Every October, one corner of American stores transforms entirely into shades of orange and black. Pumpkins, skeletons, and spider web decorations pile up, and theme park advertisements all feature spooky events that open at night.

But do you know who created the genre of theme park Halloween? The answer is not Disney or Universal, but Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, Southern California.

Knott's claims that the Halloween event, which started in 1973, is the world's first theme park Halloween event. It is also regarded as the oldest ongoing theme park Halloween event to this day.

It was originally called Halloween Haunt. The nickname we all use now, Knott's Scary Farm, was added later and became an official name.

The beginning was surprisingly modest. In September 1973, George Condos and Martha Boyd from the marketing department, along with Bill Hollingshead and Gary Salisbury from the entertainment department, pitched the idea at an operational meeting.

What surprises me the most is that the idea from the meeting turned into an actual event in just over a month. If it were a modern company, it would have gone through three committees and been postponed to the next year.

The first event took place from October 26 to 28, 1973, just three nights. It was a small event held as a trial.

The host was Larry Vincent, who was introducing horror movies on Los Angeles TV at the time. The character he played, Sinister Seymour, took the stage as the Ghost Host.

The real reason this event is remembered in history is that employees in monster costumes roamed the foggy park, surprising guests directly.

These are the very people we now call scare actors. It is recorded that this was a first-time experience for theme park guests at the time.

Existing rides were also transformed into horror versions. The Calico Mine Ride became Ghostway Express, and the Timber Mountain Log Ride was rebranded as Satan's Sawmill.

The now-defunct Haunted Shack was replaced by Monster Maze. Instead of building new structures, they simply dressed up existing facilities.

I was impressed by this point. They created revenue by adding an idea to existing assets without spending money on new rides.

Filling the empty park on autumn nights with a paid event was also a clever move. In other words, they turned a wasted time slot into a product.

The results were immediate. The response was positive in the first year, and the following year, tickets sold out every night.

The rest is a story everyone knows. Other theme parks began to hold their own fall horror events one by one, and now it has become a staple of October theme park offerings.

Knowing that there is an original makes it feel strange when you see Halloween advertisements from other places. It's similar to how there can only be one original sign for a popular dish, no matter how many places serve it.

This year's 2026 event will be the 53rd Knott's Scary Farm. It will take place on selected nights from September 17 to October 31.

Generally, it operates from Thursday to Sunday, but it will be closed on Sunday, September 20. The park opens at 7 PM, and on Thursdays and Sundays, it runs until 1 AM, while Fridays and Saturdays go until 2 AM.

What started as a three-night event has now grown into a season lasting nearly a month and a half. Those who were in that first meeting would be shocked to see how much it has expanded in half a century.

If you plan to go this weekend, just remember one thing. Dates and ticket prices vary daily, so it's best to check the official Knott's website first.

Also, this event is completely different from visiting Knott's during the day. The park advises that it is not recommended for children under 13, so going with a family outing mindset could lead to trouble.

There is also a rule that those under 15 must be accompanied by an adult over 21 to enter. If you want to enjoy Halloween with kids, the family-friendly event Knott's Spooky Farm during the day is much more suitable.

I'm a bit of a scaredy-cat, so when I go to places like this, I tend to stick close to others. There's always someone leading the way, and I'm the type who just follows their back.

Still, knowing the history of this event makes me want to see it for myself at least once. I want to witness how those three nights in 1973 have continued to this day.

The reason I love this story is simple. It started not with grand government support or large investments, but with the ideas of a few employees and the ingenuity of the field.

Good ideas don't always come from big money. This event shows that the person who first understands what customers want creates the market.

If you see Halloween horror event advertisements somewhere this October, remember that the original theme park began at a strawberry farm in Buena Park. You might find that the screams have a lineage of over half a century behind them.