Don’t Get Caught Dead Using Last Year’s Ticketing System. Check out Brushfire’s Haunted Attraction Survival Guide
While guests are still soaking up the sun, peak season is already looming—and for haunted attraction operators, it doesn’t wait. October is the make-or-break month, where every ticket sold counts, and every attendee’s experience can define your reputation for the year. But all too often, haunted house operators find themselves haunted by last year’s ticketing nightmares: slow check-ins, long lines, lost sales, and overwhelmed staff.
If this sounds familiar, it’s time to rethink your approach and prepare your event for the kind of success you deserve. Planning early and arming yourself with the right tools can make the difference between a smooth, profitable season and one filled with chaos.
One of the biggest challenges haunted attractions face is managing large crowds efficiently. When thousands of attendees descend on your event across a handful of nights, controlling the flow is critical—not only for safety but for keeping spirits high. Traditional ticketing systems often fail under pressure, leading to bottlenecks and frustrated visitors.
By giving attendees specific arrival windows, you can keep lines moving and improve overall satisfaction. Brushfire’s timed-entry feature allows you to easily set capacities for each time slot and manage attendance without a hitch.
But ticketing doesn’t stop at entry. To maximize revenue and enhance the guest experience, offering add-ons like parking passes, VIP upgrades, or merchandise sales is key. These extras let visitors customize their night and provide additional revenue streams beyond just admission.
Brushfire lets you seamlessly offer parking passes, fast-track options, or exclusive merch, increasing your average order value without complicating the buying experience.
Marketing also plays a vital role in a successful haunt season. Early and ongoing communication keeps excitement high and reduces last-minute no-shows.
Early bird discounts or family packages can fill seats before the rush and build momentum.
In the haunted attraction world, every weekend in October carries massive financial weight. That’s why it’s essential to front-load your sales—getting tickets sold before your gates even open. Strategic use of promo codes can help you do exactly that.
Early bird discounts are one of the most effective ways to drive momentum in the weeks leading up to opening night. Offering a small discount for guests who purchase tickets well in advance not only incentivizes commitment but also gives you early visibility into attendance trends. With Brushfire, you can automate these offers and limit them by date, ticket type, or quantity—so you’re in full control.
Equally powerful are group or family package codes. Haunted attractions often see guests attend in groups—families, teenagers, date nights, and friend circles. By creating targeted offers like “Buy 4, Get 1 Free” or “Family Fright Night Pass,” you remove the friction that often prevents people from committing to group plans. It’s not just a discount—it’s an invitation.
And here’s where it gets really effective: when you combine your promo codes with a well-timed email campaign (easily set up in Brushfire), you can create urgency and close the sale while interest is still high. For example, you might send an email that says: “Get $5 off opening weekend—only for the first 100 ticket buyers. Offer disappears Friday at midnight!”
This limited-time, exclusive feel adds urgency, which boosts conversions. Even better? Brushfire lets you track promo code performance in real time, so you can tweak or pause offers based on how your sales are pacing.
In short, promo codes aren’t just about giving discounts—they’re about shaping behavior. With the right strategy, they help you sell earlier, increase order sizes, and ease the pressure on high-traffic nights.
A well-timed reminder or limited-time offer can turn hesitation into a sale, and Brushfire’s automation tools make this effortless.
And when the unexpected happens—as it inevitably will—having expert support you can rely on is invaluable. Brushfire offers dedicated seasonal support designed specifically for haunted attractions, so you’re never left to handle tech troubles alone during your busiest nights.
Many haunted attractions, from local haunts to large-scale productions like Dark Hour and Fatal Fear, have transformed their seasons by adopting Brushfire’s tailored solutions. By switching early—before the peak crush—they’ve avoided last year’s ticketing headaches and maximized their revenue potential.
Prepare smarter, sell more, and create an experience your attendees will be dying to come back to.
Ready to get started?
👉 Check out this blog post for a deep dive into best practices, tips, and tools that will help you run your smoothest, most profitable season yet.
