How did you start?
Before I became a haunted house owner, I had already been researching starting my own business. I had first planned to go back to school to get my MBA but thought I’d start a small business that I could grow and still have a day job on the side to see if I liked being an entrepreneur. I think most people do it the other way around.
I spent a year researching the family entertainment center (FEC) business. What I had found was that most of the owners of roller rinks, laser tag facilities, and multi-element FECs weren’t happy. Many were wanting out of the business. They all complained of the long hours and countless headaches. The most important aspect was that I found I really wasn’t passionate about FECs.
About the same time that this was happening I was creating a yard haunt each Halloween that was growing like crazy. The last year that I had the yard haunt, we had well over 500 people on Halloween. I was amazed at the carloads and pickup truck loads of kids that came down the street that year. That same year during October I went to two haunted houses in my town and was really disappointed at the quality of the show.
All of this came together in November of 2002 and the light bulb turned on. My mission statement was to create a quality haunted house that was different than the others. I was content on being happy if I broke even because of the business experience I gained from the ordeal. In December 2002 the planning started for the 2003 season. The rest is history.
What’s the scariest Haunted House you ever attended?
I’ve always been partial to the Screams haunted house in Waxahachie, Texas. I don’t get scared very easily but Screams was pretty good.
Do you still find time to attend Haunted Houses?
Over the last four years it’s mainly been year round attractions in the off season that I go to. As a haunted house owner you have to sacrifice much of the holiday for the rest of the people in your city to enjoy your haunted house. This year I have some great managers in place so I am definitely going to some other haunted houses in Texas during October this year.
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