Netherworld at 30: 2 new haunts, no ‘terrifying’ haunt for kids, more than 8 guests

STONE MOUNTAIN, Ga. — 30 years of scares, 30 years of screams, and 30 years of amazing haunts; that’s what Netherworld celebrates in 2026.

“It’s crazy that we, 30 years (in); it’s almost incomprehensible, actually,” co-founder Billy Messina said.

Netherworld Here are some more behind-the-scenes photos from Netherworld. The popular Stone Mountain haunted attraction ranks among America's top haunted attractions. (Nelson Hicks)

Netherworld (Nelson Hicks)

In 2026, Netherworld Haunted House brings legendary monsters, larger-than-life sets and mind-blowing technology to Stone Mountain for 2 haunts.

A lot has changed from 1997 in Kennesaw.

“In year one, we built our first spinning tunnel,” co-founder Ben Armstrong told WSB-TV’s Nelson Hicks. The spinning tunnel was 20 feet long. Our current one is 40 feet long, but it would break all the time. So sometimes we’d have to go underneath it when people were coming by; we’d have to lie on our backs like a hamster and spin the thing when the motor didn’t work.”

First year of Netherworld Congrats to Netherworld on 30 years of screams and haunts! (Netherworld)

Netherworld haunts Atlanta Netherworld celebrates its 30th season in 2026 at the facility it owns in Stone Mountain... (Netherworld)

Netherworld Haunted House and while Netherworld routinely ranks as one of the top haunts in the United States each year... (Nelson Hicks)

First year of Netherworld it obviously wasn't always like it is today! (Netherworld)

First year of Netherworld Here's a flashback to year No. 1! (Netherworld)

First year of Netherworld These are photos from Netherworld in 1997, its first year. (Netherworld)

First year of Netherworld Ben Armstrong (2nd from left) and Billy Messina (3rd from left) were veterans of the film and special-effects industries. (Netherworld)

First year of Netherworld They opened Netherworld (and own it today). (Netherworld)

First year of Netherworld Their philosophy was a little different. Rather than basing their haunt on horror movies, they developed their own storylines. (Netherworld)

First year of Netherworld It's a philosophy they have used throughout the 30 years of Netherworld. (Netherworld)

First year of Netherworld The company creates its own characters, haunts and storylines. (Netherworld)

First year of Netherworld The company moved from Kennesaw to Norcross before purchasing the Stone Mountain property that currently houses the haunt in 2017. (Netherworld)

First year of Netherworld The operation employs 500 seasonal staff and uses 4,000 costumes. It now encompasses more than 70,000 square feet of scary space. (Netherworld)

First year of Netherworld In 2026, Netherworld is open Sept. 25-26, Oct 2-Nov. 1 (except for Oct. 5 and 13) and Nov. 6-7. (Netherworld)

First year of Netherworld Check out FearWorld.com for more. (Netherworld)

First year of Netherworld Netherworld celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2026. But this is a flashback to year No. 1, 1997, in Kennesaw. (Netherworld)

The spinning tunnel still opens the gateway to the Netherworld, though co-creators Ben Armstrong and Billy Messina rely on machines rather than monsters to handle the spinning these days.

The duo did something dynamic back when they originally opened. Rather than relying on licensed characters like Freddy and Jason, they created their own. That worked. But not all of their ideas did.

“We quickly learned that people could adapt to no Jason and no Leatherface. They were confused, but they could not, under any circumstances, understand why there were no chainsaws. So we learned, and by the third weekend we had a couple of chainsaws roaring,” Messina said.

You’ll find chainsaw-wielding monsters within the two all-new haunts that await guests this year: “Curse of the Collector” and “Beyond Oblivion, Legacy of Evil.” Tens of thousands of guests will experience the attraction in its 30th season. That’s a far cry from its first season, when one of the biggest scares was the attendance one night.

“I remember one night when we only had eight people that came through. And that was due to a TV show called ”Seinfeld," which, you know, means nothing to folks nowadays because you can watch anything, anytime. But back then, if you missed the TV show, you kind of missed it,” Messina said.

One thing that’s not missed today is opening the haunt for kids. Messina and Armstrong tested that in year one. It didn’t last.

“The kids were instantly terrified, despite the fact that all the lights were on. We gave away prizes, like every kid came in, and it was just, they came in from the hot, bright Georgia sunlight, and they walked into this haunted house. And even though the lights were blaring on, their eyes didn’t adjust, so it was immediately dark, and it was terrifying,” Messina said.

Netherworld is now open nearly every day between now and Halloween.

“It’s a lot of fun to be here at 30,” Armstrong noted. “And now, I’m kind of excited for 35 and 40. Fifty (years)? That’s going to get interesting.”

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