Halloween Yard Haunts

p123pc · October 2, 2006

Any other rollercoaster freaks Halloween freaks??? I love to decorate my yard and I am looking for ideas. If you have any pics or ideas please share. I will be posting some pics soon.

Bride of Frankie

Demon and background Moon

Crashed Witch

Inflatables

Going for the windows!!!!

Spiders are attacking!!!

Frankie in the graveyard

Pumpkins !!!!!!

Lawnmower Dude

Me and scary dude

Scary Dude and Kids

ECZenith · October 4, 2006

I usually do a free backyard haunt every other year or so. I have carved a path out in the woods behind my house and I have a few strobe lights, a couple smoke machines but minimal props as they cna get expensive. I have actually just gone back for a couple weeks now to clear out the brush just in case I decide to have the path open for Halloween again this year, I'll take some photos.

I had no idea others did this!

Bush985 · October 4, 2006

I used to do this before i moved to San Jose, up in Sacramento. I miss doing it, and will do it again when I get my own place. I really can't wait, I have a blast scaring people.

-RD

p123pc · October 4, 2006

Scaring people = Fun. I love to go all out and really get creative with it. I am hoping to do my usual after halloween score for discounted merchandise. This makes it allot lighter on the wallet and more enjoyable.

Newest addition

ECZenith · October 4, 2006

Ok... this thread has inspired to get out in the backyard and start cutting down the rest of the path. I may actually have it set up for EARLY November as the price of haunt props drops significantly on Nov 1.

My walkthough, as always, is free of charge and many people think it's well done. I'll take you through the process as I make progress.

By the way... nice hat! Go Pats!

Time to start unpacking the props... Here's about 5% of it.

I have to go digging around the attic for the rest of my crap. Thanks for checking this out!

Where I hope to exit this year. Those who have been to my haunt before know I always have one really bad scare at the end. I'm currently removing the chain from an old chainsaw, this ought to be fun.

The LONG rear portion of the path where most of the actors hide. I hope to have 4 or 5 this year. The trail itself is about 1/5 mile long and I've cleared it all out myself over the years. It just gets longer every year.

Let's get hackin'! I cleared out a LOT of the path in a couple hours, I have tomorrow off as well so I can work on it some.

My dome would make a great prop...

The day before I left for FL I fixed up my rock-lined path that leads down the hill and to the rear path.

I cleared this area out years ago, it makes for the perfect entrance to my haunt.

I have a lot of dense woods back there, at night with the fog and strobes it looks creepy enough... even without props.

p123pc · October 4, 2006

I had a fog machine just like that one. However, it rained here last year and my fog machine didn't survive. I bought a new one but I am unable to find a timer. Which as you know really sucks becuase now someone will have to stand there and keep pushing the button. If you have any ideas for how to set up a timer let me know.

P.S. My skeletons only cost $9 bucks at Big Lots. Don't know if you have them there.

ECZenith · October 5, 2006

Yup, we have Big Lots here, I'll have to stop by for some browsing. Thanks to a raise I got last month I will definately be spending some money at our local seasonal Halloween store as well. So here's what happened today.

*Cleared out the last quarter of the path

*Timed the walk (1 minute 30 seconds) That seems short but it's actually better than previous years.

*Recovered much of my haunt props, still a lot more to find.

I still have to line my new paths with rocks to keep my attendees from wandering off into the woods. I take a tip from Universal Creative in that I want my guests to "feel lost" but back in those woods you can, in fact become lost.

By the way, I still have not decided on a name just yet, and I'm still working on the soundtrack for the thing consisting of heavy instrumentals/industrial. I'm taking suggestions...

"To be or not to be..."

-William ShakesFear

There you are!

I took these photos at sunset, at night this area will be completely dark except for the flashlights walkers will be required to use. I still need to design the sets themselves. This year will actually look pretty professional!

So after three hours we have the final segment of the path done!

p123pc · October 5, 2006

Looking forward to seeing your haunt evolve.

I got my fog machine today. It really brings the whole thing together.

I wish my kids were a bit older so we could work on a walk through like your doing. Maybe in five years the woods will be mine.

ECZenith · October 10, 2006

10/10/06

*More paths lined with rocks for detail and to keep the paths intact.

*All props currently being organized into scenes.

*Scenes themselves are currently being designed.

