We have been setting our walk thru up for about 3 years, each year tends to get bigger and bigger.
Why do you do it?
Because we are those crazy Halloween people! Everyone asks us why we do it...and the only answer is so that everyone else has something to enjoy on Halloween. We hope that individuals enjoy the experience, tell their friends and come back year after year. In an age where parents are afraid to let their children go door-to-door on halloween anymore...this is hopefully something everyone can look forward to. Maybe we will rub off on others and smiling pumpkins will start showing up on front steps Halloween night again?
How long does it take to set up and take down?
We usually start setting up at the end of September, and take the majority down the night of Halloween. We use to take everything down halloween night, but it has just gotten too large at this point.
Does the walk thru go through your actual house?
No, our walk consists of a 6x16 "maze", thru our front porch, and a 10 x 30 covered tent.
Is your haunt open rain or shine?
Depends on how the weather is leading. We do not put props in our main walk thru until the day of Halloween. If it rains consistantly, it does make it very difficult to set things up properly and focus on the details. Many of our props are not weather resistant and require electricity to run. If you are coming to our "fear free" walk thru for young children, please be sure to send us a note if you are concerned about the weather. Halloween night we will be open unless it is pouring! Sorry, no rain dates (yet)...when in doubt...always check our website for updates and details.
Where do you buy your props?
We use to buy props at your typical "party stores", but these days 75% or more of our set up is hand made. There are many sites online that give wonderful directions on how to build things...give it a try! We are building a great collection of static props, electric props (using windshield wiper motors) and pneumatic (air cylider driven) props.
Where do you store everything?
That is the million dollar question! We have been lucky enough thus far to be able to fit everthing in our basement and attic. If we get any larger...we may have to look into storage units. Hmmm...anyone willing to donate?
What is the difference between the "scare free day" and Halloween night?
The scare free day is just that...a daytime tour for young children that otherwise may not come Halloween night. All items that are graphic will be either covered up or not displayed at all. This tour is smaller than the standard walk thru, monsters will not be jumping out at them, we do not have actors in costumes running around, and anything that may cause nightmares will be out of site. The large props that are running Halloween night will not be set up, and you will find that a lot of the details finished up the week of Halloween will be missing. We do try to explain the working of the haunted house to children (depending on their age), how foggers work, how air cylinders work the props, we let them trigger things, etc. The scare free tours only show scenes that can be "explained" by parents. You can explain a skeleton in a spider web...but probably not a table full of bloody body parts, bloody mouthed zombies, or crazed clowns.