MAKING: Hera’s Nightmare, Westminster’s Award-Winning Haunted House

In this interview, Haunted Attraction Network’s Philip Hernandez sits down with Carlos Rivas, owner of Hera’s Nightmare in Westminster, Maryland — winner of the 2025 OSCARES Award for First Year Haunt from the Haunted Attraction Association. Carlos shares how he launched Hera’s Nightmare in 2024 with three original attractions — Containment X, Reign of Darkness, and The Curse of Hexen Hollow — and why he chose to expand for the 2025 season. The haunt now spans 25,000 square feet and introduces a new concept, The Horror Vault, an interactive selfie walkthrough that lets guests capture videos and photos within detailed horror-themed sets. From scenic design to creative risk-taking, Carlos explains how Hera’s Nightmare is redefining what a haunted attraction can be. 🎃 Learn more: https://www.herasnightmare.com 🏆 Presented by the Haunted Attraction Network, the leading news resource for haunted attractions worldwide.