“I remember, one year we were quite upset because we decided that 18,500 was a sellout... That year, the word came down from management, and I was in charge of admissions. “Jack, keep sellin’, keep sellin’.” And I said, “My God, we’re past twenty thousand. We’re going to get a lot of unhappy people.” But the word came down, “keep sellin’,” and we kept sellin’. I think we sold maybe twenty-two thousand or something, which was unheard of for a private event.” - Jack Schrecengost, 1999.

“I hate to say this, but I felt that every year I did the Haunt, took 10 years of my life off.  You cannot hardly conceive of the amount of work!  Now the Farm has people that are thinking about this and doing design work year ‘round.  They get involved in it now much earlier than they used to as far as the doing the actual physical preparatory work... Nobody would deny the fact that Knott’s was the one that put it on the map as far as bringing it into a theme park and doing what they do with it.” - John Waite, 1996.

Conceived in 1973 by Bill Hollingshead from Entertainment, with George Condos and Martha Boyd from Marketing, Halloween Haunt was a three-day, separately ticketed event with little behind it but a great name. After meeting with various department heads, things began to take shape. Hollingshead successfully booked local horror television personality “Seymour” to host the event in the John Wayne Theater. Gunfighter Gary Salisbury and make-up artist Gene Witham made up various employees as “monsters” in Ghost Town. The Haunted Shack was turned into a scary walk through called ‘The Monster Maze.’ And with the help of Hurlbut employee John Waite, the Calico Mine Ride and Log Ride were turned into nightmarish attractions with scenes and gags guaranteed to make the bravest soul weak with fright. Beginning with a three-night run, the Haunt (alternately known as Knott’s “Scary” Farm) now routinely sells out most nights, which stretch from late September to early November of each year. Over 500 cast members are nightly transformed into ghouls, witches and monsters, elaborately themed mazes and rides can be experienced and special Halloween shows are created. Many other theme parks have attempted to copy this event - but it is safe to say that each year in Southern California, Knott’s owns Halloween.