[The Joker]

Over the years this forum has been chock full of some incredibly talented Halloween enthusiasts who've created unbelievable displays. I can't imagine all of you started so boldly though. We have a decade+ old thread somewhere on the forum about showing off your graveyards/haunts, but I wanted to do this with a new twist on it...

Post at least 2 pics, but please limit to no more than 4 of your graveyard/haunt from where you started and year, and what it looks like now, or at least the most recent pic you have available. Some of you started a LONG time ago, so a scan of a polaroid is fine. Some of us older haunters might only have cave drawings of our first graveyard, but hopefully you've taken a picture of that cave drawing since then and can post it. And over a long time span, we realize that you may have moved. No worries if your first pic is from a different home, but try and find the earliest one you have so we can see the incredible progress.

I started with humble beginnings and my first graveyard was a bit embarrassing. It was only in the backyard for my first Halloween party. The second pic was my first attempt at a Halloween day front yard display, so I guess that was the first official one for public consumption. The last pic was last year with an obvious change of address, just slightly different from my 2005 efforts.

Please post your pics, and be sure to date them. I'm looking forward to seeing the progress people made over the years!

2005

2009

2020

 

[UnOrthodOx]

I wish I had some stuff from my pre-digital days. But, here is 2004, our first year in the present house. We moved in that fall. And yeah, that was it, me in a costume and a giant bowl that would get filled with candy.

The last 4 years are kinda 'down' years for me with other concerns taking a bit of my Halloween thunder.

here's the 2020 Covid display that I lazily put up.

2019 was my first year back to building after several years of house construction.

2015 the last 'full size' haunt. (picture this but stretched around the sides and back yard as well)

 

[Oak Lane Cemetery]

Started out doing it for our kids when they were little and found that I really enjoyed it and looked forward to doing it the next year. I think we had 30 trick or treaters visit for Halloween 2007...

Then I gradually started putting my artistic talents to work making my own props, learned about lighting, fog and other special effects and spent the next 13 years adding a few new things each year. Now we get over 300 visitors on Halloween night. Halloween 2020...

 

[oldmeat]

All of these are incredible transformations. I love improving my set-up each year, growing it bit by bit. Sometimes it feels overwhelming to setup, and I'm starting to run out of storage space!

Its cool to see how far we have all come.

This is from 2016:

And this is from 2020:

 

[UnOrthodOx]

One thing I always like in these threads is it's not usually simply an increase in the talent of the haunt itself, but look at the quality of the photography improving as well.

(my 2020 I was lazy and just snapped some with my cell, granted, having had to cancel most of it)

 

[Pablo0714]

There was a change of location from one to the next. The first was in 2011 and then 2020. Not happy that it was because of a divorce but for Halloween purposes, it was a major win for me.

 

[djjerme]

2004. First year my wife and I started dating and also first Halloween Party (annual ever since)

And I never got the good camera out for last years set up (wish I had, but got behind schedule wise)

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[nbad311]

This thread is great. Love how everyone's spread have gotten bigger and better. And yes, funny about the camera/photo quality - so true!
Here is 2015 & 2016....

And last year...

 

[Haunter4ever]

Started the hobby when my boy fell in love with inflatables in 2017....about 40 TOT

and here we are in 2020...about 300 TOT and people asking us days after if we still had it up!

 

[The Joker]

This thread is great. Love how everyone's spread have gotten bigger and better. And yes, funny about the camera/photo quality - so true!

Absolutely agree!

These are even better than I was hoping for. The transformations are incredible! I can't believe the humble beginnings of some that we see have become incredible displays! I hope this thread grows exponentially as we approach October because I can't wait to see everyone else's growth from their first year.

 

[NomadMik]

Started out doing it for our kids when they were little and found that I really enjoyed it and looked forward to doing it the next year. I think we had 30 trick or treaters visit for Halloween 2007...

View attachment 744525

Then I gradually started putting my artistic talents to work making my own props, learned about lighting, fog and other special effects and spent the next 13 years adding a few new things each year. Now we get over 300 visitors on Halloween night. Halloween 2020...

View attachment 744526
View attachment 744527
View attachment 744528
View attachment 744529

Oak Lane is in my opinion in the top 5 in the country of home haunts. Very inspirational!

 

[NomadMik]

Here is Hellbilly Holler (Phoenix, AZ) in the old days.

 

[NomadMik]

And here is Hellbilly Holler now.

 

[fsanders]

Started Killington Lane in 2011 with a few very poorly made props and each year I have learned a bit more by trial and mostly error and seeing reading about what other haunters have experienced and built. I also have a YouTube video Killington lane 2012-2019 that shows the progression in more detail. Link below.

 

[904Houston]

Here are the floor plans and a couple photos for our walk through.

2016 - 144 square feet inside our home. 3 pneumatic props.

2021 - 685 square feet, moved into garage. 6 pneumatic props and a spinning tunnel

 

[MT_Grave]

Love this thread! It shows me I'm not alone with this crazy addiction! LOL So much talent and time devoted to this - and I will always say that Haunters are some of the most creative people you will ever meet.

Moved into my house in Sep. of 2012 - so didn't really have time to do anything - so the first time I did something was 2013 - probably about a dozen TOTs. The Scarcrow - Ralph - is the first prop I made. Made him with my daughter, who was in 8th grade at the time.

Had a neighbor move in next to me in 2015 who was also a Halloween addict. We officially named our set up Bonanza Court Haunt in 2015 and set up a FaceBook page -

He now does a haunted house in his oversized 2 car garage. You come out his garage side door and follow a path behind his house to my side of the haunt. Here is the 2020 set up of my side - in order of your walking through -

Pumpkin patch

Scarecrow Row - one of them may look familiar. Ralph is still around - although he's been rebuilt a couple times.

Gus (Pumpkin Sentinel) and his minions

Hearse

Pall Bearers - notice Death waiting for them at the side gate....

Witch and Cauldron Creep just outside the Cemetery

Overall view of the Cemetery

If you look close - the sign and brace over the cemetery entrance is the same one as 2013 - and so are some of the tombstones. We only did Halloween night this year - generally we will do 2 or 3 nights. We did Covid-19 precautions this year - enforced masks, had hand sanitizer stations and social distancing for groups. Even with all that we had about 300 people this year on Halloween night.

 

[Godcrusher]

Very cool everybody. I will add my pics when I can dig them up.

 

[MichaelMyersSickHead]

I wish I would take more pictures

 

[The Joker]

I wish I would take more pictures

If this thread does nothing else, it will show you it pays to take tons of pics. 😁

 

[MichaelMyersSickHead]

If this thread does nothing else, it will show you it pays to take tons of pics. 😁

So fun!!! I started by just doing the front porch to now having multiple 15+ foot facades...I think my fiancé worries where it grows from there. LOL