I’ve never been to the Davis Graveyard, but I imagine if I did go I would never want to leave.  This yard haunt has been a Halloween destination for residents of Milwaukie, Oregon for 13 years now, and suffice it to say, Chris & Jeff Davis know how to haunt.  Their home haunt has been featured on FearNet’s Route 666: America’s Scariest Home Haunts, Haunted Attraction magazine, and they’ve even been caught on Extreme Makeover Home Edition.     This is more like a Halloween art exhibit than a mere yard display, the handiwork and lighting on these homemade props is second to none.  If you are planning  on heading out there, don’t be shocked if you’re waiting in line for a while to see it, this is a very popular...

Still a relatively new kid on the block, Hauntville Haunted Houses’ reputation continues to impress, as well it should, after all, its creators have been in the professional haunt business for over twenty-two years.  This haunted attraction in Elyria, Ohio offers three unique haunted attractions, plus the all new 3-D Zombie Hunting Area.  The haunts are setup in a free flowing sort of way so it actually seems like one giant attraction instead of three unique haunts.   Visitors to Hauntville Haunted Houses will have the opportunity to experience Ohio’s first 4-d Haunted House.  Wicked Clowns in 4-D, promises a mind-blowing environment, full of emotions.  The use of 3D glasses combined with physical and special effects that are synchronized together creates an intense, thrilling and exciting visual and sensory experience.  And don’t forget, there’s Wicked Clowns to deal with as well! Psycho Manor will take you on a tour through a 1920’s Victorian Mansion that’s loaded with creepy detail and awesome effects.  The lost souls that make this their permanent residence are more than willing to interact with visitors and make them feel at home.   Cell Block 13 is an extreme tour of a prison and psychiatric hospital built to house some of the most dangerous and criminally insane prisoners.  You’ll get to meet the warden, and tour the cell blocks, sanitarium, infirmary and execution chambers.  You’d better hope a riot doesn’t break out during the tour.   All new for 2013, is the specially designed Zombie Hunt in 3-D. Shooting Zombies is always fun, but shooting them in a ChromaDepth 3-D environment is Zombie killing to the extreme!    ...

Are you afraid of clowns?  If so, then you might want to avoid Carnival of Horrors.  Or not, because this haunted attraction located in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio features four individual haunts all brimming with the kind of clowns that plague your deepest fears and occupy your nightmares.   A pulsing, winding and chaotic labyrinth of wrong turns, dead ends and terrifying psychotic inmates roaming the abandoned mental institution that are waiting to tear your soul apart.  Try and keep your mind clear, this confusing and high energy maze is difficult to escape and not for the weak-minded!! Are you afraid of clowns? A terrifying journey through a haunted fun house featuring several Hollywood-style effects and scares. BEWARE: This is an extremely high-intensity scare oriented haunted house. Consistently voted as one of Ohio’s number one attractions year after year. Many have entered, but very few have left alive. Northeast Ohio’s first and most original fully three dimensional walk-through haunted house, using state-of-the-art Chromadepth 3-D glasses to bring The Freakshow to life. The floor, walls and ceiling become a living 3-D experience that will leave you begging for mercy. To survive and reach the exit, you must be able to pass through the 3-D Vortex Tunnel. You won’t believe your eyes. We dare you to walk through the darkest corner of Blossom’s haunted woods. Don’t expect to see anything coming, because you’ll be alone while you try to escape. However, the monsters will be watching and waiting to strike. You’ll never know what hit you. We will even supply you with a flashlight since it’s so dark and scary. After all, it wouldn’t be fair to send you in there unarmed. So, only with a flashlight, you must attempt to find your way out and escape...

