From $15 Fright to $Million Empire: Denver Duo’s Halloween Takeover

Two friends, <b>Chris Stafford</b> and <b>Warren Conard</b>, opened a $15 haunted house in a Denver shopping complex in 2002; now they operate <b>18 Halloween attractions</b> nationwide, turning a side gig into a multimillion‑dollar empire. What started as cheap thrills now fuels a corporate machine that hires 4,500 seasonal workers, pockets massive profits, and even eyes Christmas, proving fear sells year‑round. The surge creates thousands of temporary jobs each October, but also cements a profit‑driven model that turns spooky fun into a cash‑cow.