As Halloween approaches, Central Floridians have been busy placing fake gravestones, towering skeletons, pumpkins, spider webs and all kinds of spooky trimmings on their front yards and homes.
Hurricane season caused some Orlando area residents to pack up their supply of decorations and then recreate their displays after the storm passed. Still, the spirit of the spooky season prevailed despite the weather, leaving many homes telling enchanting stories with Halloween decor, each with their own devilish flair.
For the Orlando Sentinel’s third Spooky Awards, we’re highlighting 15 haunted houses that will stand out during the 2024 Halloween season.
Nightmares unleashed
On an unassuming, quiet street in urban Orlando, the presence of a demon has taken over Jeff Earley and Kevin Cichon’s front yard. Visitors can see a Gothic cemetery complete with a hand-built wall, headless horsemen, figures with glowing eyes towering over the garden, a creepy pumpkin patch, and a haunted house scene on the porch. All of this is the culmination of months of hard work in this extravagant Halloween show, complete with fog machines and dramatic lighting across the entire front lawn.
Address: 2119 E. Jefferson St. in Orlando
Boo’s Bash
George Case’s front yard is full of all kinds of wooden Halloween cutouts: black cats, skeletons, werewolves and ghosts of all shapes and sizes. One of the highlights is Boo, the ghost who is afraid of his own shadow. The decorations are lovingly handmade from wood and, in many cases, painted by Case’s late wife, Beatrice, to whom he dedicates this exhibition. At 87 years old, the longtime Orlando resident still does what he can every year to bring the Halloween spirit to the neighborhood.
Address: 1901 Mosher Drive in Orlando
Monster house
In a scene reminiscent of the 2006 animated film “Monster House,” this Orlando home looks like it could eat trick-or-treaters for dinner. In case this house has a sweet tooth, there is a Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream shop right across the street. You might consider going to the dentist every now and then with all those razor-sharp teeth. Next door neighbors joined in on the Halloween fun with a skeleton petting zoo and large figures in the yard.
Address: 1918 S. Ferncreek Ave. in Orlando
Eerie glowing
The historic home of Rhett Delaney and his family doesn’t have a huge faux cemetery or skeletons towering over the yard, but it does have bright, colorful lights that add to the Halloween atmosphere along Aloma Avenue in Winter Park. With light-up bats and a spider, this is just the right touch to accentuate the look of the house. If the installation looks professional, that’s because it was done by Johannessen Lights, a company that specializes in holiday lighting.
Address: 1331 Aloma Ave. in Winter Park
Terrifying theaters
In Windermere, AJ Martinez has a haunted house that has taken over his family’s two-car garage every year since he and his wife moved to Central Florida in 2019. Experience the ‘Silver Scream – Cursed’, which brings horror characters from favorite films to life. Animatronics approach guests as they walk through scenes from theater to theater.
Address: 13161 Vennetta Way in Windermere
Opening hours: 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM October 25-27 and October 31
More information: storytellerhaunt.wixsite.com/storytellerhaunt
A spooky spectacle
It’s unclear whether astronauts or aliens celebrate Halloween, but this Central Florida Christmas show from Randeeh and Grace Cruz may be visible from space. With thousands of LED lights that can be individually programmed and spotlights on the roof, the Lights on Cavender Creek presents a light show with a playlist of Halloween-themed songs. New this year are the mist-breathing gargoyles and animatronics. Visitors can scan a QR code on site to select their favorite song and see misty bubbles on weekends.
Address: 1362 Cavender Creek Road in Minneola
Opening hours: 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM Sunday-Thursday, 7:00 PM – 10:30 PM through October 31
Cemetery midnight
Skeletons, zombies, and ghosts of all kinds have risen to claim their place in Aaron Johnsen’s front yard, which has been transformed into a midnight cemetery. The fencing, pillars and gate are all made by hand.
Address: 6276 Blue Sage Loop in Orlando
Chain gang
Following a long tradition, Devin Lunsford decorated his lawn with a brand new graveyard and a perimeter of chains. This year’s largest exhibition to date features new animatronics, black lights, flashes and props. Walk past creepy clowns, skeletons, butchers and a werewolf – if you dare.
Address: 5113 Ardmore Drive in Winter Park
Jack-O-Watchman
During the Halloween season, Shawn Tofte’s home has an “enchanting charm” with a cool glow over his home, while jack-o’-lanterns provide a warm glow on the porch. All this is under the watchful eye of a caretaker for the house. A number of pumpkins are known to come to life, sing and tell stories.
Address: 1412 Ferris Ave. in Orlando
A creepy speakeasy
In Mount Dora, Keith and Kimberly worked hard to build the Windy Hill Cemetery, with a haunted tree, gargoyles, gravestones, and creepy ghosts galore. Another part of their exhibition is the ‘Cadaver Tavern’, a speakeasy for all ages. Guests from all times in history gather there, whether it is a flapper from the twenties, someone from ancient Egypt or a rock star.
Address: 400 Belle Ayre Drive in Mount Dora
Pitch-perfect pumpkins
In the spirit of a homemade Halloween show, Al Ciullo displays the fruits of his labor with pumpkins, handmade gravestones and motorized displays – all designed and crafted, not purchased in a store. Programming the singing pumpkins in particular took ‘many hours’.
Address: 3704 Gatlin Place Circle in Orlando
Halloween celebration
A misty mist rolls over the yard of the Plaisted family’s Celebration home as sinister spirits lurk, including skeletons and ghosts of all shapes and sizes. The house is located on one of Celebration’s main roads and has received many compliments from passers-by.
Address: 231 Celebration Blvd. at Celebration
Reaper murder
While lawn mowers are typically used for landscaping, they can also be used for cutting off legs, as seen in the exhibit at a suburban Orlando home on South Fern Creek Avenue. One skeleton mows right over the other, which is sucked into the blades. Another skeleton is boiled in a bucket of slime, while towering figures watch over the garden.
Address: 3733 S. Fern Creek Ave. in Orlando
Have a happy Halloween
Proving that Halloween decorations don’t have to be scary, this Winter Park home features simple purple, white and orange lights on the house and yard, including “Happy Halloween” written in lights. At one end of the garden, a skeleton marching band made of lights lines up, while playful ghosts appear to wave to visitors near the sidewalk.
Address: 1283 Preserve Point Drive in Winter Park
A spooky gathering
All the ghosts came out to play for a grim and spooky gathering in Winter Park. There are witches, a limousine full of skeletons, ghosts, gravestones and more, all in one scene that spans the width of the front yard.
Address: 1530 Mizell Ave. in Winter Park
Find me @PConnPie on Instagram or send me an email: pconnolly@orlandosentinel.com.
