Practiced on

During the Halloween Season 

(Home Haunts are far more elaborate than simply season decorating.)

Country of Origin 

United States - 1930s

Key Points / Halloween Connection

-  Residential version of a haunted attraction, that provides the neighborhood with the feel of a haunted attraction without the cost or travel required while also acting as a community building activity

Brief Bio

A home haunt is a simplified version of a haunted attraction that is created at a person's home. They often begin with a yard haunt (see below) before continuing into interior rooms, which may include garages. Visitors can expect to see homemade props or animatronics, detailed decor, special effects and costumed characters. The vast majority of home haunts are not for profit, or may ask for donations for charity or other local causes. They are usually open for a few hours on Halloween night, or for a few weekends in October. They do not require state-issued emergency lighting, fire alarms, or fire escapes if they are under a specific length.

Yard haunts take place in a yard, usually dressed to resemble a cemetery, adjacent to a home. They may feature prop tombstones, skulls, large inflatable characters, plastic light-up figures (a.k.a. blowmolds), strobe lights, fog machines, cobwebs, spooky music, animatronics, and other décor that can be purchased at Halloween stores. Some homeowners create their own props. Displays can include synchronized music and lighting effects using computer programs such as Light-O-Rama or Animated Lighting. They may utilize an FM transmitter so people can park their car, locate a low-frequency radio station, and watch and listen to the show without the sounds disturbing the neighbors.

The Home Haunt practice exploded during the 1930s, as a response to increased vandalism and mischief by teenagers during Halloween. Communities began to organize activities for young people. Parents started creating simple haunted houses in their basements and garages to entertain children, giving rise to the modern Halloween haunted house tradition.