I have been reading blogs about how difficult it is to start a haunt with little or no money and have come to realize that is how we started The Haunted Courtyard. It all started with someone giving my brother a few props.......some wood items and some skeletons. He suggested we make a haunted house we both agreed. Now where will it happen.....Mom's house.........and surprisingly she agreed as well. The first year we spent maybe $ 300.00 between us on lights and some cheap fabric (filter fabric from Home Depot). This was our start 7 years ago. I think back now and if we had to start from scratch we may have spent another $300.00 in the props we recieved from my brothers friend.
We only had us and our kids to help that year and the second year. After that we had our kids friends begging to help.The third year was when we decided that we needed animation to help us out because most of our helpers did not want to stand in one place throughout the whole night. So we started with the most obvious things first. By the time our first animations had been completed we only had three we had spent more money then we had expected and most of it mine. We made the decision to charge admission........the agreed amount $ 0.50 per person..........OUCH!!! We actually brought in a couple hundred dollars...........and spent the money to make the haunted house bigger and better................after Halloween sales are great!!!!!
We are now in our 7th year and we are charging $2.00 per person. We have grown from about 800 sq.ft. to over 1800 sq.ft. and many more props.........and huge plans for the future. I'm guessing we have spent $6000.00 total for our haunt throughout the 7 years and probably will spend between $500.00 - $800.00 this year. We made a pact that we will make stuff work if it is what we have and do not have the money for more.............remember it is for fun and you don't have to make it perfect.............you just have to make it!
I hope this helps anyone who it trying or just starting a haunt. If you need some advice just ask, we have been there and probably done that. Our haunt is the largest in the area for what it is and many have said the best, but we didn't get there the first year! Be patient and build on each years success.
