Thread: Going PRO/getting too popular for residential neighborhood??

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So this year, my haunt got very very popular. It was only our 2nd year, but the size and level of our production drew attention of the media and news, not to mention very grumpy neighbors who complained to the county, fire department and local politicians. One of our haters actually works for the state department and used her influence to get a local councilman to consider passing legislation to stop us for next year.

We worked within the parameters of the laws, passed inspections from Fire Marshals and sound decibels, although we did post some signs that were then taken by the county and got served a $500 fine for one sign.

The love for our haunt was overwhelmingly more popular than the hatred, but you know how the negative always gets more attention than the positive.

So here we are in a situation where we don't want to stop what we are doing. Our thousands of patrons LOVE what we do and provide to the community. But i don't think the county will let us do it again.

So now i am on a mission to find sponsors and a zoned location with parking that can handle our Haunt.

Does anyone have experience with this type of situation? I hear of haunts getting heat or getting shut down all the time. I know every state is different. But i have really discovered a passion in my life and i feel like at the age of 36, i could do this professionally FOREVER. I LOVE IT.

Any pros out there with some good advice for this starry eyed Halloween lovin' girl?

You've found the right place!! There are plenty here that can help.

You may want to consider coming up county or another county in general. I've noticed that the further north you go the more decorations for holidays in general. Our friends live in Sykesville, MD & on their court almost every house was decorated.

That street in Silver Spring is just too fancy, stuck up & undeserving for such things!!

yeah the only problem, is that the producer(The Real Estate company) is local to Montgomery County. So the spending on the haunt directly effects the business expense, although i suppose they could sell houses anywhere. I used to live in Frederick. I wish i could buy a farm and do a major haunt that way, but right now our sights are set for that locale. Especially considering there aren't any major haunted houses in that area. The closest ones are Olney (Field of Screams) and up 270.

Poolesville, Markoff's Haunted Forest is the other one. You could still go up-county or a little further east in the county.

I haven't been to Markoff's. Is theirs in a residential zone?

Originally Posted by Rania

I haven't been to Markoff's. Is theirs in a residential zone?

I doubt it. It's waaay out there at the end of MoCo, near White's Ferry, nearly in VA & part of a camp, Calleva. They make enough money on their haunt to fund their camp the rest of the year.