By Alaina Gross, staff writer
Students and members of Immaculata’s Business Club were fortunate to attend a backstage tour of Bates Motel, located at Arasapha Farm in Glen Mills, PA. While there, attendees received a special tour from the founder and co-owner, Randy Bates. Students had the opportunity to learn about the factors that contribute to a successful business from Bates himself. Part of this tour also included a walk-through of both the Haunted Motel and the Haunted Corn Maze.
Bates talked with students about the importance of marketing, noting how the business has adapted its strategies over the years. For instance, they switched from radio and print advertisements to social media, email marketing, and Google ads, saving them money while reaching a broader audience. Bates also spoke about how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the attraction. While they were affected in some smaller ways, they were able to make improvements to their business model because of the pandemic. For instance, they moved from general admission to timed tickets that could be purchased online. They also took the opportunity to improve safety and security measures, including installing metal detectors and temperature readers.
Bates discussed how his business is a form of agrotourism (agricultural tourism) and agritainment (agricultural entertainment). The 84 acres of farmland host thousands of visitors every day during the Halloween season. During the rest of the year, the Bates family gives back to the community, hosting weddings, reunions, car shows, and community events. Arasapha Farm also has an expansive Christmas tree farm that opens for the holidays.
What started as a small Halloween hayride has turned into one of the most acclaimed haunted attractions in the country. The business has received several honors for its Hollywood-quality attractions and is ranked among the best in the country. They’ve received praise from various organizations and publications, including CNN Travel, USA Today, and the Travel Channel.
The trip was a wonderful opportunity for students to gain insights into the inner workings of a large, family-owned business. There are many different aspects of running a business to consider with liabilities, marketing, and so on. Between Bates’ comprehensive discussion and the Q&A session afterward, the students who attended were able to gain a lot of helpful information about running a business.
“It was an incredible opportunity to have a personalized backstage tour of Bates Motel. I feel like everyone who attended gained valuable insights into the operations of a successful business. I’m very grateful to Randy Bates for making this trip an annual tradition,” said the Business Club’s president, Bella Carey.
For more information about all that Arasapha Farm has to offer, check out their website.
To join the Business Club, reach out to the president, Bella Carey, at mailto:icarey@mail.immaculata.edu.
