If you think that getting a scare in the House of Shock is all fun and excitement, think again. This Halloween entertainment is big business, part of a $2 billion haunted attraction industry in 24 countries all over the world.

This figure came from Hauntworld magazine which lists more than 4,000 attractions in its website. According to its editor Larry Kirchner, Halloween-related attractions are big business. And one of the biggest Halloween business is the House of Shock wwhich is visited annually by around 25,000 people and has been rated as one of the best.

Ross Karpelman, founder of the House of Shock, said he did not imagine his business would grow as big as it is now.

Many Halloween attractions have their own websites so it will be easier for the public to choose which attraction is worth their time and money.

The average entrance fee for Halloween attractions is between $20 to $50 or even more, and include haunted houses to amusement parts and even farms with haunted barnyards and hayrides. Other have put up shows in more unconventional venues such as the Queen Mary, the storied cruise ship now docked in Long Beach, California; or the Ruby Falls in Chattanooga, Tennessee which is a natural underground waterfall that is turned into a haunted cavern.

Then there are haunted casinos and haunted cornfields. Name it, and for sure, someone has done it. What was once a backyard attraction is now a festival of fright that sometimes stretches from September to November. And in many cases, the Halloween celebration becomes a mini-carnival with shows, food stands and other entertainment available. The Halloween fun does not stop inside a horror house as there is usually as much fun outside.

Kirchner said that Halloween is one holiday that people love to participate in.

For those who are planning to go to a Halloween attraction, one can start by asking around or getting information from their websites. Check with the International Haunted House Association or visit their websites.

You would not want a Halloween attraction where the only scary part is the price.