Ghosts of the Past, Transactions of the Present

Salem, MA

Salem, Massachusetts has a long and dark history that makes it the perfect home for a company like Paystri that serves the haunted attractions industry. Salem was one of the first colonial settlements in New England, founded in 1626, but it is most famous for its notorious witch trials in 1692. During the trials, over 200 people were accused of witchcraft and 20 were eventually executed by hanging. The frenzy was spurred by superstition, religious fervor, and fear among the Puritan community at the time. Some of the accused "witches" were outspoken women who didn't follow expected norms, making them easy targets. Today, the trials stand as a grim reminder of hysteria and scapegoating in Colonial America.

Several landmarks remain in Salem related to this spooky history. One is the House of the Seven Gables, made famous in literature by Nathaniel Hawthorne. The house was owned by one of the judges involved in the witch trials. Other prominent places include the Salem Witch Museum, which recounts the full history of the trials, and the Witch House, the home of witch trials judge Jonathan Corwin. Given this haunting past, it's no wonder Salem has fully embraced witchcraft and Halloween as tourist attractions.

In addition to haunted attractions, Paystri also provides payment solutions for other Halloween-related organizations, like the Salem Chamber of Commerce. As the official chamber for the Witch City, they promote tourism and business in Salem year-round. Their popular Haunted Happenings campaign really kicks off the Halloween season, featuring parades, concerts, ghost tours, special events, and more throughout October. Paystri is proud to handle credit card transactions for the Chamber’s many members, helping fuel Salem’s economy during its busiest season. The Chamber does great work showcasing historic Salem’s cobblestone streets, chilling lore, and vibrant shops and restaurants

In downtown Salem, Bewitched in Salem is a popular gift shop on the pedestrian Essex Street walkway. They offer an extensive selection of witchcraft and Salem-themed souvenirs, clothing, and home decor. Their knowledgeable staff can advise on the perfect spell book, crystal, or piece of jewelry to commemorate a trip to Salem. As a longtime client Paystri handles all credit card transactions for Bewhiched in Salem. We are proud to power payments for this beloved local store that epitomizes Salem's enchanting embrace of all things bewitching. Stop by Bewitched in Salem during your next visit to scenic, spooky Salem to take home a spellbinding souvenir!

Halloween & Attractions Show

 As a Salem-based company ourselves, the Halloween season is particularly exciting for the team at Paystri. This last year, Paystri exhibited at the premier Halloween trade show, Halloween & Attractions Show, in St. Louis from March 21-24. We were proud to exhibit alongside Gatemaster, our trusted integrated partner. Gatemaster's products help haunted attractions with all-in-one management software including point of sale, online ticketing and e-commerce, revenue tracking, group sales, reservations, access control, and other integration tools. 

The Halloween & Attractions Show brings together haunted house operators, retail buyers, and vendors from across the country. As experts in payment processing for seasonal businesses, Paystri showed attendees our seamless, secure payment solutions perfect for the ticketing needs of haunted houses.

Dent Schoolhouse

One of our long-time clients, Dent School house in Cincinnati, OH, is regarded as one of the scariest and most elaborate haunted attractions around. Bud Stoss shared, "As haunted attractions rely more and more on e-commerce for online ticketing and credit card access with the expansion of Midways, gift shops, and other up-sale games; Paystri has been a trusted provider allowing our business to make more money and expand our sales both online and onsite."

Dent Schoolhouse is set in an abandoned school building with a horrific history that lives on through ghost stories. Back in the 1950s, a janitor named Charlie supposedly murdered students who had bullied him. Brave visitors who dare to enter Dent Schoolhouse encounter these tormented spirits along with gruesome scenes of torture.

Some spooky facts about this haunt:

• Has been featured on Travel Channel, Toy Hunters, Skin Wars, E!, HGTV, and more!
• The Monster Midway, located at the end of the schoolhouse, is home to a 17 ft tall pumpkin monster, a mini haunted house museum, and dozens of free horror-inspired photo ops to name a few.
• The schoolhouse has been running as a haunted attraction for over 26+ years!

Paystri proudly handles all of their credit card transactions, from online ticket sales to on-site purchases.

Conclusion

After the trade show, we returned to Salem recharged for Halloween 2023. Paystri looks forward to powering payments for our clients, keeping the Halloween spirit thriving both in our own historic hometown and at haunts across the country!

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