[Kwll2112]

This is the fifth season my wife and I have done the extreme decorating for Halloween. We started with ambitious goals and have added to it every year. Now, quite frankly, the amount of time it takes to set all of it up has become too much for us; not to mention the annual expenses associated with putting on a display this big. And, storing all of it takes up 90% of our 3-car garage, plus a good portion inside the house.

One of the things we really liked about our Halloween scenes was creating something new and the attention to detail we put into it. But just to set up what we have - without creating anything new - takes a minimum 2 months, which includes every weeknight, very long weekends, and both of us taking several vacation days to work on it. That’s a very large part of the year for a handful of display nights. Additionally, it becomes a large disruption in our family life (aside from not doing anything but setting up), as the decor takes over every cubic inch of our home’s first floor, to include the removal of normal things like couches, chairs, tables, TV, etc.

We've had a lot of fun, and we’ll miss the looks on everyone’s faces when they come through the house, but after some debate, my wife and I have decided to make this our final year for the Halloween decorating.The thing we liked the most was creating new props and items, which also happens to be the part that costs the most. We briefly considered downsizing, like, perhaps, just doing the outside, but we didn’t want people thinking we were still open for a walkthrough.

Come Nov 1st, we'll start focusing on selling off what we have. Our hope is to find people who either want to buy it all (that would be nice!) or each scene as a whole. We don’t have any prices in mind, yet, but if anyone is in Arizona and wants to come take a closer look (or doesn't mind paying shipping), please message me with any questions.


http://www.HanusHaunt.com- for a look at the props, decorations and scenes.

 

[halloween71]

oh I hate to hear this.Its suppose to be fun not a chore...hope you have a great last season.

 

[J-Man]

Always hate to hear when someone calls it quits. I get it though, it's a lot. Maybe consider down sizing or even taking a year off next season, my wife and I did just that this year. We took a year off 3 years ago and spent the season going around to see other displays instead of being tied to our own, it was great and it recharged our batteries.

 

[jdubbya]

It really sounds like you're just doing too much, and downsizing may be a better alternative. Eliminate the indoor display that takes over your house. Focus on a nice yard display. It doesn't matter that people might think you're still open for a walkthrough. Personally I wouldn't want folks walking through my home anyway. If you really enjoy it, make it fun and manageable again. The biggest reason people get out of home haunting is that they try to outdo themselves every year and eventually it just become too much. Ask yourself if you're going to regret selling everything and if you can be content with a really nice yard haunt. Whatever you decide, hope it works out for you.

 

[ZombieRaider]

Yep, too much of a good thing....If there are any props you REALLY like....Keep them....Get rid of the rest.....Let the burn out subside (which may take years) and do a smaller set up where you still enjoy the holiday....ZR

 

[Muffy]

Kwll2112 - I understand where you are coming from, it's the hardest thing in the world to let go of the indoor decorating for me. I have a lot of stuff that just cannot be outdoors and even if we tried to set up that way you could never leave all this stuff outside overnight and there is too much of it to set it up in a couple of days.

I sleep much better at night knowing its indoors. I don't mind the people coming through the house as I can see them from where I stand. Then they go on to the kitchen where Jerry hands out treats and popcorn, then out the back kitchen door to the scenes in the garage and out that door where someone else stands to watch what is going on. Each year we have less help and now that our good friend passed away its next to impossible to pull this off. No one is out front, we have a huge front yard and it cannot be seen from where the person at the back door of the garage stands.

Its been a rough go here trying to put it all up. Since 2014 we started getting sick and just could not get it all up. Its ashamed to have this much stuff and it all sits in boxes. There are 3 of us here and the guys hate Halloween so its been a struggle to get it up, I just can't do it alone. The last 3 years we had a tiny display....I mean really tiny. Last year we did not get anything up outside and just had 2 mummies in the front door. People have been so upset that we don't do the house tours anymore.

I had every intention of getting it all up this year and wait till you hear the reason.........I just wanted to see everything one more time before something happens to me. I strived to stay well this year to pull it off and was not gonna let anyone get in my way. Figured I'd put up what I could. My health is so bad now I could not get anything up at all. So its killing me now because all the last minute plans I made cause I had to change to a theme I could handle, it just went out the window. People at my house like to wait until the last minute so there's no time to do anything. Its the very same thing for Christmas.

So I'm giving it all up and not gonna try no more....like a fool I spent another $500.00 for this Halloween all for nothing, more stuff to sit in boxes. I'm so tired of trying to hire help or get some volunteers to come and help>>>>><>THEY NEVER SHOW UP! I thought people around here would want to help me so we could do this for the kids....no one around here decorates and no one cares. I'm so sad about it.

