Haunted attractions are a form of entertainment that simulate the experience of entering haunted locations that might be inhabited by ghosts, monsters, witches, or serial killers. Humorous characters such as The Addams Family, Casper the Friendly Ghost, or The Munsters may be included. Haunted attractions can be created at many locations: temporarily constructed simulated "haunted houses" or actual abandoned and dilapidated homes, corn mazes or cornfields, hedge mazes, farms or farmhouses, wooded areas or forests, abandoned asylums, defunct or old prisons, abandoned amusement parks or active amusement parks, ships or boats, abandoned factories, shopping malls, and parks.
Haunted attractions (also known as "haunts" or "mazes" within the industry) use many effects: intense lighting (strobe lights, black lights, and so forth), animatronics, CGI, scent dispensers, fog machines, spinning tunnels, air blasters, old antiques, gory images, and intense scenes of terror, torment, crime, mischief, or comedy. Visitors often come in contact with various actors dressed up in elaborate and often scary costumes, masks, and prosthetics; these actors perform skits or hide and jump out unexpectedly to frighten, shock, disturb, or amuse the customer.