Frequently Asked Questions

Q:  Where do you store all of this stuff?
A:  Almost everything is designed to come apart for storage.  Even still, it does take quite a bit of space to store everything.  A lot of items are hanged up high in the garage, others stored in boxes - whatever works.

Q:  Where do you get all of this?  / Where can I buy XYZ decoration?
A:  My 'go-to' store is JC Penney.  If they are out of stock for life size horse-drawn hearses then I hit up the TJ Maxx.  In all seriousness, almost everything is scratch built using wood, PVC, foam, plastic and whatever else is cheap and available.  I don't really like the stuff they sell at most stores, its either the wrong size, lacks detail or is just too expensive.  There's also the uniqueness of creating your own props.

Q:  Where did you learn to make all this stuff?
A:  I recommend halloweenforum.com and hauntforum.com as good places to visit and learn.  Its really not all that difficult and since a display is mostly in the dark you can get away with things that would otherwise look poor in the daylight.  

Q:  How much do you spend on this?
A:  A very meager amount.  You can do a lot with $100-$200 each year and build up a collection.

Q:  How long does it take to setup?
A:  About 2 days for setup.  About 1/2 day to take down.

Q:  Do you decorate like this for Christmas or XYZ holiday?
A:  No.

Q:  Why don't you leave it setup all month?
A:  Most of the decorations are decidedly 'prop grade' and don't deal well with rain/snow/wind.  There is also the element of surprise in having everything come to life on one day/night.  The buildup/anticipation drives kids nuts, so that's another benefit.  

Q:  How many Trick or Treaters do you get?
A:  In 2012, we topped out at over 500.  In 2013 we moved into a new house so it will take a bit to get back to those numbers.





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