Dark Prison Haunt, the extra-spooky haunted house operating out of the Nevada State Prison in Carson City, has signed a five-year partnership with the Nevada State Preservation Society, ensuring it will keep keep the horror coming alongside the history.
They also announced the return of their popular and anachronistic ‘Halfway to Halloween’ three-day event, which will run this Mother’s Day weekend from May 8-10.
“Signing this five-year contract guarantees the prison’s spooky legacy continues while combining local history and immersive entertainment,” said Holly Spahr, CEO for Dark Prison Haunt. “We aren’t just putting on a show; we are helping preserve a historic landmark while providing an adrenaline-pumping experience you can’t get anywhere else. And we expect this May to be our biggest Halfway to Halloween yet.”
A spokesperson reported last year was a “a record-breaking season where the prison welcomed over 15,000 guests through Dark Prison Haunt’s fall season alone,” and that “the attraction’s reach has expanded far beyond Northern Nevada, with visitors traveling from 45 different states and the United Kingdom to experience the uniquely chilling atmosphere of the decommissioned maximum-security facility.”
The disturbed minds behind the horror-filled prison experience were also honored with first place at the largest national Halloween Attractions Convention in St. Louis last month after announcing the launch of their Horror Prop-Shop VEXA!
“After five years of building our own props we realized we had something worth sharing” said Spahr. “The props are high quality and handmade from scratch, even the molds used are livecasted from friends and family of VEXA or were hand sculpted by the talented artists on the team who collectively have decades of experience in the haunted house industry.”
The team behind VEXA and the prison haunted house are self-described weirdos and horror-nerds, who are thrilled they get to immersive themselves in the creepy and creative every day.
“VEXA is what happens when a kid who grew up making art and watching horror films builds a haunted attraction and discovers he’s surrounded by a team talented enough to bring an even bigger vision to life,” said VEXA’s owner and fabricator Dustin Ring. “That’s a lifetime of loving this industry coming full circle.”
You can see the (almost too life-like) props yourself throughout the Halfway to Halloween prison experience, with tickets on-sale now, or peruse their creepy gallery online at https://vexafx.com.
To celebrate this new five-year agreement, Dark Prison Haunt is kicking off the season with the 2nd Annual Halfway to Halloween event scheduled for Mother’s Day weekend, May 8, 9 and 10, 2026. Reopening for three days only, the haunted attraction will feature three full-scale haunted houses through real cell-blocks and historic areas of the Nevada State Prison.
Fans of last season’s attraction will encounter several completely upgraded scenes and new characters to elevate the haunted houses into a new experience.
“And Dark Prison Haunt doesn’t plan on disappointing mother,” a spokesperson said. “On Mother’s Day Sunday, May 10th, the haunt will provide free flowers to all mothers in attendance. It serves as a one-of-a-kind way to celebrate the holiday, combining the adrenaline of a high-production haunt with a touch of traditional appreciation.”
Those interested in attending are encouraged to secure their tickets early as the event last year sold out every night!
For tickets or more info, visit https://www.darkprison.com.
