At former school, Halloween's a full-time job

For some folks, Halloween is more than a holiday: It's a full-time job.

Ten years ago Bud Stross, 28, and Josh Wells, 31, combined their passion for scares and purchased a late 19th century schoolhouse in Cincinnati. Stross and Wells, who met at a party in high school, saw a frightening future for the brick building, known as the Dent Schoolhouse.

The haunted house is now their livelihood and employs 80-100 workers during the two-month season leading up to Halloween. On Nov. 1, after the actors have hung up their masks and the country's thoughts turn from pumpkins to turkeys, Stross and Wells will begin conjuring next year's frights.

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"As soon as one season closes we start formulating our plans for next year," said Wells. "It takes a whole year to get it ready."

Stross adds, "Halloween doesn't take a break for us."

The haunts change each year, requiring new sets, themes and ideas. The duo claims there's even a science to it.

"The whole reason for the elaborate sets is just to kind of make them forget that there's scare at any second going to pop up around them," said Wells. "Distract them with the old junk on a shelf, and the next second a live actor is behind them."

As youngsters in Fort Thomas, Kentucky, the two used to decorate their yards. Their love for Halloween grew so much they decided they needed to make it a business.

"I love scaring people," said Stross with a smile.

Halloween Ohio

An actor leaps from a false wall in a locker room cubby to scare a guest at the The Dent Schoolhouse haunted attraction, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015, in Cincinnati. The haunt, owned and operated by Bud Stross, 28, and Josh Wells, two high school friends, inhabits a late 19th century schoolhouse they've renamed “The Dent Schoolhouse.” (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Halloween Ohio

Makeup, prosthetics, and tools rest on a table during actor preparation before doors open at the The Dent Schoolhouse haunted attraction, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015, in Cincinnati. The haunt, owned and operated by Bud Stross, 28, and Josh Wells, two high school friends, inhabits a late 19th century schoolhouse they've renamed “The Dent Schoolhouse.” (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Halloween Ohio

A group of young girls hesitate to proceed near the end of a corridor at the The Dent Schoolhouse haunted attraction, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015, in Cincinnati. The haunt, owned and operated by Bud Stross, 28, and Josh Wells, two high school friends, inhabits a late 19th century schoolhouse they've renamed “The Dent Schoolhouse.” (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Halloween Ohio

Actor Robert Butcher scares a group of children with a blameless circular saw at the The Dent Schoolhouse haunted attraction, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015, in Cincinnati. The haunt, owned and operated by Bud Stross and Josh Wells, two high school friends, inhabits a late 19th century schoolhouse they've renamed “The Dent Schoolhouse.” (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Halloween Ohio

Actor Matt Maloney has his makeup and prosthetics applied during preparation before doors open at the The Dent Schoolhouse haunted attraction, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015, in Cincinnati. The haunt, owned and operated by Bud Stross and Josh Wells, two high school friends, inhabits a late 19th century schoolhouse they've renamed “The Dent Schoolhouse.” (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Halloween Ohio

Makeup artist Amber Johnson adjusts a saw blade prosthetic on the head of actor Robert Butcher during preparation before doors open at the The Dent Schoolhouse haunted attraction, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015, in Cincinnati. The haunt, owned and operated by Bud Stross, 28, and Josh Wells, two high school friends, inhabits a late 19th century schoolhouse they've renamed “The Dent Schoolhouse.” (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Halloween Ohio

Actor Matt Maloney, left, helps remove a prosthetic from the face of colleague Robert Hensley after closing at the The Dent Schoolhouse haunted attraction, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015, in Cincinnati. The haunt, owned and operated by Bud Stross, 28, and Josh Wells, two high school friends, inhabits a late 19th century schoolhouse they've renamed “The Dent Schoolhouse.” (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Halloween Ohio

Actors Danny Brackett closes his eyes as he has a spatula glued to his forehead during preparation before doors open at the The Dent Schoolhouse haunted attraction, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015, in Cincinnati. The haunt, owned and operated by Bud Stross, 28, and Josh Wells, two high school friends, inhabits a late 19th century schoolhouse they've renamed “The Dent Schoolhouse.” (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Halloween Ohio

