The faint of heart should think twice before setting foot in a haunted house for Halloween. The same could be said for those considering getting into business of running a haunted house.

“The barriers of entry are so much higher to get into the haunted house attraction business — rules, regulations and the expense to get in, even what people perceive as entertainment,” said Billy Messina, co-creator of Netherworld, an attraction that has been scaring people in Stone Mountain, Georgia, for nearly 30 years. “A bunch of teenagers that say ‘Boo!’ — that won’t fly anymore,” Messina told CBS MoneyWatch.

Unlike the haunted house fundraisers run by civic organizations such as the United States Junior Chamber, also known as the Jaycees, Netherworld is among the dozen or so haunted houses that can be likened to full-scale Broadway productions. And, unlike the neighborhood house that is haunted by volunteers, these Halloween attractions are professional outfits staffed throughout the year, even though the window to turn a profit is far smaller, just a month or two around Halloween. 

“Our revenue cycle is very short, the lion’s share of our revenue is in a 2- to 3-month window,” said Chris Stafford, CEO and founding partner of Thirteenth Floor Entertain Group. Based in Denver, Colorado, Thirteenth Floor operates 32 attractions including haunted houses and Halloween festivals across the country, selling hundreds of thousands of tickets each year.  

“Most of our properties we hold year-round, so we have an annual operating plan to make sure the revenue we expect to see is going to come in,” said Stafford, who worked in the banking industry for 12 years before turning what had been a beloved hobby into a full-time career.

“It’s a tough business with a staff and a mortgage that is open all year long, and then you have 20 to 30 days to make sure you get to cover all of those basic expenses. It’s a challenge,” said Messina, who started out in the film industry as a makeup and special effects artist. Still, “it’s pretty amazing to be able to do this for a living,” he added.

Both share a passion for haunted houses that took hold in childhood. 

“I worked at a local haunted house with a friend from high school. I just really loved everything about it, some of my best memories are from there,” said Stafford, recalling his experiences as a 15-year-old working at a family-run haunted house in Denver.

Growing up in New York City, Messina recalls seeing commercials on television for haunted houses on the Jersey Shore and yearning but unable to go. 

Like many other businesses, Messina and Stafford list labor as a huge challenge. 

With a full-time staff of about 15, Netherworld also hires about 500 seasonal workers as parking attendants, food and customer service employees and, of course, to scare folks. “For new employees, the hiring push starts sometime in August, and really kicks up in mid-September. We have college students all the way up to white-collar professionals that just want to be part of it,” said Messina. 

Netherworld’s base pay starts at $8.50 an hour. “People aren’t there for the money, working as a scare actor,” said Messina.

Thirteenth Floor has full-time staff in marketing and finance, and “then comes the season and we ramp up and literally hire thousands of people to work — probably the greatest challenge is staffing up a workforce that large in that short a time,” offered Stafford. “Most of our scare actors are not professional actors, but interested in learning,” he added of the positions which pay just above minimum wage. 

A large percentage of the seasonal workforce returns each year, both men relayed.

Ticket sales keep Netherworld afloat, and outside factors including the weather and sports can have an impact beyond Messina’s control. “Rain is devastating to attendance, or if the [Atlanta] Braves are in the [National Baseball League] playoffs,” he offers as examples. “Concessions and the gift shop are not enough to keep the lights on. We don’t lose money on that stuff, but they are by no means a cash cow,” Messina noted.

Both men listed Netflix as the primary competition. “Just getting people off the couch — it’s hard,” Stafford said, adding that Thirteenth Floor strives to give people a reason to come together socially. “Too much of our lives are lived digitally, behind the screen,” he said.

With leaves turning, autumn sweaters out and Halloween spirit in the air, the question arises: How does one take a data-driven approach to their fall plans?

The CBS News Data Team asked Yelp for data on businesses with corn mazes, and they provided data where business reviews mention corn mazes.

While not a comprehensive list of all the nation’s corn mazes, the user reviews allowed the Data Team to map out corn mazes with satellite photography, offering a bird’s eye view of the nation’s most elaborate corn mazes.

There were more than 500 businesses where corn mazes were mentioned in user reviews in the U.S., according to Yelp data. 

California, New York and Washington lead the nation with businesses with corn maze mentions, but when adjusted for population, Oregon leads the nation with about five corn mazes per one million people.  

The businesses likely to have corn mazes range from farms, festivals, and petting zoos to haunted houses and wineries.

Corn mazes fall under other so-called agritourism activities such as apple-picking, hayrides and wine-tasting at vineyards. And while farmers can attempt to shuck their own labyrinths, there are companies that pave a-maize-ing patterns. 

