our hands...we said "why not?" It was quick to get sponsors so we put heads together and made it happen. We never knew it would be a hit! Now we have ARVEST BANK sponsoring us every year now. Our favorite part is the relationships it has brought from the community that shows we can pull together in a time where we had no idea was next.

How has new technology (i.e. animatronics, special props, etc) helped you to enhance Royal Haunted House?

It's crazy what our design team comes up with! Lots of hand made animatronics, props, and machines...kinda creepy what folks can come up with! That's all I will say about that...let your imagination fly!

Can Royal Haunted House accommodate large groups? How many people can experience Royal Haunted House together as a group?

Yes we can! The most in a group inside the haunted house at a time was 12. We will now take 8-10.

Does Royal Haunted House offer any special deals, discounts, or coupons?

We wanted it affordable to all. Haunted Houses are so expensive. We are $10 per person. We do give away tickets, so be watching/listening for that on TV and Radio.

Anything else you'd like to let us know about Royal Haunted House?

We have had all ages go through our haunted house. Some bail in the early and some make it better than others. When there is a family wanting to go and a little one (or older too) decides they just can't do it, we let them sit inside the house to listen. It's funny for them to see their family members run out screaming!