13th Floor Haunted House Opens in San Antonio
The seasonal attraction brings high-tech scares to a historic building originally constructed in the early 1900s.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Horror
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The 13th Floor haunted house is currently operating in San Antonio, featuring two distinct themed attractions. The experience occupies a building that once served as the San Antonio Machine and Supply Co.
Why it matters
Seasonal attractions like the 13th Floor require year-round planning to coordinate complex technical and performance logistics. The organizers aim to provide specialized entertainment by utilizing the building’s history and structural design.
The experience lasts 30 to 40 minutes, with maintenance staff working 12-hour shifts to manage the production. A recent internal survey found 85% of staff describe the work environment as crazy, while 15% consider it fun.
The players
13th Floor
This is a recurring seasonal haunted house attraction that operates in various cities across the United States.
San Antonio Machine and Supply Co.
This former company operated in the early 1900s and occupied the building that currently serves as the haunted house.
The details
Technicians deploy animatronics, fog machines, and lighting systems to facilitate the two attractions, Dose of Decay and Jason Universe: Survive the Night. Wardrobe staff maintain the characters by sourcing and distressing fabrics from local thrift stores.
Timeline
The building was originally constructed in the early 1900s.
Paranormal investigators reported unusual activity in 2021.
The planning process for the current season began in September 2025.
The 13th Floor opened to the public on September 18, 2026.
Maintenance workers conducted routine walkthroughs on October 27, 2026.
Industry Dynamics
The use of historic industrial buildings for entertainment venues has become a staple of the modern haunted house industry. This trend allows operators to leverage existing architecture to enhance the immersion and atmospheric tension of their seasonal productions.
Visitors can experience the 30- to 40-minute attraction daily throughout the current operating season. The venue maintains strict surveillance protocols using 25 cameras to ensure visitor safety throughout the two-story layout.
The takeaway
Haunted attractions require significant daily maintenance, including 12-hour shifts for staff managing complex animatronics. The venue emphasizes a high-intensity environment, with nearly all staff characterizing the workplace as inherently chaotic.
Further reading
Learn more about local events in the San Antonio Horror section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by San Antonio Express-News.
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