MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – From the tame, child-friendly Planet Spooky to haunted houses and hayrides that will make you afraid to go to sleep, the business of “haunting” is seriously BOO-ming.

Jeremy Hastings, owner of the Dead End Hayride in Wyoming, Minn., says Halloween-related attractions like haunted houses, hayrides, corn mazes and pumpkin patches generate $1 billion annually.

Hastings says the business of “haunting” is a year-round operation, complete with its own trade shows, specialized vendors, professional actors, and even corporate sponsorships.

Hear his conversation with WCCO Radio’s Laura Oakes below: