CRESTVIEW — The Nichols family takes the spookiest night of the year to the next level in Crestview with a haunted walk-through full of ghostly displays and free treat bags for their visitors.
Grady and Lisa Nichols have always loved the holiday season starting at Halloween and ending at Christmas.
“Growing up, that was our favorite part of the year, and I was so excited that (Grady) wanted to go big with everything,” Lisa said.
Lisa said they began decorating 27 years ago, and the decorations were on a much smaller scale than they are today.
Along with scouring the Internet for decorations, Grady — or “Mr. Halloween” as Lisa calls him — made many of the characters in the house with pantyhose and latex for skin.
His signature touch is naming the character something that starts with a “b” like “Bucky” and “Bandito Bucky.”
“It’s a dying art,” Grady said.
But, this tradition dates back further than 27 years.
Grady said he’s been celebrating Halloween at this level since he was young.
“I remember when I was a kid. Some of my best memories were at Halloween,” Grady said. “… I just remember being so excited about it.”
After decorating their house for so many years, the Nichols have many unique items, so many that they have their own version of a haunted walk-through in their house.
The spooky journey begins with tombstones lining the front yard and giant, blow-up dragons.
They have a “Star Wars” display featured in the garage, with rare, life-size characters from the hit movies including Darth Vader and R2-D2.
The spooky sounds can be heard from the driveway.
After entrance into the house is granted by ringing the eyeball doorbell, Lisa greets visitors with a bag of goodies like candy and small toys.
The walk-through ends with a “creepy corn field," Grady said, but visitors are welcome to hang around and go through again.
Grady and Lisa said kids are welcomed inside because there aren’t jump scares unless requested.
If a group would like jump scares, the Nichols have actors hidden throughout the house ready to give a good scare.
Their decorations attracted over 450 guests last year, and Lisa said some of their neighbors and friends offer to help out.
Eventually, the Nichols hope to expand this into a business.
“We would like to do this year round,” Lisa said. “That’s our ultimate goal.”
Doors will open at 6 p.m. and end at 11 p.m. for the Nichols’ Annual Haunted Graveyard Halloween Night.
The event is located in the Fox Valley Subdivision at 611 Terrier Trail in Crestview.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: The Nichols family goes all out for Halloween