Halloween capitol of the United States

Utah is known for many things. Skiing, Mormons, copper, the Great Salt Lake, the 2002 Winter Olympic games, several national parks (i.e. Arches) and wonderful canyons (i.e. Bryce).

But one thing it should really be recognized for is Halloween. Nowhere on Earth is Halloween more of a celebrated holiday than it is in, of all places, Utah.

I think it might even rank ABOVE Christmas.

In Utah, many residents start celebrating Halloween as early as the end of September. We have all kinds of haunted houses, haunted warehouses, haunted hospitals and haunted corn mazes.

Even our local amusement park, Lagoon, celebrates Halloween with "Frightmares". Some of the rides are even open to enjoy in the brisk October weather.

The reason I'm talking about Halloween in April is because, last Friday, a legendary haunted house closed it's doors after 26 years in business.

It was a big deal.

It got news coverage a few times.

The Rocky Point Haunted House closed because the land on which the haunted house sat (it was an old Fred Meyer department store) was sold to developers. I believe they are building a pseudo Chinatown at this location according to a news article I read.

Anyway, Rocky Point opened it's doors through the beginning of March until Friday, April 14th for one last hoorah before it went away.

That's right... Halloween in March and April.

Amazing, right?

Actually, it is. Nowhere else that I've lived has there been such excitement and work that goes into Halloween. Only in Utah can you find such effort.

The irony is that here we have a holiday that some consider Satanist that is hosted in large fashion by a state controlled by the Mormon religion. I find this very funny.

But Halloween in Utah can be fun. There's plenty of thrills and chills to enjoy. They should form a whole marketing campaign to increase tourism to Utah based on Halloween alone.

They should issue special black and orange license plates for cars and glow sticks to all households.

You know what? I want to create a building that looks like a giant pumpkin and have a haunted house in it year round. There would also be a museum and gift shop of all things Halloween.

Man, I'm brilliant. Go ahead and laugh but I'm telling you I'd make MILLIONS!

Only in Utah.

-Mike The Janitor
©2007
Millenoma Publishing