Companies such as The Maize and Maze Play can use tractors to paint pictures of sports teams, celebrities and cartoon characters in corn. Some corn mazes even support local causes, cancer awareness or milestones such as the 50th anniversary of Star Trek.  

We also grazed through Google Earth satellite imagery, digging into the most “a-maize-ing” and unique corn mazes from the past few years, based on the data provided by Yelp.

One standout was a Dolly Parton-themed maze at Honeysuckle Hill Farms in Tennessee.

Another maze depicted a Wonka Golden Ticket at Dull’s Tree Farm in Indiana.

See more of our favorites below:

The Hunter’s Moon, renowned as the year’s largest supermoon, is set to captivate stargazers with its striking brightness and remarkable proximity to Earth. This full moon will offer a rare spectacle, appearing closer than any other moon this year, creating an extraordinary visual experience for astronomy enthusiasts. The month is also rich with cosmic events, including the visibility of two comets and the emergence of a new star, further enhancing its allure.As the Hunter’s Moon rises, it symbolises the changing seasons and the time-honoured traditions of harvesting, making it a significant moment for observers worldwide.

What is Hunter’s Moon?

The name “Hunter’s Moon” is derived from the traditions of the Algonquin Native American tribe. Historically, this time of year marked the period when tribes would stock up on meat for the approaching winter. The name reflects the practice of hunting and gathering during this season.
The Hunter’s Moon occurs after the Harvest Moon, which is the full moon nearest the autumnal equinox. Other names associated with this full moon include Corn Ripe Moon and Falling Leaves Moon, reflecting various cultural interpretations. Other names from Native American tribes include Drying Rice Moon, Freezing Moon, and Migrating Moon, all of which signify the changing seasons and activities related to them.

What makes the Hunter’s Moon special?

Closest supermoon of 2024

The Hunter’s Moon will be the only full moon to come as close to Earth as 220,055 miles in 2024. This proximity will result in an especially striking appearance, making it seem larger and brighter than usual when viewed from Earth.

Timing of the full moon

The full moon will occur on October 17, with its peak brightness occurring just hours after reaching its closest point to Earth. For observers, this means an excellent opportunity to witness the moon in all its glory.

Cosmic wonders in October

October 2024 is packed with cosmic phenomena, making it an exciting time for astronomy enthusiasts:

Visibility of comets

Two comets will be visible this month. One has already captured the attention of skywatchers with its spectacular display. The second comet will appear towards the end of October, adding to the celestial excitement.

Emergence of a new star

Additionally, there is a new star set to emerge in the night sky, further enriching the month’s astronomical offerings.

Hunter’s moon October 2024

According to NASA, the Hunter’s Moon will rise at 6:13 PM ET in the United States and at 4:56 PM in India. In the U.S. West Coast, the moon will rise at 6:25 PM. To enjoy the best views of this supermoon, stargazers are encouraged to seek out locations with minimal light pollution and clear skies.
The full moon won’t linger for long, entering its last phase on October 24, just a few days before Halloween. This means that Halloween night (October 31) will be notably dark, as the moon will be transitioning away from its full phase.

Will there be a full moon on Halloween?

For those hoping to see a full moon on Halloween, the next occurrence won’t happen until 2039. According to EarthSky, full moons on Halloween are quite rare, occurring approximately every 18-19 years. The last time this event took place was in 2020.
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Lance Bass, best known for his time with the iconic boy band “NSYNC,” is embracing his love for Halloween with the release of his new children’s book, “Trick or Treat on Scary Street.” During an interview on “CBS Mornings” on Wednesday, Bass said the book is designed for young readers and strikes the perfect balance between spooky and fun. 

His love for Halloween goes back to his childhood, a tradition passed down from his father and grandfather. 

“I was always raised with, you know, just the frightening Halloween, which is what I’m doing with my kids right now. So they’re very desensitized to the scary stuff,” Bass said.

He recalled growing up in Mississippi, where trick-or-treating lasted for hours, and noted how different things are in Los Angeles.

“We take kids to different neighborhoods where there are thousands of kids, and they give full-size candy bars,” he said. “Now there’s a whole donation thing, so you get to pick a certain amount of candy, and then the rest goes to the children’s hospital.”

As for his Halloween plans, Bass, who has twins who will be 3 in October, admitted he goes all out with his family. 

He said he has read the book every night “about six times.”

When asked how writing a children’s book compares to writing music, Bass noted that both involve telling a story. 

“You know, you have the story in your head, you just have to make it sound good,” he said, despite industry trends moving away from rhyming in children’s literature.

Bass also didn’t shy away from the topic of an NSYNC reunion.

“We’re discussing what the future might hold,” he said. “It’s looking very good, and I never could say that until now.”