 

[memnet]

*chuckle*...and I thought I did a lot; it only takes me about of week and not of working steadily to set my stuff up. I can see where it would become too much; too bad you don't have a spare building around that you could turn into a "haunted house" everything could remain in place year round. Looked at some shots of decorations past; truly awesome.

 

[Malicious]

Sad to hear your shutting it down after this year. You do a fantastic job. I can definitely understand tho it can consume alot of time and money!

 

[Madame Leota]

I agree with jdubbya, you are trying to do waaaaaay too much! No way should a Halloween display take two months to set up and completely take over your life. I've said this to many posters in the past and I'll keep on saying it: if it feels like work and you aren't having fun, stop! You're doing it wrong! Stop trying to appeal to the masses! Stop trying to top last year's display. Just have some fun. Enjoy the holiday.

 

[Spookerstar]

This is the fifth season my wife and I have done the extreme decorating for Halloween. We started with ambitious goals and have added to it every year. Now, quite frankly, the amount of time it takes to set all of it up has become too much for us; not to mention the annual expenses associated with putting on a display this big. And, storing all of it takes up 90% of our 3-car garage, plus a good portion inside the house.

One of the things we really liked about our Halloween scenes was creating something new and the attention to detail we put into it. But just to set up what we have - without creating anything new - takes a minimum 2 months, which includes every weeknight, very long weekends, and both of us taking several vacation days to work on it. That’s a very large part of the year for a handful of display nights. Additionally, it becomes a large disruption in our family life (aside from not doing anything but setting up), as the decor takes over every cubic inch of our home’s first floor, to include the removal of normal things like couches, chairs, tables, TV, etc.

We've had a lot of fun, and we’ll miss the looks on everyone’s faces when they come through the house, but after some debate, my wife and I have decided to make this our final year for the Halloween decorating.The thing we liked the most was creating new props and items, which also happens to be the part that costs the most. We briefly considered downsizing, like, perhaps, just doing the outside, but we didn’t want people thinking we were still open for a walkthrough.

Come Nov 1st, we'll start focusing on selling off what we have. Our hope is to find people who either want to buy it all (that would be nice!) or each scene as a whole. We don’t have any prices in mind, yet, but if anyone is in Arizona and wants to come take a closer look (or doesn't mind paying shipping), please message me with any questions.


http://www.HanusHaunt.com- for a look at the props, decorations and scenes.

Painful decision but when it stops being as much fun it is time to rethink. Wish I lived in AZ I would take you up on it. You have some amazing props. Post photos on this thread so we can enjoy the final hurrah

 

[Zombie4*]

Ugh I hate to hear this!! It seems like alot of people are stopping after this year?? Your displays are always a joy to see. I keep threatening this is my last year but as soon as September comes around I get all excited to put my display out....maybe the same will happen to you!??

 

[Jerseyscare]

Good Riddance!!!
We don't need your type here!!
Putting all of life aside for one day a year, spending stupid amounts of money and time.
Go AWAY, go celebrate "Boxing Day" in Canada!!!!! LOL

But, seriously, do what is best for your mental health and if it stopped being fun.....
First, save a couple of items that you could decorate outside, just in case! Remember you only really need a pumpkin!!!!

We have had some very talented members who do to changes, jobs, houses, family or health, who have had to adjust how they celebrate Halloween.
Some have found helping at others haunts, or finding a volunteer haunt to build props, do makeup or act.
Others now find time to visit Salem Ma, Pro Haunts or just their neighborhood.
Remember, got to do what you love while you can and change is constant.
The Best to you and IF I LIVED IN ARIZONA, I would suggest giving EVERYTHING away to a fellow haunter. LOL
Jerseyscare

Jerseyscare

 

[bobby2003]

If it took me months just to setup, my last year would have been four years ago. I agree with other people. Scale back and do a nice display on your front lawn or a small walk through in your 3 car garage which should have plenty of space after you downsize a bit, and enjoy the day instead of making it a months long exercise in frustration, exhaustion, anxiety, and upheaval.

 

[dbruner]

I do a small (by HF standards) outdoor display that I can put up myself in a few hours. I totally get not wanting to give up two months of your life. Maybe save a few favorite pieces for a downsized display next year and sell or donate the rest. You owe it to yourself to be able to enjoy the holiday.

