The Dragon

Haunters Digest brings you this special interview with Randy Bates, owner of the Bates Motel and Haunted Hayride. This attraction has been featured on the Travel Channel, haunt industry related magazines and periodicals, and is considered to be a top 10 haunted attraction in the United States. We take this opportunity to sit down with Randy and find out what it takes to put together an attraction of this size including his suggestions for other haunt owners on how to improve their attractions.

Q: What is your name and position?

A: Randy Bates, Owner of the Bates Motel and Haunted Hayride, and Managing Partner for the new Pennhurst Asylum

Q: How many seasons has the attraction been operating?

A: This will be the 20^th season for the Bates Motel and Haunted Hayride, and the inaugural season for Pennhurst Asylum

Q: When does planning and designing start for each year?

A: We start planning the day after the events close. I usually write up a punch list of ideas for the following season and additional ways to streamline our operation. Event planning begins in March and actual construction begins in April

Q: How many people are part of the team that is responsible for the designing and planning?

A: Our design and build team includes about 10 people, plus several volunteers who clean up, paint, etc. Our staff consists of construction experts, metal fabrication and welders, automation design crew, professional audio and lighting crew and of course fantastic artists. We have about 4 artists working all summer to distress the sets to make them look as real as possible

Q: What do you do to keep the attraction fresh and retain the interest of the customers to keep them from get bored with the attraction?

A: We always try to add to our show. My theory is that in order to have a successful attraction, you should change at least 25% of your show. Last year, we added several huge sets to our hayride, added a large set behind the Bates Motel (a full size green house)and added several new props and sets in our corn maze.

Q: What is your typical design process for conception & development a haunted attraction? How do you develop an idea for an attraction?

A: Usually someone comes up with an idea; we agree on the concept then try to flesh out how to make it work. All props, sets, and gags have to be cost effective, work hundreds of times each night for 30 days, be safe and simple, and most of all, be scary.

Q: When is the deadline (month) for having all the planning and designing finalized for approval so construction can begin?

A: We don’t really have a deadline for design. We kind of go with the flow. As we begin to build scenes and sets, changes pop up, new ideas are added and many times, the original set is completely different than the one first envisioned. If you are too rigid with design concepts you may lose out on something special.

Q: What tools, if any, do you use to help plan for each event and what do you use them for? (i.e. Pen and Paper, Google Sketch-up, Maya, Photoshop, Visio)

A: I have a couple of great artists that will mock up drawings of scenes that we have described to them. Its basically low tech.

Q: Do you use Iconic Character for your event?

A: we have several main characters, but nothing that comes from the cinema. We always try to stay away from the Freddies and Jasons.

Q: What elements do you think make for a great Iconic character? What tips would you give haunters trying to develop their own iconic character?

A: I think you always have to be original when creating a character. I guess my tip would be to create a character around your best set; or build a great set to house your character.

Q: Do you have a special theme for each year?

A: We don’t really theme the Bates Motel other than it is a Victorian mansion. Our hayride has a mish mash of sets and scenes, all with great scares. The corn Maze has a western theme laced with Werewolves. Now, at the new location, we have a full storyline about the abandoned mental institution. It is still in the early stages, but should be up and running this year.

Q: Which comes first, The Events Theme or the Iconic Character? Do you develop an iconic character first and then the events theme or do you develop the theme first then an iconic character to fit it?

A: I think you have to build the theme first, then design the character. At Pennhurst, the theme is that a Psycho Surgeon from Austria has been experimenting on criminals from the eastern block countries, but has to move them out of the country before he is found out. He finds the remains of the abandoned Pennhurst State School, in Spring City, PA, and moves his lab here including all the monsters he has created. Here we came up with the theme, then created the characters to go with it.

Q: When does construction start for all the attraction areas / zones?

A: We usually start in April. Of course, we work on props in our shop all year.

Q: How many staff does it take to actually construct one of your haunted attractions (builders, electricians, set dressing, etc)

A: We have a build staff of about 12 working part time/full time over the summer.

Q: What elements do you think are a bare minimum to make a great set (prop dressings, lights, scents, audio, etc)

A: I’m a big fan of detail and that includes all of these elements. I like realism (as opposed to the surrealistic) and feel that lighting and audio is critical to a good scene. If you can add in scents, that’s all the better. Two years ago we computerized our fog machines. Each fogger was connected to a show control and activated for the precise time and intensity for each room. We added scents to the fog juice to enhance each set. It really helped as we did not have to rely on actors or timers to produce the fog, and we saved a lot on fog juice.

Q: How many actors and support staff does it take to run your event when it’s operating?

A: The Bates Motel and Haunted Hayride has about 100 actors and 120 support staff. This includes ticket sales, tractor drivers, loaders, unloaders, concession staff, security, parking, etc. Our new location will start with about 40 actors and 40 support staff. It will only be two attractions and will not have a hayride that requires a much larger number of employees.

Q: How many visitors on average do you have come through each year?

A: Each year the number of customers varies due to things like the weather and the local baseball team. When it rains, we close the attraction. When the Phillies are in the world series, our numbers drop 30% that night. So, we average between 45 and 60 thousand each year.

Q: If you could give any advice to other haunted attraction owners to help improve their attraction, what would you tell them?

A: First, don’t underestimate yourself; charge a good fair price. Many places under charge and that hurts other attractions in the area and lowers your own income. Find a good online ticket sales company. This is an easy way to produce income and create pre season sales. I have been using Interactive Ticketing for several years and they are fantastic to work with. Get an ATM machine onsite. This puts cash in your customer’s hands and leads to additional sales form concessions or retail items like shirts and hats. Change your show up each year. Work your radio reps hard; hire an advertising buyer if necessary. Get involved with other attractions in your market; start to market cooperatively. 

Q: Anything else that you would like to let our readers know about your attraction?

A: The Bates Motel and Haunted Hayride is like no other attraction in the country. We have huge sets, tons of pyrotechnics and high end audio. Our website is www.thebatesmotel.com . Our new attraction at Pennhurst Asylum is also unique; and abandoned state mental facility that is crumbling, has now been rehabbed into a spectacular haunted attraction that will attract thousands to the area. That website is www.pennhurstasylum.com