Hey everybody! I'm Scott.
I've been obsessed with this site and reading the archives since about November, when I decided to start a haunt in my area. Since then I have been obsessively refining my vision and searching for the needed materials (with a lot of help from this site)
I am already a business owner (a medical massage therapy practice) and have been successful for 3.5 years, so I have some general know how when it comes to running a business; but my dream since I was a kid is to own a professional haunt! We did one at my parents when I was 14 and 15 and I have never had so much fun in my life. Obviously I'm aware that this time around it wouldn't be ME having much of the fun lol but my dream is the same nonetheless.
Even though it's a dream, I'm treating it 100% as a real BUSINESS; I am determined and convinced I can do this. I'm sure many of you may get sick of me during the following months, because I will be incessantly posting questions looking for new answers that may not have been in the archives. What I have seen so far, you guys are a great and helpful community that I feel privileged to be a part of... and one day am hoping to be answering many of the questions I will be posting!
My area is Omaha, NE. I have seen a couple of the owners posting on here in the archives before. They are very successful and I am inspired by them.
The current haunt situation is this: One is a HUGE family haunt (pumpkin patch, small "haunted houses" etc) but is VERY kid oriented; that works for them and I hear they make millions so definite props to them.
Another is just outside of town on an acreage, it has three attractions: two haunts, and one haunted forest walk through. This one also has a huge bonfire area that people can lounge around and hang out. It seems to be geared toward the 14-25 age. I know the owner's daughter, and she says that it is VERY lucrative (tons of work though of course)
A third is another just outside of town, and I hear they are looking to sell their acreage. They are apparently getting old. This one isn't quite as well known, and I haven't heard much about it.
The fourth is actually one I saw posting on here. It's called The Shadows Edge. I haven't been to that one, but I have heard great things. It is a smaller haunt, and seems to be largely based on theatrics and quality.
The last one was a big seller downtown. Thing is, he just sold his "manor" to a nearby university, and word is he is getting out of the business as well. I figure this presents a good opportunity for another haunt to enter the market...
So that's the situation.
My goal is to hit the 14-25 market, but specialize in ONE THEME, and make it super intense! Basically a non stop adrenaline rush with a couple of slow spots for people to get prepared for the next scare. I already have my theme, and found all of the makeup and costumes. I've got well-thought-out ground up marketing and Facebook strategy. I have a pretty good idea of what most of the build-out and props will cost (I'll revise and budget exactly once I've got a location) But that's the problem... LOCATION. So far I am using free-ware to design different possible floorplans, based on what I've seen the standard floorplans of most buildings around here is... but it's just not cutting it and I can't get precise with my budgeting.
Back in November I contacted at least a dozen properties up for lease on loopnet.com. Most didn't even return my calls. I worked with two commercial realtors... one I even met with face to face and was a VIP of a local real estate agency---she knows some of the building owners of places I looked at. Neither one of the realtors ended up calling me back! I understand that they get paid on commission of the total lease price over the normal five years, and I was only looking for three months, but come on!
Some of the leasing agents said that it was too far away, and I should contact them closer to the time of said lease... which is NOW! So I am planning on going another round and making more contact. Is there anything you guys can tell me on HOW to get these realtors to take me seriously? Or maybe how to get into contact with the actual owners??? There are multiple places that HUGE buildings remain vacant (some don't even have real estate signs on them, as if they have given up trying to lease it out)
I have literally half a dozen "perfect" locations (next to malls, old grocery stores, Toys R Us, etc) but I just cant seem to find the appropriate way to approach these people... please help!
Thanks a lot guys, and I'm looking forward to actually interacting with all of you and not just reading idly lol.
Scott
I've been obsessed with this site and reading the archives since about November, when I decided to start a haunt in my area. Since then I have been obsessively refining my vision and searching for the needed materials (with a lot of help from this site)
I am already a business owner (a medical massage therapy practice) and have been successful for 3.5 years, so I have some general know how when it comes to running a business; but my dream since I was a kid is to own a professional haunt! We did one at my parents when I was 14 and 15 and I have never had so much fun in my life. Obviously I'm aware that this time around it wouldn't be ME having much of the fun lol but my dream is the same nonetheless.
Even though it's a dream, I'm treating it 100% as a real BUSINESS; I am determined and convinced I can do this. I'm sure many of you may get sick of me during the following months, because I will be incessantly posting questions looking for new answers that may not have been in the archives. What I have seen so far, you guys are a great and helpful community that I feel privileged to be a part of... and one day am hoping to be answering many of the questions I will be posting!
My area is Omaha, NE. I have seen a couple of the owners posting on here in the archives before. They are very successful and I am inspired by them.
The current haunt situation is this: One is a HUGE family haunt (pumpkin patch, small "haunted houses" etc) but is VERY kid oriented; that works for them and I hear they make millions so definite props to them.
Another is just outside of town on an acreage, it has three attractions: two haunts, and one haunted forest walk through. This one also has a huge bonfire area that people can lounge around and hang out. It seems to be geared toward the 14-25 age. I know the owner's daughter, and she says that it is VERY lucrative (tons of work though of course)
A third is another just outside of town, and I hear they are looking to sell their acreage. They are apparently getting old. This one isn't quite as well known, and I haven't heard much about it.
The fourth is actually one I saw posting on here. It's called The Shadows Edge. I haven't been to that one, but I have heard great things. It is a smaller haunt, and seems to be largely based on theatrics and quality.
The last one was a big seller downtown. Thing is, he just sold his "manor" to a nearby university, and word is he is getting out of the business as well. I figure this presents a good opportunity for another haunt to enter the market...
So that's the situation.
My goal is to hit the 14-25 market, but specialize in ONE THEME, and make it super intense! Basically a non stop adrenaline rush with a couple of slow spots for people to get prepared for the next scare. I already have my theme, and found all of the makeup and costumes. I've got well-thought-out ground up marketing and Facebook strategy. I have a pretty good idea of what most of the build-out and props will cost (I'll revise and budget exactly once I've got a location) But that's the problem... LOCATION. So far I am using free-ware to design different possible floorplans, based on what I've seen the standard floorplans of most buildings around here is... but it's just not cutting it and I can't get precise with my budgeting.
Back in November I contacted at least a dozen properties up for lease on loopnet.com. Most didn't even return my calls. I worked with two commercial realtors... one I even met with face to face and was a VIP of a local real estate agency---she knows some of the building owners of places I looked at. Neither one of the realtors ended up calling me back! I understand that they get paid on commission of the total lease price over the normal five years, and I was only looking for three months, but come on!
Some of the leasing agents said that it was too far away, and I should contact them closer to the time of said lease... which is NOW! So I am planning on going another round and making more contact. Is there anything you guys can tell me on HOW to get these realtors to take me seriously? Or maybe how to get into contact with the actual owners??? There are multiple places that HUGE buildings remain vacant (some don't even have real estate signs on them, as if they have given up trying to lease it out)
I have literally half a dozen "perfect" locations (next to malls, old grocery stores, Toys R Us, etc) but I just cant seem to find the appropriate way to approach these people... please help!
Thanks a lot guys, and I'm looking forward to actually interacting with all of you and not just reading idly lol.
Scott
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