16719 W. 144th Place, Lockport, IL
year: 2013
House Decor is a yard display located in Lockport, Illinois, home to the famous Thanatophopbialand. We made our first visit there in 2013, and found it to be whimsical and fun. Although not high on scares, it was creative and enjoyable nonetheless.
Like many yard displays, this one featured numerous homemade tombstones, both for famous fictional characters like Michael Myers as well as for some unknown individuals. Unlike a typical yard display, however, each of the tombstones had some straw in front of it, as if the grave had been freshly dug and the grass had not yet grown in. There was also an open grave with a shovel in it, just waiting for an occupant - a nice twist on the normal setup. Complementing the cemetery display were several life size figures, including a vampire, some skeletal ghouls, and one figure that looked like Jason, complete with hockey mask and giant knife. The house itself was covered with cobwebs and a giant spider, and a pair of glowing green eyes peered out through a boarded up window. One of the coolest parts of the display was a grim reaper figure that appeared to be floating in air while holding an antique lantern. Close inspection revealed that the floating was courtesy of the fact that the grim reaper figure had been fashioned out of a light post, and cleverly disguised. It was a nicely done, creative effect. Overall, House Decor is interesting to look at, although those who are expecting to be scared by live actors or wowed by impressive props might be disappointed. However, it is clever and had some nice touches, and it's definitely family friendly, as the ghouls on display are, in some cases, quite humorous. It's worth a look if you're in the area, of ir you have smaller children who enjoy Halloween but don't want to be frightened. |