COURTESY
Universal’s “year-round horror experience” is the anchor of an Area15 expansion.
Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023 | 1:42 p.m.
Fans of the horror film genre will have the chance to see their favorite scary stories come to life, as Universal Parks and Resorts announced plans for a year-round, immersive horror experience in Las Vegas.
The attraction will be the anchor tenant in a 20-acre expansion of Las Vegas’ AREA15 entertainment district, Universal officials announced today. It will occupy 110,000 square feet and be home to several immersive, horror-centric experiences, officials said.
The attraction will include bars and restaurants and host seasonal events.
It will be the first time Universal Parks and Resorts, which said its Halloween Horror Nights is the world’s most popular global Halloween event, will create a permanent horror experience beyond its existing theme parks.
“Universal is known for our ability to deliver original, highly-themed and terrifying horror entertainment experiences for millions of fans every year,” Page Thompson, Universal Parks and Resorts president of new ventures, said in a statement.
“We are excited to give our global fanbase yet another way to get scared and have fun with fear in the heart of Las Vegas, the perfect place for this type of unique concept,” Thompson said.
Known for its immersive art and attractions, AREA15 has seen more than 4 million visitors since opening in September 2020, officials said.
The Universal experience will be a “creative complement” to AREA15’s experiential entertainment roots, the company said.
“AREA15 curates a constellation of best-in-class experiences. Universal’s never-been-done-before concept will be a perfect fit because our guests know they can expect fresh, exciting entertainment at AREA15,” Winston Fisher, AREA15 CEO, said in a statement.
“We are enormously gratified to have an extraordinary company like Universal as our partner as we embark on the next phase of growth for AREA15,” Fisher said.
No opening date was announced.
Universal is the studio behind such classic horror films as “Frankenstein,” “Dracula” and “The Mummy,” and a collaborator with many contemporary filmmakers in the genre, including Jason Blum and Jordan Peele.
Las Vegas Councilwoman Olivia Diaz noted in a news release that the attraction will provide jobs and opportunities for those interested in the entertainment industry.
“Las Vegas is an entertainment destination unlike any other — and we are thrilled to welcome Universal to our city,” Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman said in a statement.
The Universal experience will bring exactly the kind of high-quality, exciting entertainment our city, our visitors and our residents want,” she said.