The HollywoodHaunter has a hilarious prop idea for you if you have a corner of a haunt that’s in need of a prop.  It’s also proof that haunt props don’t have to be exceedingly elaborate to add to the creep factor of your haunt.  It’s essentially an oscillating fan with a head on it that appears to be a scary guy at the end of the hall!  What could be easier, right?  I can guarantee you, though, that more than a few people were creeped out by it before they realized what it was.     Items needed to create this include: Oscillating fan PVC end cap w/screw 12″ of 1/2″ PVC Dark fabric Foam head Form arm Shop These Materials on Amazon 12V Wiper Motor 2.5" Shaft 110 Degree (prop building) PWM DC Motor Speed Controller 9-70V 35A 45Kg High-Torque Waterproof Digital Servo Motor Affiliate Disclosure: HauntersList.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to...

Now that the C.I.A. has actually acknowledged the existence of Area 51 it’s almost like they’re giving their seal of approval to the Muddy River Haunt’s tutorial for an Alien Capsule.  Almost.  And even if they’re not, we’re more than happy to give this prop a thumbs up because it’s exactly what we suspect we would find in the bowels of Area 51.  It’s a really simple prop to build and will add a really cool element to any alien scene. It’s basically a wood box that’s wrapped with plexiglass and aluminum flashing with an alien inside.  Even though they’re listed as optional, I would highly recommend using the fog machine and strobe light with this prop.   Items needed to complete this include: Aluminum Flashing: 1 sheet 3 ½’ X 7′ 2 sheets 3′ X 16” 1 sheet 1′ X 7′ 2X4 wood:  (4) 2”X 4”X 7′ (4) 2”X 4”X 3′ (2) 1”X 3”X 2′ Miscellaneous: 1 sheet Plexiglass 5′ X 3’X 0.016” (Thin enough to bend without cracking or without too much pressure) Some pieces of thin lattice board Alien for inside the capsule Optional: Fog machine Pipe Strobe...

If you’re not familiar with the Grave Grabber tutorial that Kevin over at Haunt101 posted, you really owe it to yourself to check it out…right after you take a look at his One Armed Grave Grabber tutorial!  This prop is a little easier to build than the full Grave Grabber but it’ll still provide you with an awesome effect in your cemetery.  The mechanics are very similar between the two props, although the One Armed Grave Grabber utilizes an animated deer motor instead of a higher torque motor.  There’s also an added element with the skull linkage in the One Armed prop.     The animated deer motor actually reverses when it meets any resistance, thus the two “stop” screws that are drilled in the base.  If you check out the video of this thing in action at Haunt101, you’ll see that this prop has just the right amount of movement to create an unforgettable prop.   Items needed to complete this include: One foam skull One length of plastic tubing One tape and wire hand One length of 1/8”x1/2” aluminum flat bar One length of heavy wire One length of thin wire One length small foam block Burlap One Buck animated deer motor Two pieces of lumber 4” and 2 ½” screws Shop These Materials on Amazon 12V Wiper Motor 2.5" Shaft 110 Degree (prop building) PWM DC Motor Speed Controller 9-70V 35A 45Kg High-Torque Waterproof Digital Servo Motor Affiliate Disclosure: HauntersList.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to...

If you create your own masks or creatures for your haunt, you’ve probably needed to find some teeth for them.  I always heard the phrase that necessity was the mother of invention, but it turns out it’s actually Allen Hopps.  He’s got a great tutorial on how to make dental plates for your masks and props.  Since they’re made from hot glue sticks you really don’t want to put them in your mouth, but they’ll look great as an accent to any prop....

Whether you just finished building your latest masterpiece, or simply want to age a store bought prop a bit, properly painting your prop can make all the difference in the world.  Eerie Acres Cemetery has a great video tutorial with some really helpful dry brushing techniques that might just give your next prop that extra bit of realism....