A guest screams as actor Luke Kinworthy appears in a wall cutout at the The Dent Schoolhouse haunted attraction, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015, in Cincinnati. The haunt, owned and operated by Bud Stross, 28, and Josh Wells, two high school friends, inhabits a late 19th century schoolhouse they've renamed “The Dent Schoolhouse.” (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Halloween Ohio

Guests freeze along the main route after an actor scares them at the The Dent Schoolhouse haunted attraction, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015, in Cincinnati. The haunt, owned and operated by Bud Stross, 28, and Josh Wells, two high school friends, inhabits a late 19th century schoolhouse they've renamed “The Dent Schoolhouse.” (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Halloween Ohio

Human-sized dolls stand in a room at the The Dent Schoolhouse haunted attraction, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015, in Cincinnati. The haunt, owned and operated by Bud Stross and Josh Wells, two high school friends, inhabits a late 19th century schoolhouse they've renamed “The Dent Schoolhouse.” (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Halloween Ohio

Actor Robert Hensley, center left, heads to the exit after his makeup is completed during preparation before doors open at the The Dent Schoolhouse haunted attraction, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015, in Cincinnati. The haunt, owned and operated by Bud Stross, 28, and Josh Wells, two high school friends, inhabits a late 19th century schoolhouse they've renamed “The Dent Schoolhouse.” (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Halloween Ohio

Missing child posters hang on a wall at the The Dent Schoolhouse haunted attraction, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015, in Cincinnati. The haunt, owned and operated by Bud Stross, 28, and Josh Wells, two high school friends, inhabits a late 19th century schoolhouse they've renamed “The Dent Schoolhouse.” (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Halloween Ohio

A guest falls backward after an actor dressed as a zombie leaps from a shadow at the The Dent Schoolhouse haunted attraction, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015, in Cincinnati. The haunt, owned and operated by Bud Stross and Josh Wells, two high school friends, inhabits a late 19th century schoolhouse they've renamed “The Dent Schoolhouse.” (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Halloween Ohio

Actor Kevin Butcher puts on his shoes to go home after closing at the The Dent Schoolhouse haunted attraction, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015, in Cincinnati. The haunt, owned and operated by Bud Stross and Josh Wells, two high school friends, inhabits a late 19th century schoolhouse they've renamed “The Dent Schoolhouse.” (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Halloween Ohio

Actor Mollie Uthe has his makeup applied during preparation before doors open at the The Dent Schoolhouse haunted attraction, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015, in Cincinnati. The haunt, owned and operated by Bud Stross, 28, and Josh Wells, two high school friends, inhabits a late 19th century schoolhouse they've renamed “The Dent Schoolhouse.” (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Halloween Ohio

Actor Michelle Messer, right, scares guests at the entrance of the The Dent Schoolhouse haunted attraction, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015, in Cincinnati. The haunt, owned and operated by Bud Stross and Josh Wells, two high school friends, inhabits a late 19th century schoolhouse they've renamed “The Dent Schoolhouse.” (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Halloween Ohio

A guest screams as she spots an actor reaching from a hole in a wall at the The Dent Schoolhouse haunted attraction, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015, in Cincinnati. The haunt, owned and operated by Bud Stross, 28, and Josh Wells, two high school friends, inhabits a late 19th century schoolhouse they've renamed “The Dent Schoolhouse.” (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

APTOPIX Halloween Ohio

A guest screams as an actor reaches down from his perch in the ceiling at the The Dent Schoolhouse haunted attraction, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015, in Cincinnati. The haunt, owned and operated by Bud Stross and Josh Wells, two high school friends, inhabits a late 19th century schoolhouse they've renamed “The Dent Schoolhouse.” (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

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Text from the AP news story, PHOTO GALLERY: At former school, Halloween's a full-time job, by John Minchillo.

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