Haunted trail on a farm or private land

Families with older kids, teens, friend groups and couples looking for a Halloween night out, plus group bookings.

Admission tickets, often with a revenue share or rent paid to the landowner. Extras like hot drinks, snacks or a campfire area can add income if permitted.

• Outdoor setup and simple building
• Organizing volunteers or paid actors
• Local marketing and social media
• Crowd safety and first aid awareness

• Event or temporary-use permits and zoning, especially on agricultural land, check with your municipality
• Commercial general liability insurance, and a written agreement with the landowner about who is responsible for what
• Uneven ground, darkness and cold weather, plan lighting, first aid and emergency access
• Food and drink sales need a permit from your local public health unit
• Paid actors may bring WCB/WSIB and employment standards duties, check your province's rules
• Rain, early snow or a cold snap can cancel nights, so have a refund and rain-date policy
• Parking, traffic and noise affect neighbours, so check local rules and talk to them early

Estimates typically run around $4,000 to $20,000, depending on the length of the trail, how much lighting, sound and scenery you set up, and whether you rely on volunteers or paid actors.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $5,000 to $25,000, depending on ticket prices, the number of October nights you open and group bookings. Rain or early snow can cancel nights, so have a refund and rain-date policy.

Check event or temporary-use permits and zoning with your municipality, especially on agricultural land. Also check liability insurance, a written agreement with the landowner, a public health permit for food and drink sales, and any duties for paid actors.