TRAGIC LOSS OF A FRIEND
ED TEREBUS 2025:
A Kindness That Defined An Industry
A Tribute to a Man who was recognized by almost everyone in the industry, strictly by his smile. Honoring the spirit behind Erebus—and the Friend behind the smile.
Ed Terebus—founder and co-owner of Erebus in Pontiac, Michigan—was the rare kind of person whose presence raised the room: endlessly friendly, genuinely happy to see you, and generous with his time, no matter who you were. His passing has hit this industry hard because it isn’t just the loss of a respected operator—it’s the loss of a steady source of warmth, encouragement, and community.
The Gentle Giant Behind the Greatest Screams
In the haunt and horror industries, the word “legend” gets thrown around too easily. But every so often, someone earns it the hard way: by building something that changes the standard, by lifting other people up while doing it, and by leaving behind a trail of better friends, stronger teams, and bigger dreams.
That was Ed Terebus.
Ed and his brother Jim took a four-story abandoned building in Pontiac, Michigan, and turned it into Erebus Haunted Attraction — a name that became synonymous with scale, ambition, and craftsmanship. From 2005 through 2009, Erebus held the Guinness World Record for the world’s largest walk-through haunted attraction. And yet, if you ask the people who knew Ed best, the first thing they’ll tell you isn’t about square footage, records, or headline moments.
They’ll tell you about his smile and his heart.
They’ll tell you he was one of the kindest men in the haunted house industry — a taller, husky, bear-of-a-guy with a teddy bear spirit. Ed had the kind of presence that makes a room feel safer the second he walks into it. He was also the kind of friend who could make you laugh mid-stress, mid-deadline, mid-problem — and then help you fix the problem.
Ed passed away suddenly on June 7, 2025, at the age of 62. And when the news was received, the haunt industry felt as if the lights had just gone out.
Dreamer, Visionary, Builder
Ed was a Dreamer, A Visionary, and a Builder of Worlds — Erebus didn’t become Erebus by accident. The brothers’ story, Ed and Jim, is as gritty as it is inspiring: a dream of a permanent haunt, real risk, real sacrifice, and years of relentless work to make the impossible feel real. Inside those walls, they weren’t just “owners,” they were the backbone of one of the coolest haunts ever built. Ed was the creative engine, the storyteller, the showman, the guy obsessed with the guest experience and the details that most people never notice — because when you do it right, guests don’t notice the details… they feel them.
Erebus became famous for innovation: elaborate set design, special effects, animatronics, and the kind of “how did they do that?” moments that haunt owners travel across states (and across oceans) to study. But the deeper legacy wasn’t just what they built. It was how they shared and how Ed built others. Ed was no stranger to sharing ideas, offering opinions, and even looking for solutions to help others in the industry and on his team. People described him as someone who brought out the best in others — the kind of leader who could turn a creative spark into a real plan, then into a real build, then into a real tradition that families returned to every October.
Entrepreneur at Heart
Ed fit the description of an entrepreneur to a tee: "an innovative risk-taker who identifies market opportunities and takes the initiative to create, launch, and manage a new business venture." Ed didn’t just promote his own haunt—he promoted haunting. He founded Fear Finder, a seasonal guide to Michigan haunted attractions, helping fans discover where to go and helping haunts of every size get seen. At its peak, it reached a massive circulation (reported as over 600,000 copies). That’s not just marketing. That’s stewardship. That’s someone who understood that a stronger scene benefits everyone — owners, actors, crews, and the guests who fall in love with this weird, wonderful business for the first time. Ed was passionate about helping both haunt-goers and Erebus, as well as his fellow haunted house owners, with his venture.
Family Man First, Friend Always
When the stories turn personal, one truth comes through clearly: Ed’s family wasn’t adjacent to his life — they were central to it. People who knew him describe him as a devoted husband and fiercely proud father. Ed traveled with his family, going to places like TransWorld, watching them was heart-warming. You could see the love beam from Ed onto his wife and kids, and you could see the admiration reflect back to him.
Friends, family, and colleagues share countless stories filled with the kind of lines you find in a poem or a song. Ed's love for others was obvious to everyone around him. Erebus itself was repeatedly described as a family affair — not only the Terebus family, but the extended “Erebus family” of employees and the next generation carrying the work forward. That matters in this industry, because haunt life isn’t a nine-to-five. It’s long nights, tight windows, high pressure, and the kind of work that only functions when people feel like they belong. Ed made people feel like they belonged.
Inside The Heart Of A Beekeeper
The beekeeper’s heart. There’s a side of Ed that feels almost poetic: outside the fog machines and scream tracks, one of his hobbies was beekeeping. Anyone who has kept bees knows what it requires: patience, calm hands, respect for something powerful, and a willingness to care for a community you can’t fully control. It’s not about dominance — it’s about partnership. That feels like Ed. In a business built on fear, he was rooted in care.
