Thread: Granny's Basement - My 2011 Garage Haunt

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Here's the floor plan that I'm working on for my garage haunt this year.



I've never actually named my haunt in the past, but I'm thinking about calling it "Granny's Basement" this year. The theme will be centered around the Distortions Rockin' Granny that I picked up on Ebay a few months ago, starting with a room made to look like a patio or deck leading into her house.

The next room will be a view of granny in her rocker with a candle (LED) chandelier, dead plants, cobwebs, etc.

Following that is a den with a "Rotty Randy" painting and a few more candles.

Next is a darkened room that I'm still trying to "theme". One thought would be to have some dangling 4-inch landscape drainage tubes that people have to push through. Another thought is to have a few hanging skeletons that they have to walk through maybe with a small bit of blue back-lighting. Anyway, that room needs to be mostly dark so it won't reflect in the 2-way mirror as they enter the next room.

The mirror will be a motion sensor-triggered effect where the room lights will shut off and granny (or maybe an actor) will appear in the mirror with a scream or something. I'm really happy with the mirror - I built it a few weeks ago with thick plexiglass, mirror film, and a perfect frame that I found at Hobby Lobby.

Next is granny's closet, filled with a bunch of whimsical clothing that I found at several thrift stores. Could also hide an actor in there. The closet leads into the skull room that I used last year. You can see that in this thread:

My 2010 Garage Haunt

After the skull room is an "enchanted forest" type hallway with a thunderstorm (motion sensor-triggered strobes and a thunder clap sound effect).

Next is the black light spider pod room that I also did last year, but this year it will include an air blaster at ankle level.

The final room is a false doorway-type room with a fake door built into one wall and the real exit behind one of two curtains (the other curtain might conceal another actor). I've never tried a false door type of effect, but I've been thinking that it might be fun.

I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts and suggestions!

These sound like great ideas! That rocking granny actually scared the crap outta me last year! I was in a Halloween store with a friend, walked around the corner and there she was, rocking away with that horrid look on her face! Thank gawd there was no one around to see me jump LOL. It would be cool to elaborate on this idea over the years. Having the basement be more like her entire house (adding a bedroom, kitchen, dining room, etc). If it's in the budget, add the rocking grandpa too. What a lovely couple! Maybe there can be some kinda twist, where this seeminly innocent elderly couple actually traps children and keeps them in cages. Poor grandpa is just too old to go out hunting for dinner anymore, so they capture children for their food! And what better night to do their big yearly grocery shopping than on Halloween...when there's an endless supply of little kiddies!

I LOVE IT! Sounds like you have some really great ideas. I especially love Grannie's closet...I don't know why...I can just see you really being able to make that a creepy place. Old clothes, cobwebs, maybe one of those jewerly boxes that play music....but make it sound creepy and out of tune somehow. Those things always freak me out.

An actor hiding in the closet would be awesome too!! Maybe a creepy looking kid sitting on the floor with the music box playing dress up....as people walk in...the actor could ask them if they want to stay and play. You definitely have a great base laid out. Can't wait to see pictures of it!!

MissMandy: I love your idea too! Yearly grocery shopping......FANTASTIC!!

Make sure the closet smells like moth balls! This looks like a great layout!

Eric

Sounds great...would love to see the mirror you made. How did you do the skull room last year? Or maybe I should say, where did you get all the skulls and bones?

MissMandy - I love your suggestions! Maybe I'll move it "up" a floor every year. Next year the living room, dining room, kitchen, and cages; and the following year the bedroom, bathroom, attic, etc. It would play into a sort of Hansel and Gretel type theme (which really creeped me out when I was a kid). I'd love to be able to develop a storyline over several years!

Trinity1 and Wolfbeard - I also love your ideas on the closet, especially the music box! When I worked at Nightshade Manor haunted house a few years ago, one of the creepiest scenes was the walk-through closet exit from the bedroom. There were a bunch of clothes hanging down and waist-high claustrophobia bags that people had to push through. An actor made an appearance from a side wall about half-way through. The effect was like the dream when you're trying to run from something, but your legs won't let you run. I think Granny's closet will be a lot of fun.

Whispers - I'll try to get a couple pics of the frame tomorrow. The skulls and bones are the styrofoam ones that you can get at Walmart, Michaels, etc. I cut the backs off the skulls and mounted them to the walls, added a little Great Stuff for texture and then painted the whole thing black, then dry-brushed gray and white. Wasn't difficult at all and the TOTers seemed to love it!

So you made the skulls display for the skull room?!?! Awesome job! I thought it was something that you bought prefab. Seeing everything that everyone has either made or is working on is really putting me in the mood to work on a few things myself!

I've decided to add a little "back story" to my garage haunt this year. I love the concept of an on-going mystery that develops over several years (thanks MissMandy for the idea!). I'm working on a short blog/website to help build the story. Not quite sure how to direct people to the site just before Halloween (maybe one of those vinyl banners from Shindigz?). But I think some of the kids and maybe even a few adults in my neighborhood would get a kick out of it!

I'd love to hear your thoughts on the story so far:

http://www.grannysmansion.com/

Very cool story! It had me wondering and wanting more! Do you plan to add pix? I was hoping I could click on the polaroids and it would reveal something I'd definately do a big ole banner and hang it in your front yard or on a garage door. Maybe even print up some flyers and stick em in neighbors mailboxes.

Thanks! Yes, I'm going to add more to the story including making the poloroids clickable (as soon as Mr. Milton has some time to work on them). I think the story is going to play out along the lines of what you suggested, but the caged people will be a year or two down the road when we get to the attic. The light and rumbling coming from the mansion will play an important part this year, as will the entomology professor's family that disappeared. I think this year's haunt is going to be a lot of fun! :-)