 

[disembodiedvoice]

Loved going through all your pictures and seeing how your haunt evolved over the years. A lot of fun and obvious work involved. I hope you guys decide to just take a break and see how you feel in a year or two,

I would like to know how you hung your candles and pumpkins ? I want to hang some pumpkins for a Harry Potter scene but haven't figured out how to do it without having a bunch of noticeable hooks in the ceiling, Would love to hear how you do it.

 

[Forhekset]

Agreed with everyone else; it's supposed to be fun, not feel like a job. I'd consider scaling it down to what you're comfortable with. How much stuff we put out varies from year to year.

This year the weather's pretty much sucked down here in Texas, so we've hardly put anything out in the front yard, and I'm not sure at this point how much we'll actually do. The porch is kinda decorated and so is the inside. We'll still give out candy Halloween night, of course. But I'm not stressed out about it.

 

[dawnski]

kwil2112, I'll miss all your awesome displays, but completely understand. You had a good run. Perhaps you'll save a few of your favorite items and have a small dinner party with friends or host a horror movie night. Small ways to enjoy yourself without losing your mind.

 

[Ghost of Spookie]

Thank you Kwll2112 for sharing your past haunts with us. As soon as I saw your house from the outside I knew I had been viewing your posts and photos of it over the past few years. Remembered the banner message on the garage door, the front door entry way with all the branches (still amazed you pulled that together), your big pumpkin head man, and the fabulous interior decorating--where does one even start on that?! Just realized now from looking through your website that you had used Vigo the Carpathian's portrait in your house all these years. Just bought his poster this year for later use.

I didn't know anyone that did a house walk through until you and was amazed by all the detail you guys put into it. Setting up the small yard we have in comparison and even as my decorated yard space has grown in size (hard not to expand a bit each year), I know even what we did takes a lot of time and thought so not surprised to hear about the amount of time you've put in to yours. Pretty sure this year is going to be a break year for us, plan visiting one great haunt that might not be around much longer and tour the neighborhoods. Always wanted to do this but felt compelled to decorate and hand out candy and it's not like I don't enjoy it immensely too. In our case do hope to return to decorating next year...have too many items I love and still want to decorate with and share with the kids when they come to the house.

Well all I can say is I can understand, appreciate and have admired your work, and am sure you guys are going to be missed in a big way from us here to the the ToTers and the fundraising programs you have worked with. I'm sure they realize how lucky they have been and sure you guys have helped their cause greatly. That giving, in and of itself, has got to make it worth the effort. Delighting everyone - icing on the cake.

Final parting comments. Please don't take your website down if you can at all help it. It's such an inspiration and will be for future haunters as well. Also please post photos from this year. Can't wait to see what you've done. Hope you have a Happy Halloween.

 

[Spookzilla]

kwil2112, I can more then relate where your at right now with your haunt. I crossed the same graveyard path a few years ago when I had to finally had to say enough is enough. I spent years, many years, building my haunt and would spend all year building new props for the coming year Halloween. When it came time to set it all up I spent a solid month just to get it all installed and ready for that special night and big party we had for our friends and family who all helped out running our haunt. It all really kind of came to a crashing end when I started to set up my haunt and then had a crash on one of my vintage motorcycles and it gave me time and space, that I didn't ask for but needless to say had, to review and decided enough was enough. Do I miss not having my haunt, oh yes I miss not having our haunt in the local newspaper, being interviewed and shown on our local television news, having to have the police outside of our haunt directing traffic on Halloween night, but more so seeing so many of our friends and family join in and have fun helping me run our haunt. Though now looking back I don't miss every inch of storage space in my house and large storage building being consumed by all the materials for our haunt. Nor do I miss spending two solid days from sun up to sun down taking the haunt all down and trying to find a place to store it all. In the end there is a time and a season for everything (where have i heard that phrase? LOL!) but that's so true and now its your time as it once was mine has come telling you to move on. My strong suggestion is to put all you have on Craigslist and sell it all lock stock and barrel, one price takes all, and then don't look back. As for my Halloween this year it will be spent with my pumpkin a glow outside my camper at a campground down at the beach this year and I can't think of a better way to spend my favorite holiday. Yes, I still enjoy it by taking in commercial haunted attractions and maybe someday I'll get into building props again for sale but for now I'd rather be feeling sand between my rotten toes!

 

[Vater]

Kwll, you've been my #1 inspiration for Halloween decor/props. It's gonna be sad to see you retire your haunt. I can completely understand where you're coming from though, we start early Oct , have 1/4th of the decor & props that you do... and even that's overwhelming. You had an amazing run! Please consider scaling back your haunt like others have suggested. But if you're really set on retiring, dibs on your mad lab props!