Thread: Jamie's Playplace

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Before I start, I wanna say I'm very new to the forum, but not new to haunting... well kinda.... ok

So, I had this really random idea pop up in my head for 2010's yard display. I was thinkinng it would be an abandoned toy store. Let me explain some of the components... There would be a big shrine-spiritual-gotic-kina-thing in the front. It would be a large table with flickering candles, and melted wax everywhere. (I'd most likely use fake candles, but some real) Behind the candles is a display type thing with lots and lots of old-fashioned doll heads, covered in cobwebs. One doll head would be motorized, so it's head would be looking left and right. (not sure how I'd do that yet) There are to posts on the table that lead up to an old, faded sign that says "Dandy Dolls". The second part of the word "Dolls" would be painted over by a satan star, as if someone were doing some weird satanic ritual. (don't worry, I'm definitley not a santanist ) Last year, I made a prop with the top half of a body being shackled onto a board. Its guts are hanging out. I would hang that near the doll area.

There would also be a shelf with board games on it. (I would most likely take thin boxes, and paint game names on them.) On the middle shelf is a corpse huddled up with a game in its hands. The corpse would be covered in games. As people are distraced by that, I would have what looks like just a stack of board games next to the body. In reality, they are just boxes glued to a small hinged door, that I would be behind, ad open and scare people. The top of the shelf would say in faded letters, "Gargantuan Games"

My last little component would be the candy station, where incedentally, would be where people would grab some candy.... if they dare... The candy station would be styled like an old wheelbarrow general store kinda thing. There would be real candy inside it, along with prop lollipops being eaten by rats and bugs of all sorts. On a table next to the candy store would be a box on a table that says "Razor Blades", implying someone was putting blades into the candy. Yes, this may upset some people, but isn't that what we all want in the end? Anyways, the candy store would be called "Tasty Treats".

I plan to start building soon, as I have nothing to do during winter break. My friends think I'm crazy for thinking about Halloween already, but who said I'm not crazy?

BTW the name Jamie is TOTALLY random

Sounds interesting. Lots of old, junked toys from garage sales/curb diving should be easy to find. I don't recommend using real candles in a haunt (don't want to incinerate what you've worked so hard to create!) You could hang doll heads from the ceiling on fishing line; that would creep people out.

In re: the candy station: A local haunt had something similar near the end of their haunt, except it was a round washtub filled with candy set up between to scare rooms. When someone reached into it, they set off a machine that vibrated the tub & made a horrible metal-stripping-metal noise. It made everyone jump & laugh every time, and set them up to be off-gaurd when the went into the next room.

Can't wait to see how this progresses.

Welcome to the forum, Izzio.
Sounds like you have a load to do before the Big Night!

Most of us here will assure you that it's never too early to start your Halloween planning.

Be sure to post some pics of your progress and props!

Sounds so inventive! This will be a thread to watch. Here's a couple of things I've run across that I always thought were neat Toy room ideas:

Doll mask: It's expensive buy I saw it worn and it is amazing, perhaps you can take some ideas away from it: Silicone Mask | Doll Face | CFX | Pro Silicone Masks | Grimm Brothers Halloween Specialty Store |

At Disney's Toy Story queue line they had incredible giant props would could help add a weirdness to your idea:

+1 for the doll mask from cfx, they are great products from a great company. These are geared for haunts, so they are really comfortable to wear. The doll head is meant for smaller headed actors, but will fit anyone as long as they dont mind the bondage type feel.


Since you want that satanist feel, incense smells from sinister scents. Also take alook at this island full of haunted dolls, its one of the creepiest things ever. The owner used the dolls as sponges for evil spirits, you could use that in your theme too.

Funky Downtown: Island of The Dolls, A Creepy Place in Mexico

I think today, to get me back in the Halloween mood, I'm going to make a life size doll out of PVC pipe and chicken wire. I might go to the thrift store and buy an old dress and hopefully a wig, and a styrofoam head. Then I can add details to the head later. I'm pretty happy it didn't take me forever to come up with a theme- I just came up with it when I was trying to get to sleep last night! So, I hope I can work all the planning out, but for now, a doll would be a pretty easy build to get me going.

Sounds really cool, izzio. I wish you luck

If you need a creepy doll mask, in addition to the one Terra mentioned, there is this one, which is much, much cheaper: Baby Doll Adult Mask - Costumes. I can vouch that it looks a whole lot better than in the site's photo. The mask is a bit on the short side, but I have a long face, too, so it would likely fit differently. I really creeped out many people, including adults, with this mask and a long, black coat on Halloween Here's a pic that I took to show what it really looks like (some of the detail is a bit hard to see, unfortunately):

I love that doll mask. Terra, the one you mentioned would be a DREAM for me... I don't have enough money for it, but maybe one day! But as for the cheaper one- I could buy a whole bunch of those, and my friends and I could walk around the doll ritual as if we're some sort of doll cult. Creepy stuff. I'll keep everyone updated.

Also look at this, Knotts scary farm does a maze called "The Doll Factory" and it is very creepy.

YouTube - Knott's Scary Farm's THE DOLL FACTORY Maze Flow-Through

That sounds really cool- it could turn ut great. Be sure to include lots of clowns and spiders- I could see them being right at home in a haunted toy store.