After 17 years terrifying and thrilling fans from across the world, popular horror park Spookers has been possessed by Armageddon Expo.

The owners of comic-con-style event Armageddon Expo, which is scheduled to be held in Tauranga on July 23 and 24, William and Adele Geradts plan to bring their event experience to the famous Auckland attraction alongside partner Jason Spiller, of Arcanist.

'It's a challenge we relish, taking something so iconic with all the legacy that comes with it, then looking towards the future and seeing what more we can bring to this spine-chilling and yet fun filled attraction,” says William.

'It's a dream (or nightmare) come true and we couldn't be more excited to have Spookers join with Armageddon.”

Spookers was founded in 2005 by Andy and Beth Watson and Spookers managing director Julia Tukiri after three years at Te Kauwhata, and five years of running the seasonal Amazing Maze 'n Maize and CornEvil on a farm in Marton.

The trio saw the potential in the abandoned Kingseat Hospital grounds for a year-round tourism attraction.

Spookers made a name as a world-famous scream park experience in which people move through a unique haunted house environment populated by sets, props and live scare-actors.

As the ‘victims' creep through the experience, they encounter visual, tactile and sound effects intended to scare and delight.

Spookers has featured several themed experiences and hosts special events throughout the year, including murder mystery nights, CornEvil, the Run For Your Freak'n Life Mud Run and the spookiest Halloween celebrations.

After such a long time scaring the nation, Andy, Beth, Julia and her husband Jemall are‘looking forward to a break from the horror of late nights and jump scares.

Andy is the current Mayor of the Rangitikei District Council and will be standing again in the upcoming local body elections, while Beth is looking forward to being able to put more time into a fledgling tourism accommodation business.

Julia is looking forward to spending more time with her family while exploring new professional opportunities and challenges.

'We want to thank every unique and special employee that we have had the pleasure to know, learn from and watch mature over the years,” the family says in a statement.

'Spookers screams diversity and the people behind the scares are what has made Spookers so successful.”