Whether you're a seasoned event organizer or planning spooky haunted attractions for the first time, this blog is your roadmap on how to make a haunted house on a budget. We'll walk you through everything from brainstorming and designing your haunt to navigating safety protocols and building hype in your community. Get ready to make your own haunted house a scream-worthy success!

Step 1: Prepping for your haunted house

Before diving into the details of your haunted house, there are a couple areas to consider. Let’s take a look: 

Understanding your haunt-goers

When it comes to creating a haunted house, knowing your audience is key. Start by identifying your target demographic — are you aiming to scare families with younger children, thrill-seeking teens, or adults looking for a serious fright? Doing a bit of competitor analysis can really help here. Check out what other haunted houses in your area are doing and see what works and what doesn’t. Tailor your scares and themes to match your audience's preferences. For instance, families might appreciate a slightly tamer haunt, while teens and adults might crave intense, heart-pounding scares. By understanding who you're trying to attract, you can design an experience that keeps them coming back for more.

Setting a budget

Setting a budget is one of the first and most crucial steps in planning a haunted house. First, determine your initial costs, which will likely include permits, supplies, marketing, staff, and any actors you may hire to give good scares. It’s essential to allocate your funds wisely so you know where to save and where to splurge. For example, investing in high-quality props and costumes can make a big difference, while creating some decorations yourself can help save money. Remember, you’ll need to keep some funds in reserve for unexpected expenses too. By carefully planning your budget, you can ensure you’re making the most of your resources while still delivering a top-notch haunted experience.

Location scouting

Finding the right location for your haunted house can be a game-changer. Look for affordable venues such as barns, community centers, or even your own property if it’s large enough. Consider the distance, pricing, and accessibility to attendees. You want a place that’s easy for people to find and get to. One smart strategy is partnering with venues to split profits or negotiate a percentage of the ticket sales. This can significantly reduce your upfront costs. And don’t forget to ensure that your location is safe and accessible for all guests. A well-chosen venue can set the stage for a hauntingly good time while staying within your budget.

Step 2: Designing the haunted experience

Once you've got the event planning down, it's time for the super fun part — designing the haunted experience itself. Let’s talk about creating a spooky layout, setting up eerie decor, and adding those hair-raising special effects that will leave your guests trembling!

Layout and flow

Plan the path and key scare zones carefully to ensure a thrilling experience for your guests. Think about how visitors will move through the space and where the best places are to surprise them. Avoid bottlenecks by ensuring there’s enough room for people to move smoothly from one area to the next. Don’t forget to include emergency exits throughout the paths so guests can leave quickly if needed.

Set design and decor

Creating an immersive, eerie atmosphere doesn’t have to break the bank! Craft set pieces and props yourself by repurposing household items or finding treasures at thrift stores. With a bit of creativity, you can turn everyday objects into terrifying props. Lighting and sound are crucial in setting the mood — think dim lights, flickering bulbs, and eerie sounds. Think about how each room contributes to the overall theme and how you can make guests feel like they’ve stepped into another world.

Eerie special effects

Budget-friendly options like fog machines, strobe lights, and soundscapes can create an intense atmosphere. Utilize technology to your advantage — there are plenty of apps available for spooky sound effects, and you can even try your hand at animatronics for a personalized touch. Check out YouTube or online forums like Reddit to find tutorials or helpful advice on do-it-yourself special effect options.

Pro tip: Work at or volunteer at a local attraction in the haunted house industry to help you to gain invaluable insights towards starting your own!

Step 3: Crafting the scares

Now that your haunted house is coming together, it's time to focus on the heart of the experience: the scares!

Scary-good actor training

Start by recruiting volunteers, like members of a drama department at a local high school or college. These aspiring actors are often the best candidates with the enthusiasm and skills needed for the job. You can also post job listings on sites like ZipRecruiter or Indeed. Once you have your team, it's essential to train them to deliver consistent and safe scares. Conduct rehearsals to refine their timing and reactions, ensuring they know how to best scare your guests. Remind them to stay in character and maintain energy throughout the event — consistent performances are key to a truly terrifying experience. Depending on the intensity of your haunt, you’ll need to go over what they’re allowed and prohibited to do with your haunt-goers, so they have a safe yet exhilarating experience. 

Petrifying props and costumes

Start your costume and prop search with affordable items from thrift stores, garage sales, and online marketplaces. For a personal touch, try creating realistic and terrifying effects yourself. For example, use old clothes and paint to create fake blood-stained garments or repurpose household items into eerie props. The more detailed and realistic your props and costumes are, the more convincing your haunted house will be, adding to your overall fright factor!

Step 4: Enforcing safety guidelines and regulations

Safety first! Let's break down what you need to do to protect your guests and comply with all necessary regulations.

Safety protocols

Ensuring the safety of your guests and staff is paramount. To adequately plan for emergencies, make sure your haunted house has clearly marked exits, a first aid station, and adequate security personnel. Prepare for unexpected weather by having contingency plans, such as covered waiting areas, alternate routes, or a communication strategy for any event cancellation. It's also important to train your actors on your haunt’s rules based on its intensity to suit different comfort levels. This can include how close they are allowed to get to your attendees, if they’re able to touch them in any capacity, and vice versa. By prioritizing safety, you create a secure environment where everyone can enjoy the scares without unnecessary risks.

