2024 Question and Answer With Dominion of Terror

WisconsinHauntedHouses.com recently sat down with Jenna Van Der Sande of Dominion of Terror, to discuss what's new at Dominion of Terror for the 2024 Halloween Season!

What's new at Dominion of Terror for 2024? Do you have any new rides, attractions, or special features that Haunt Seekers should know about?

95% of our house was rebuilt this year - that's a huge undertaking and we are very proud of all of our new rooms and features!

What are you most excited about for the 2024 Halloween Season?

Scaring people and showing off what 50 years in the making looks like and then using those profits to better our community!

What differentiates Dominion of Terror from other local haunts in Wisconsin?

We are 50 years old this year, so something we're doing must be working right! :) We are volunteer based and our creative room builders focus on building scary rooms that are geared towards setting up our "monsters" for success. We provide actor training and have a team that will place actors in the right spots and throughout the night check in on them and adjust as necessary.

How long has Dominion of Terror been in business? Can you tell us a bit more about Dominion of Terror's history?

We are celebrating our 50th Season in 2024! Since 1974 our haunt has been 100% volunteer based through the Sheboygan Jaycees and haunt enthusiasts in our area. We have been located in the same building, graciously "rented" to us by RCS Empowers, since 2005. Before then we hopped around several locations in Sheboygan County, with usually only 3 months of build time.

What's your favorite experience since opening Dominion of Terror?

Seeing how many people enjoy our show and how their ticket price enables us to turn around and do some good in our community. But honestly - scaring people is the most fun, any time, all the time.

How long is a typical haunt experience at Dominion of Terror from start to finish?

If the group before and after you behave, should take you about 25-30 minutes to walk through all the rooms. We have 25+ rooms on all 3 floors of our building this year!

On a scale from 1 to 10, how scary would you say Dominion of Terror is? Why?

8 or 9 - we say if we can't scare you, we'll at least entertain you. Some of our rooms are a definite 10 and with the right actor, our staff won't even walk through!

Does Dominion of Terror's property have any real haunted history? Do you have a spooky encounter you'd like to share?

Yes! Confirmed but not confirmed.. Several of our staff have had encounters that cannot be easily explained. Figures in white going into rooms, when no one else was upstairs but 2 staff members.. Being pushed on a swing while waiting to scare a group when there is no open windows or drafts in that area.. Young kids who come to help during the summer seeing/talking to "people" who aren't actually there. Hearing voices and footsteps as well.. always when you're alone of course.

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

The Jaycees national organization opened up haunts back in the early 70s to raise money for charity, and we are one of the few original Jaycee haunts that remain. We think that is pretty special. Our local community members and businesses support us and that means a lot to us too. We are unique in compared to bigger haunts in the state and that sets us apart. Our favorite part of haunting is opening up for the season, seeing all the excited faces ready to be scared and then our haunt family coming together to do just that.. we celebrate after the last night together and it's very special.

How has new technology (i.e. animatronics, special props, etc) helped you to enhance Dominion of Terror?

Being a non-profit haunt, we only get to splurge on the new tech every now and then.. but that doesn't stop us from creating our own technology to mimic the hottest trends. That's what's cool about our team, we figure out a way to make it work and make it scary!

Can Dominion of Terror accommodate large groups? How many people can experience Dominion of Terror together as a group?

Yes! To get the best scare for your buck, we recommend no more than 6 in a group :)

Does Dominion of Terror offer any special deals, discounts, or coupons?

Throwback Weekend - 10/11 and 10/12 - $15 tickets
Battle of the Screams - 10/18 and 10/19 - show your High School Student ID for $5 off

Anything else you'd like to let us know about Dominion of Terror?

Thanks for all the support over the last 50 years! We can't wait to open for 51 and beyond!