Cheap Haunted House Basics
Black Plastic, Particle Board and a Little Imagination Go a Long Way
Oct 12, 2008
October is here, and in a few short weeks, Children dressed in costumes will be knocking on doors and ringing doorbells, looking for candy (and candy it should be... shame on people who give out pencils or rulers). Why not add a little trick to their treat and set up a small haunted house?
The Big Issue... Money
What it really comes down to isn't how much anything costs, but rather how much one wants to spend. Large haunts can be set up for hundreds of dollars, but smaller haunts can be done for as little as thirty dollars and a pumpkin. One thing is certain here: more imagination means less cost.
A Few Money-Saving Scary Ideas
A good hanging skeleton can cost over $100 at a party or halloween store, but if you really want to scare local trick-or-treaters, hang last night's chicken bones over the door or in the garage with some string, twine, or fishing line.
Old clothes can go a long way, and may be your best costume tool. A few well-placed rips and some fake blood (make your own with some eggs, caro syrup and food coloring if it's cheaper than store-bought, or even use ketchup if the shirt is white) and be ready to scare. Or fill an old shirt and pair of pants with newspaper, hay, or even sticks and leaves and turn them into scarecrows (stapled to a couple pieces of old wood or even a dowel).
Add an extra set-up and make one of the scarecrows and jump out at visitors! This even works if it's dark enough and the other scarecrows have no heads (just make sure to wear a loose-fitting mask to look lifeless).
Location and Credibility are Key!
Where one sets up is almost as important as how one sets up. Parents will be wary if asked to let their children come into a fenced-in backyard to "see something scary," but if the haunt has a large set-up it's important to watch for unwanted visitors (usually rowdy high or junior high schoolers looking to cause trouble) away. Fix this by starting out with a scary garage or a small front yard haunt for a year or two.
Once parents know that things are okay, expand into a backyard. Large tents can be set up in a driveway or yard and still block out light and control visitors. Just buy some large sheets or a roll of black plastic (or a couple large tarps if the tent is small enough) and attach them to the sides of the tent.
Thicker plastic is needed if in a windy area, but the important thing is having a controlled area for visitors to enter and a clear path where they can walk (directed either by walls of hanging plastic and enough light to see).
The Last Word
Have fun! Start small and work up to better things. Avoid tacky decorations to save money, use household items like candles to create a spooky atmosphere and reuse props each year to build bigger and better haunts. For help with ideas, look for home haunt forums like Hauntforum.com or check out some prop ideas here.
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