The term describes venues offering staged experiences designed to simulate the feeling of being in a frightening or supernatural environment, specifically located within the geographical area of Newport News, Virginia. These attractions typically involve actors, special effects, and thematic sets to create an immersive and often startling experience for visitors.
These attractions can significantly benefit local tourism, drawing in visitors from surrounding areas and potentially boosting the local economy through increased spending at restaurants, hotels, and other businesses. Historically, such attractions have provided seasonal entertainment, capitalizing on the cultural fascination with the macabre, particularly around Halloween.