Appalachian Attractions
Presents
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Come out and experience the Terror, Chills, and Timeless Nightmares that we have to offer.
The Haunted Holler
Meet the Founders
D'Shawn Henderson
CEO/ Director of Safety & Logistics
D’Shawn has been involved in haunted attractions and character work for most of his life. His first haunted house experience was working at his cousin’s attraction when he was around 8 years old, sparking a lifelong love for horror and scares.
He later spent three years working as a clown and Zone Leader in a haunted house, gaining hands-on experience in crowd flow, actor coordination, and guest safety. D’Shawn has also appeared in character at numerous public events and has portrayed a wide range of characters, including The Grinch, The Genie, and Shorty the Clown.
With a deep passion for horror and immersive entertainment, D’Shawn brings real-world experience and enthusiasm to his role, ensuring every Appalachian Attractions event is both thrilling and safe.
Nick Mills
CEO/ Director of Scenes & Scares
Nick is the creative force behind the scenes and scares at Appalachian Attractions. An old soul with a constantly active imagination, Nick has always had a creative mind and a passion for building.
He’s rarely not working on something involving wood, metal, or cars, bringing a hands-on, DIY approach to every set and scare. Nick began working in his dad’s haunted houses at around the age of six and later spent two years working in a haunted forest, gaining real-world experience in immersive horror.
Known for his crazy ideas and ambitious plans, Nick thrives on pushing creative boundaries. His love for classic horror—especially icons like Freddy Krueger—shapes his approach to atmosphere, timing, and psychological scares, helping make The Haunted Holler an unforgettable experience.
Our Story
Appalachian Attractions was built on family, friendship, and a lifelong love for horror.
Founders D’Shawn Henderson and Nick Mills are cousins who consider each other brothers and best friends. Growing up, horror wasn’t just something they watched—it was something they created. Nick’s dad used to build haunted houses, and together they spent countless hours turning basements into mini haunts, learning how scares work, scene flow, and how atmosphere brings fear to life.
That passion followed them into adulthood. In 2023 and 2024, D’Shawn and Nick worked together at the same haunted forest, gaining real-world experience both behind the scenes and in character. During that time, they also appeared at several community events in character, building confidence, stage presence, and a strong connection with the local community.
It was during those seasons that they realized this wasn’t just a hobby anymore — it was what they were meant to do.
With guidance, tough love, and invaluable advice from their mentor JoAnna Foley, they refined their vision, made difficult decisions, and committed to building something of their own the right way.
After a long journey and many hard choices, that dream became Appalachian Attractions, with The Haunted Holler as its first haunted experience. Built from the ground up with heart, creativity, and respect for the craft, their mission is to deliver unforgettable scares while honoring the Appalachian roots that inspired it all.
This is only the beginning.