Legal considerations

Navigating the legal aspects on how to make a haunted house is essential yet can seem daunting, but we’re here to help! First, acquire the necessary permits and insurance to protect yourself and your guests. Make sure to include warnings about certain effects, like strobe lights, which can trigger health issues for some attendees. For understanding local regulations and compliance — check out resources like the Life Safety 101 Code Book, which has a section on special amusement attractions. Additionally, be sure to draft a waiver for attendees to sign that acknowledges the potential risks involved with going through your haunt. This not only covers your legal bases but also informs guests about what to expect.

Step 5: Launching your ticket sales

Ready to start selling your haunt’s tickets? Let's explore how to effectively build your event page, price your tickets, and utilize event ticketing software features to streamline the process!

Crafting a spooky event page

Your event page is the first impression potential guests will have of your haunted house, so make it count! Craft a spooky, engaging event description that sets the tone and entices visitors. Use eerie imagery, haunting language, and highlight the unique aspects of your haunted house. The goal is to create excitement and anticipation, making people eager to purchase online tickets to experience the scares firsthand.

Setting tantalizing ticket prices 

Pricing your tickets appropriately is key to bringing in more guests while ensuring you make a profit. Research similar events in your area to get a sense of the going rates. Consider offering early bird discounts to encourage advanced sales and build buzz. This not only helps you generate ticket sales right out of the gate, but it also creates a sense of urgency for people to buy now. Additionally, think about different pricing tiers based on the intensity level or time of entry, giving guests options that fit their budget while maximizing your revenue.

Adding your event waiver

Protect yourself legally and inform guests of any potential risks by adding your event waiver to your online ticket purchase process. With a platform like TicketLeap, you can easily add this waiver to your ticket checkout. Your waiver should clearly explain any health and safety warnings, such as strobe lights or physical contact from actors. By requiring attendees to acknowledge and accept these terms, you can minimize liability and ensure everyone is aware of what to expect. This transparency helps build trust and ensures a smoother experience for all involved.

Step 6: Marketing and promoting your haunt

Now that your haunted house is taking shape, it’s time to spread the word and fill those eerie halls with thrill-seeking guests!

Building hype for your scare

Start marketing your haunted house early – about 3-4 months before your event – by leveraging social media. Create engaging content such as spooky skits, teaser videos of your haunted house setup, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of your actors preparing to scare their victims (like a time lapse of getting into costume!). You could also host a costume contest or post a giveaway for tickets to generate buzz and get more people excited for your haunt. To go the extra mile, collaborate with local influencers and media outlets, like your local TV stations or newspaper, to spread the word. Invite the influencers you partner with to visit your haunt and share their experiences with their followers. 

Engaging your community

Engaging with your local community can amplify your haunted house's visibility and support. Partner with nearby businesses for sponsorships to give you additional funds or donations in exchange for exposure at your event. With your sponsors, organize promotions like joint marketing campaigns or exclusive discounts for their customers who attend your haunt. This not only enhances your reach but also gives businesses in your community a fun way to reward their loyal customers around Halloween. Consider hosting community events or workshops related to your haunted house theme like a Halloween fundraiser or a pumpkin carving session to further integrate your event into local culture. By actively involving your community, you create a shared sense of excitement and ownership over the spooky spectacle you’re creating.

Step 7: Conducting a post-event review

As the last screams echo through your haunted house, let’s turn our attention to what comes next: gathering valuable feedback and assessing the success of your spine-chilling event. 

Collecting feedback from your haunt-goers

Use a combination of surveys and social media to gather insights into their experiences. Surveys can be sent out via email or handed out at the exit, asking about their favorite scares, any areas they felt could be improved, and their overall level of satisfaction. Social media platforms are great for collecting more immediate feedback, encouraging guests to share their thoughts and photos from the event. Once you’ve gathered feedback, analyze it carefully to identify trends and areas for improvement. Pay attention to recurring comments or suggestions, as these often highlight the most impactful changes you can make for future events.

Evaluating your haunted house’s success

Measuring the success of your haunted house goes beyond just counting ticket sales. Start by calculating your profit and expenses to determine your financial performance. This helps you understand whether your event was financially viable and where you might need to adjust costs for next time. Beyond finances, assess what worked well and what could be improved based on guest feedback and your own observations. Consider factors like attendance numbers, guest satisfaction levels, and any media coverage or community buzz you generated. Take note of successful promotional tactics to take advantage of again next year and areas where you may want to refine your operations or enhance the guest experience.

Your haunted house journey begins here!

​​Congratulations on embarking on the journey on how to start a haunted house! By now, you've learned the ins and outs of planning, designing, and executing a spooky and unforgettable event. From crafting spine-chilling scares to navigating safety protocols and legal considerations, every detail plays a crucial role in delivering a thrilling experience. As you plan your haunt, consider choosing an intuitive event ticketing system like TicketLeap to get your tickets on sale fast. Here’s to crafting a haunted house that leaves everyone screaming (in a good way)!