5221 S. Mulligan Avenue, Chicago, IL
years: 2011-2012
Eerie Acres is an elaborate yard display on the south side of Chicago. One thing that the south side is known for, particularly in the area where Eerie Acres is, is the lack of lawn space. Houses are close together and there is very little space in front or to the sides. Thus, presenting an effective yard display requires some finesse. Fortunately, Eerie Acres makes excellent use of a small area to create a very entertaining display.
Don't let to small area fool you - there is plenty to see here, from animatronic bats hanging from the trees, to various moving props on the lawn, to life size figures in the large front windows. One really needs to take one's time to look at everything. Not only is there a lot to see, but there is some excellent creativity on display as well. For instance, there is a disembodied head suspended from wires that lights up and sings the line "I ain't got nobody" from the song "Just a Gigolo" - or "no body" in Halloween terms). There is a skeleton sitting on the porch stairs with a very long neck (odd enough in and of itself)., demon babies, a large troll who oversees the entire display, a skeleton in a fedora who greets visitors, and a giant demon head suspended over the back fence. The windows, too, offer some unique displays. There is a demonlike creature, a grim reaper character with wings and a scythe and our favorite, some type of giant horse-headed creature the likes of which we had never seen before. All in all, a creative, well-executed yard display, and one that's definitely worth taking a look at. We enjoyed it so much we made a point of coming back in 2012. Unfortunately, on that visit, the display was not lit up, so we didn't get to see everything on offer. Eerie Acres offers something for everyone. It's comical and scary at the same time, and should be fun for both young and old. Go check it out - you'll enjoy it! |
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