Haunted Mansion Facade: Santee, CA

Where do you live (can be general or specific)

Santee, California

Yard haunt's name (if applicable)?

The Hauntings of 2010

Family friendly or adults only?

Family friendly

What I Did:

I built a haunted mansion facade which rests on the roof of the house. It is supported by pillars that tie into the roof overhang for people to walk through. Once this was up and secure, I added in all the other decorations which consist of both store-bought and homemade items. Some of the props are costumes I wore and won prizes for from previous years of Halloween. The theme is simply Halloween, creepy, gorey etc.

How I Did It:

Many of the items are homemade, built from scratch or some are store bought and then modified. I typically try to make my own items or if they are to be bought I look for things that I can modify in order to make them look better and more realistic.

Tips and Tricks

My trick is layers. Start out with the large items, fill in with the small. Then add the creepy cloth and spider webs. When you add the effect of 3D to your decor it gives it depth and adds to the effect you are looking for. Then the fourth dimension is adding smoke, lights and sound. Don't worry about some of the small stuff, remember most people will be viewing at night so don't worry about mistakes or staples or tacks or tape etc. It need not be 100% perfect for the right effect. Much of what Hollywood produces is not perfect, much is covered up by special effects.

Lisa Hallett Taylor, Pool & Patio Guide, says:

Good design tip about layering: starting with the larger items, then filling in with smaller. Santee, California, is located in San Diego County, inland to the city of San Diego.