"Ed and Jim always brought fun to the party. Ed stayed at our house several times, and I had the pleasure of getting to know what a special guy he really was, beyond the Erebus image."
Kathy Mull - Friend, Industry Partner
What Ed Leaves Us -
The Ed Terebus Legacy
Ed’s legacy is a rare one — it lives on in multiple places at once: In the benchmark he helped set for what a world-class haunted attraction can be. In the community he helped build, from Fear Finder to the countless owners and creators he influenced. In the family, he left warmth and an everlasting path to love. For his team to continue forward, to keep the lights on, the monsters moving, and the standard high, he left inspiration, protocols, and a philosophy that only those at Erebus can understand.
He also left us stories — the ones that start with a laugh and end with “that was Ed.” And here’s the truth we at BHHA want on record: The haunted attraction industry can be competitive, opinionated, and tough. It takes a special kind of person to be universally respected — not just for what they built, but for how they treated people while building it. Ed Terebus was that person. A gentle giant. A creative force. A devoted family man. A friend to the industry. And the kind of legacy that doesn’t end when the season does.
These impressive busts were sculpted and produced by another well-respected personality, Dan Faupel. Dan has made a career in the Haunt & Theme Park Industries for over 2 decades, including working hand in hand with Ed and his brother Jim. Dan sculpted this bust of Ed as a wonderful tribute to a wonderful human being.
Thoughts From A Friend
When I first started shaving my head many years ago, Ed surprised me by going back to his hotel room and bringing me one of the razors he uses after noticing how nicked up my scalp was. That was just the kind of thoughtful person he was. For many years, I would come stay at Erebus for a couple of months at a time to help Ed with design and renovations. Eventually, he convinced my wife, Cherry, and me to move to Michigan from Florida in 2023 to become the full-time Creative Director and Operations Manager of Erebus Entertainment. We even bought a house right down the street from him and his family. He treated Cherry and me like family. He invited us to every family event, and we even all vacationed together at Disney. I loved working with him every day. He truly was the best of the best and had the patience of a saint. Whenever I’m feeling challenged, I ask myself, “What would Ed do?” Because I know it would always be the right thing to do."
"Ed was an industry titan whom I had the pleasure of meeting more than twenty years ago at the TransWorld show. As he did with everyone he met, he made me feel like a close friend right away."
- Dan Faupel - Devoted Friend, Team Member at Erebus
A Personal Note
I met Ed just over 20 years ago. He was actually one of the first "Heavy Hitters," if you will, in the industry. I had heard of Erebus and the Terbus brothers, but never truly appreciated him until he introduced himself. I don't recall much of the conversation, but I vividly recall the feeling Ed left me with when he walked away. The man left me with a warm feeling, with a positive perception of what a "haunt owner" might be. He left me with a smile that returned again and again throughout our friendship, whether at a convention, on a phone call, or while relaxing at my home over dinner. That smile is the first and the last thing that I will remember about Ed Terebus throughout my lifetime. A genuine, loving, warm, happy guy who made others feel like he cared about them.
Ed’s story reminds us why this industry matters. We build scares to both shock and entertain people — we build experiences that bring friends together, give families traditions, and give creators a place to belong. Ed Terebus helped prove what’s possible when imagination meets craftsmanship — and when leadership is rooted in heart. The seasons will come and go, but the standard he set — and the kindness he modeled — will keep echoing through haunted halls for years to come.
Rick Singleton
"Ed's smile was contagious; in fact, it stayed with you even when he went home."
- Rick Singleton - Friend, Fellow Haunt Owner
The Impression That Ed Left On Others
Comments from others who were fortunate enough to know Ed more personally:
Ed didn’t just build a haunted attraction — he built a standard.”
“Ed was a life force who LIVED LOUD, LOVED BIG, and GAVE ENDLESSLY."
"A bear in stature. A teddy bear in spirit.”
“In an industry built on fear, Ed led with kindness.”
“Erebus became legendary because Ed cared about the details most people never notice.”
“Ed’s legacy lives in the people he encouraged and the worlds he helped create.”
“Erebus will be remembered for how Ed made people feel.”
Final Farewell... Never Forgotten
This is a bittersweet moment. Saying goodbye is a bitter pill to swallow, yet the memories and special moments you gave us have left a sweet spot in our hearts that will remain forever.
With heavy hearts, we bow our heads and say goodbye to an extraordinary human being. Ed, on behalf of your family, friends, and co-workers, we thank you for all you gave, for the special way you touched our lives, and for the indelible mark you have left behind.
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