Behind the Screams
Inside the Makeup and Costuming Department at The Dead End Hayride
What does it take to bring over 150 terrifying characters to life every night? At The Dead End Hayride, it’s a high-powered, high-talent operation of industry-level makeup artists, creative costumers, and dedicated performers who work together to deliver one of the most immersive haunted attractions in the country.
Each evening, we have anywhere from 100 to 155 scare actors hitting the trail, and every single one of them goes through our makeup and costuming pipeline to transform into the nightmares our guests will never forget. This operation is run with military-level efficiency, powered by a creative team of 6 to 9 makeup artists and 3 to 5 costuming team members working in unison.
The Process: From Check-In to Creature
The moment our actors arrive, they check in with their respective leads and clock in for the night. From there, it’s game time. Actors move through our costuming area where they’re fitted for their assigned role. This may include custom character costumes, themed wardrobe, or heavily modified pieces that have been distressed, aged, and built for durability.
Next comes makeup, a true highlight of the transformation. Our makeup team uses a blend of airbrush and traditional brush techniques, utilizing alcohol-based and water-based paints to create high-impact, long-lasting effects. The alcohol-based paint is a game-changer for our haunt, keeping makeup sweat-proof and smudge-resistant, perfect for the physical demands of scare acting.
Depending on the role, some actors are placed in high-end silicone masks like Post Mortem Studios or CFX, paired with specialty contact lenses, Dental Distortion teeth, and prosthetics to complete their look. Others receive full face applications including blood, texture work, shadowing, and distressing that would rival any Hollywood SFX set.
After costuming and makeup are complete, character leads conduct nightly meetings and pre-show hype sessions before actors are released into the shadows to scare the souls out of our guests.
The Artists Behind the Terror
The Dead End Hayride wouldn’t be what it is without our insanely talented team of haunt industry makeup artists and costumers. These creatives come from diverse backgrounds SFX, theater, film and consistently deliver top-tier transformations night after night.
And here’s the best part: we’re always hiring. If you have a passion for makeup artistry, costuming, or working in the haunted attraction industry, we want to meet you. We offer in-house training, real industry experience, and a chance to be part of something unforgettable.
Visit our Employment page on our website to apply today. Come create the nightmares our guests will never forget.