For 33 years the Marquette Heights Men’s Club has been scaring Central Illinois with Spook Hollow & M.C. Manor, and their 2013 campaign has expanded.  That’s right, this haunted attraction located in Marquette Heights, Illinois has added an attraction to their lineup for 2013 and extended their season to include 3 weekends!     M.C. Manor is an all indoor haunted house that will be sure to get your heart racing as you make your way through its highly detailed, movie quality rooms.  Then, Spook Hollow will take you deep into the woods of Independence Park on an almost 1/2 mile long trek with plenty of horrific indoor sites to see along the way.  And new for 2013, M.C. Nightmare is an intense indoor experience that will overload your senses as you try to make your way through a twisted and run down industrial haunt .  This trilogy of terror promises to take you on a journey into your deepest fears. The Marquette Heights Men’s Club is a non-profit group of 18 and older males that work together to better the...

When George Coffey learned to harness the power of the demons he was exorcising for his own benefit, he unleashed an evil so unspeakable that it would plague the community for generations.  Now, more than a century later, the residents of the community of Thornhill Woods have begun to understand all too clearly the dark secret that lies buried within their community’s tragic history.  Most of the evil seems centered around one house, and every Halloween they open the yard for everyone to get a glimpse of the horror. Thornhill Woods Haunted House is a charity yard haunt that since 2004 has been the house that all the neighbors flock to at Halloween.  This incredible haunt features animatronics, video projection effects, and live actors, all housed in a highly detailed cemetery environment.  This year they’re taking it up a notch by adding a brand new 420 square foot walk through haunted house in the driveway.  The yard haunt is free of charge, however, they do ask for donations to benefit the Sick Kids Foundation.  Every year, donations raised go towards children undergoing treatment at Sick Kids Hospital. Since they can’t leave the hospital, a portion of the fund provides these kids with costumes and Halloween candy to encourage the holiday spirit....

Hallowicked Haunted Woods is an outdoor trek through some of Mansfield, Ohio’s creepiest woods.  The terror starts before you even enter the haunted woods as you’re locked into a coffin and unleashed into the woods via the buried alive coffin entrance.  Once inside the woods you’ll give yourself a self-guided tour of the haunted woods and encounter unique scenes of horror and unspeakable evil.  Whatever your fear…it’s HERE!...

The Abandoned Haunted House Complex will be bristling with activity this October as the doors to this “abandoned” haunt will be open for another year of fear!  This haunted attraction located in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin offers two individual haunts that are designed to overwhelm your senses.  The haunts are setup in a continual walk-through format, meaning you’ll go from one haunted house directly into the second within the same building.   Ambush Haunted House is designed to be an intense startle-scare haunted house, with loud noises, actors popping out of unexpected places, bright lighting effects and engulfing scene effects. Hysteria Haunted House is a haunted house designed to focus interactions on your senses and mind. Visual and audible scares are interspersed in this environment, as well as confusion, misdirection, and illusions. Things are not what they seem… Lighting effects, sounds, and actor interactions will keep you on your toes in this walking adventure.  ...

The Mize Cemetery and Haunt is a great example of how to turn something you love into something that truly benefits your community.  This charity home haunt located in Salem, Oregon has been delighting local residents since 2006, and more importantly, providing food donations to the Marion-Polk Food Share since 2009. The Mize Cemetery and Haunt began as a small yard display and has grown in size and scope over the years into a must see home haunt.  The majority of the props in this haunt were created and built by hand, and their creator, Terry Marsh does some really excellent work.  In fact, in 2011 Terry was invited  to present a workshop at the West Coast Haunters Convention, as well as  showcase  some of his props to fellow haunters.     Admission to this charity haunt is free with your donation of a non-perishable food item.  The Marion-Polk Food Share distributes over 8.2 million pounds of food annually through partnership with nearly 100 member direct-service charities that are working to serve hungry families, children and individuals in Marion and Polk counties....

The Indy Scream Park is one of Indianapolis’ largest haunted attractions featuring five spectacular haunted attractions, plus a Monster Midway.  This haunt has been serving up bedlam since 2010 and has been getting stronger each year.  Located just outside of Indianapolis in Anderson, Indiana the park features three indoor and two outdoor haunted attractions on a 120 acre facility.  The Monster Midway offers a large outdoor area for patrons to play games, get a tarot card reading, have a bite to eat, or relax in front of one of several bonfires.  With five haunts for one admission price, be prepared…to get scared!    ...

