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Welcome to The Genre Traveler! Please sign up using the form to the right so that you'll get all the latest updates to the site. You also might want to sign up for the RSS feed, which you can do via email or your favorite RSS Reader. Well, now that its September, it is officially Haunt Season. So, Hauntworld Magazine, the haunt industry's leading trade publication, has announced its list of the Top 13 Professional Haunted Attractions in the U.S. According to the press release, "these attractions are being recognized for their attention to detail, high-quality special effects, and overall scare factor." "The haunts we've included are as expertly produced as any major motion picture today," said Larry Kirchner, Editor-in-Chief of Hauntworld Magazine. "They have behind-the-scenes teams of master Hollywood special effects technicians, make-up artists, set designers, and trained actors. We're an industry that exists to make people scream and laugh at the same time -- and these haunts do just that, and more." So here's their list: Read more »

Busch Gardens Africa in Tampa, Fla., is offering "Howl-O-Scream sleepovers" for 7th through 10th graders. That's pretty cool. According to their website, for $75 per teen, participants are treated to "chaperoned front line access to haunted houses, bone-chilling coasters, 'creatures of the night' animal interactions, two freaky meals and accommodations at [their] on-site dormitory." You also get a T-shirt and water bottle to remember the scares. Dates for the "Family Fear Sleepover" -- 7th - 10th grade with adult(s) are Oct. 13, 20 and 27. Dates for the 7th to 8th Grade Sleepover are Oct. 6, 12 and 20. Dates for the 9th to 10th Grad Sleepover are Oct. 5, 13, 19 and 26. Passport holders receive a $10 discount on the price. For more information, visit www.seaworld.org/adventure-camps/bgt/sleepover/seasonal/howl-o-scream.htm or call 877-BGT-CAMP (877-248-2267).

Haunted Amusement Park Closed Lake Shawnee Amusement Park may be haunted by spirits. www.wvva.com/News/index.php?ID=15480 World Series of Video Games The World Series of Video Games (WSVG) Presented by Intel will make its first-ever stop on Canadian soil this summer, at the Fan Expo Canada at the Metro Toronto Convention Center, August 24-26. www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/August2007/08/c4730.html New Convention Opens in Alabama OmegaCon, a science fiction and fantasy convention will be held at the Sheraton Birmingham in Birmingham, Al. portal.omegacon.us Maybe The Matrix Wasn't That Far Off Oxford University philosophy posits that we could all be AI. I first heard about this on the Buzz Out Loud podcast my husband listens to, but here's a link to a story about it on Wired. blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2007/08/fine-were-simul.html Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park Changes Its Name to Disney's Hollywood Studios. www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/200708/435/

An alliance of Hollywood notables working with Shanghai Film Group Corporation (SFG) are planning to develop a major Movie Theme Park "incorporating 4D technologies for what will be the first "East meets West" state-of-the-art theme park development in Asia," according to a press release from Nations Trust Ltd. The park is part of a three phase project that also includes

• redevelopment of SFG's studio back lot "Old Nanjing Road" Movie Set (circa 1949), transforming it into "Shanghai Nights" enchanting "city walk" entertainment complex (Phase I); and
• "the construction of the film and television shooting base, the construction of the film post-production base, theatre complexes, film and TV co-productions, CG animations, international distribution of films and TV series, entertainment and leisure projects" (Phase II)

The theme park is Phase III. Nations Trust Ltd. has worked seven years to develop the "Hollywood China Studio" and Movie Theme Park concept. Over five years, the project is estimated to require $1.5 billion. SFG, who presently owns the Crown Plaza Hotel in Shanghai, anticipates Nations Trust Ltd. raising additional funds to build a world class "Hotel and Galleria" within the "Shanghai Nights" complex.

TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel community, announced on Friday the top 10 amusement parks in the U.S., according to traveler popularity and TripAdvisor editors. Many of them offer thrills and chills for genre travelers. And, of course, with Halloween coming up in a few weeks, many of these parks are gearing up for a good scare.

1. Hershey Park, Hershey, Penn.
The chocolate lovers park -- you can pretend it's Willy Wonka's factory, if you so desire.
www.hersheypa.com/attractions/hersheypark/index.php

2. Busch Gardens, Tampa, Fla.
The African theme of this park is pure fantasy.
www.buschgardens.com/BGT/default.aspx
Howl-O-Scream begins Sept. 28

3. Cedar Point Amusement Park, Sandusky, Ohio
Halloweekends begins Sept. 14
www.cedarpoint.com

4. Six Flags Fiesta Texas, San Antonio, Texas
Fright Fest begins Oct. 6
www.sixflags.com/fiestaTexas/

5. Family Kingdom Amusement Park, Myrtle Beach, S.C.
www.family-kingdom.com

6. Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson, N.J.
Fright Fest begins Oct. 6
www.sixflags.com/greatadventure/index.aspx

7. Paramount's Kings Island, Kings Island, Ohio
FearFest began on Friday!
www3.cedarfair.com/kingsisland/

8. Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort and Amusement Park, Gatlinburg, Tenn.
www.obergatlinburg.com

9. Coney Island Park, Brooklyn, New York
www.coneyislandpark.com

10. Paramount's Carowinds, Charlotte, N.C.
Scarowinds begins Sept. 27
www3.paramountparks.com/carowinds/

So, did this list include your favorites? If not, let us know your favorite theme parks and tell us why it should have made the list.