Scaring Up Jobs in New Hampshire

The recession is scary for people in New Hampshire where 7 percent of residents are unemployed. But it turns out something even spookier can offer some relief.

NPR reports that the small town of Lichtfield, New Hampshire has become home to New England’s largest Halloween theme park, Spooky World. And with this distinction, comes 300 much-needed jobs for make-up artists, plumbers and electricians.

The park will be open for five weeks. This month, about 70,000 people will come to Spooky World and pay $30 to $50 to walk through haunted houses and watch 3-D fright shows. This translates to about $400,000 in salaries.

This may not sound like a lot — especially since the haunted house industry will bring in about half a billion dollars in sales a season. But for Lichtfield, a town of 9,000 residents, it makes a difference. There are also residual benefits for other Lichtfield businesses like restaurants and shops who say the town has never been busier.

For this town, at least, Halloween isn’t so scary after all.

Photo courtesy sticview.com via Flickr.