Stone walls for your haunted castle may be hard to come by but if you’ve got some time and some plywood you can create your own.  The Bronson Boneyard has a tutorial that shows how to create a stone wall facade using monster mud applied onto plywood. You’ll start by painting the plywood black, and then applying masking tape where you would like the mortar joints. Then, you’ll apply a thick coat of monster mud to the entire sheet, and then remove the masking tape. The great thing about this method is that once the monster mud starts to dry it lightens up, which eliminates the need to paint the mortar joints, and it also begins to crack slightly, which gives it a realistic stone appearance.   Items needed to complete this include: Plywood (4′ x 8′ sheets) Black paint Masking tape Monster mud Shop These Materials on Amazon USG Sheetrock Drywall Joint Compound 4.5 Gallon Cheesecloth Unbleached 36×36" (for Monster Mud draping) Affiliate Disclosure: HauntersList.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to...

If you like creating your own creatures for your haunt you’ll eventually have the need to create some horns for them.  You can probably buy some actual antlers, but if you’re planning on incorporating them into a mask or don’t want an overly heavy static prop, you may want to follow Ermelyn Hollerborn’s tutorial for making horns in 10 easy steps.     The horns are made using multiple layers of styrofoam that’s shaved down to give it a more rounded appearance.  From their it’s a matter of adding detail to it with a soldering iron, or heat gun.  Ermelyn’s horns are then coated with Pattex adhesive and painted.  They look fantastic and can be made as large as you like without weighing down your prop.   Items needed to complete this include: Styrofoam Contact adhesive Acrylic paint Soldering iron / heat gun Google Translate (unless you read German)       Shop These Materials on Amazon XPS Foam Board 1" Thick Craft Sheets 4-Pack 4-in-1 Hot Wire Foam Cutter Kit 15W Loctite Power Grab Foam-Safe Construction Adhesive Affiliate Disclosure: HauntersList.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to...

Every haunt needs some bats flying around, and if you’ve got some skills with a paint brush and some patience you can make as many as you want following Born2haunt’s method, because Bats Are Easy.  These bats do seem pretty easy to make when you consider that they’re made using a styrofoam body with wire poking through it for the wing bones. The wire is then wrapped in cotton and paper towels are applied as skin.  The entire bat is then generously coated with liquid latex and painted to suit.  The great part about this prop build is that you can customize it to your heart’s content.  Sure, it’s probably easier to go out and buy some bats, but they won’t look nearly as realistic as these will.   Items needed to complete this include: Styrofoam Wire Cotton balls Liquid latex Paper Towels Acrylic paint Hot glue Shop These Materials on Amazon XPS Foam Board 1" Thick Craft Sheets 4-Pack 4-in-1 Hot Wire Foam Cutter Kit 15W Loctite Power Grab Foam-Safe Construction Adhesive Affiliate Disclosure: HauntersList.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to...

Many years ago I had to create a scene where an actor’s stomach was sliced open allowing their intestines to spill out.  My solution was to buy a long link of Italian sausage, which was boiled and soaked in a Karo syrup blood solution.  This allowed the intestines to be eaten by the actor as the neighborhood kids passed through creating quite a memorable scene (it was pretty dark, and they were pretty young, so we could get away with sausage guts). So if you need to make some fake intestines for your haunt, my advice to you is remember my method fondly, and DO NOT USE IT.  No matter what you do, sausage guts do not make good intestines, besides that, Sonya and Caid from Outback Gorehouse have a better solution. Their method utilizes paper towels that are wrapped in a mixture of liquid latex and paint.  The latex is spread on a flat glass surface for a total of eight layers before it’s wrapped around the towels.  The resulting intestines are pretty good looking and you can make a ton of these for hardly any cost, but whatever you do, DO NOT eat them!...