The highly anticipated Universal Horror Unleashed has finally opened its doors, marking a bold expansion within the Area15 arts and entertainment district in Las Vegas.
This year-round attraction features an impressive array of attractions, including four haunted houses, four themed areas, live production stages, three bars, and two restaurants.
In an exclusive interview, Kim Scott, senior director and general manager of Universal Horror Unleashed, shared insights on the vision behind this thrilling new destination.
Scott emphasized that the location choice was driven by Las Vegas’ reputation as the ‘Entertainment Capital of the World.’
“Even with all the other cities that compete around the world, Las Vegas is still the Entertainment Capital of the World.
With the expansion of Area15, this was the ideal location. Area15 in itself is becoming a destination,” she stated.
The attraction seeks to redefine entertainment in Las Vegas, allowing guests to tailor their own experiences.
“Guests can come in for a great dinner at a Premiere House, enjoy some of our craft cocktails at the Boiler Bar or Jack’s Alley,” Scott noted.
She continued, “But if they want to do more, then they can add on all the houses and the stage shows and make an evening of it. It really fits within your daily planner.”
Scott also mentioned that visitors may enjoy other Las Vegas events, such as attending a game by the Vegas Golden Knights, before experiencing the excitement of Universal Horror Unleashed.
As Las Vegas evolves, it has sought to diversify its entertainment offerings beyond traditional gambling.
“Gaming is one thing, but I’ve been here for over 25 years, and I’ve seen the pendulum ebb and flow, and it’s now going back to the era of Elvis Presley and the headliners.
Tourists are wanting to be in more control of what they’re doing,” Scott explained.
She highlighted a growing trend where visitors prefer to engage in activities at their own pace, rather than being confined to a theater for lengthy performances.
“Guests are wanting to move around. We have become a (sensory overloaded) culture, so we want to control that experience,” she added.
Scott takes immense pride in what Universal Horror Unleashed offers to its audience.
“We’ve taken live entertainment, which is what Vegas is known for, and we’ve paired that with the incredible themed experiences of Universal Creative and Universal Entertainment,” she remarked.
The attraction aims to provide a unique perspective for Universal fans, horror aficionados, and Halloween enthusiasts around the globe.
In terms of food and drink, there is a careful balance between bringing an element of surprise and maintaining a sense of fun.
“Nobody really wants to eat things that look like dead fingers! It’s a balance there, but with all the research that Universal has under its belt, we have leaned into what is the best practice, what is unique and different,” Scott noted.
She concluded, “It’s taking the best of what the parks have done and creating something that’s unique and different that we can take around the world for our guests to experience horror at a whole new level.”
With its combination of thrilling entertainment and themed dining, Universal Horror Unleashed is poised to make waves in the ever-evolving landscape of Las Vegas entertainment.
image source from：travelweekly