This year, after skipping last year I wanted to have a pretty decent walkthorugh and I make up for it by adding 30% to the length of the path and much more detail will be added with so many additional new props.

I still need about 2 more actors if I am to do these "show scenes" right throughout the trail. This year's walk will be loosely based on a carnival gone wrong, with show scenes based on the fears of spiders/bats, fear of the dark, and more.

The area itself is named "The Feargrounds", I figure after so many years of having these walthroughs it should finally get a name. Once I start building scare rooms and add electronics/props I will put up another update for anyone interested.

Tinkering with ideas for a carnival show scene: The Fortune Teller.

Thank for checking this out, I'll have an update once there's significant progress.

Still lots more props to unpack...

More props and most of my electronic equipment.

A look at some of the props used for this year's "The Feargrounds".

After the animal segment will be the gory midpoint in which you will have to push through dismembered body parts to get through. It will then lead to the second rocklined path shown above. A room will be built here to hide an actor and a fogger.

At the end of the spider area, will be the strobe-lit second portion which will hopefully have an actor manning it. This area will feature bats/rats fear of other animals including a giant evil cat that will leap at you from a trashcan.

After a short trail past decomposing corpses, there will be a curtain to walk through here to the Arachnophobia segment where it will be very dark and have strings and assorted stuff hanging from the trees above.

For the first time, I'm reversing the direction of travel through the trail via the extension of the path. There will be a couple of tiki torches here to grab the attention of people in the street on Halloween.

socalMAN123 · October 10, 2006

^ Wow, that looks really good! I wish my parents would let me do a haunt, but they hate Halloween so I'll just wait till I move out. These backyard haunt things have always interested me. Keep up the good work!

---Brent

tacoking · October 11, 2006

Sounds like it's coming along great. When finished take a video of the trail in action so we can see what it's like.

bozz · October 11, 2006

Cool pics..........we do a yard maze too........with actors.......atv......and few other effects in the garage........its U shape......we have woods too and may use it one year........we have to keep it family friendly.......but do have some good scares for the big guys........check it out here.community.webtv.net/boswell7/doc0

ECZenith · October 13, 2006

Update for Friday the 13th...

*Did some minor constructing of path boundaries and "actor" hiding spot.

*Hung curtain transitions.

*Began work of hiding power cords, routing to effects locations.

The exit area.

A scare room. An actor will jump at you through the tear.

Arachnobia will house the strobe light, making the many spiders in this area appear to jump out at you. Dangling strings and webs will be used here.

The Cemetary/Arachnophobia transition. In the dark surrounded by "spiders" this curtain isn't going to feel too appealing...

RRollergod · October 13, 2006

Nice work I do this too... Well its only my front porch. I surround the whole thing and theme it I will post pics of it when we put it up sunday! This years theme is Werewolf Farm. My porch will have tons of leaves, corn stalks, fog, and lights to hide me and I have the coolest Werewolf costume. So yea I have fun but it will be really cold this year.

I would do a trail like you but I just have a large open backyard I would need a lot of garbage bags and frames. I really wish I had woods.

IceDragon · October 13, 2006

By the way, I still have not decided on a name just yet, and I'm still working on the soundtrack for the thing consisting of heavy instrumentals/industrial. I'm taking suggestions...

try and get Marylin Manson's score for Resident Evil, thats quite powerful. no lyrics, just music. really intense.

the song from The Truman Show's quite good

email me (Apocalyptic_Demise@hotmail.com) and i'll send you some songs

i might set up one. a measly £1.50 includes a guided tour of the maze, maybe even allow the people to scare the next group of people

have all the music done, just need a CD to burn it to, need to get the binbag curtains done. shouldnt be too hard to make, just some fun for me and my mates

just finished making the awesome poster

most effects used are so basic: pumpkins on floor with smoke machines behind them, strobes, binbag dividers, crappy costumes, torches, etc. Gonna be great fun!!!

i might be able to get pictures of my friends, etc. i hope it works!!! some profits going towards charities.

COASTER FREAK 11 · October 16, 2006

I am as obsessed with Halloween as I am with coasters. I build a haunted maze in my backyard every year, comparable to what Knotts Berry Farm dose, if you have ever been there. I will take some pics and post them. It is almost done, mainly just electrical left.