Post by Michael West on Nov 22, 2007 20:04:42 GMT -5
This was an odd year. I was busy wrapping up and then editing a novel, so I was not able to focus on my annual haunted house until the last minute. While there was not a lot new this year, I was able to use what I had in interesting ways, and thanks to the help of many friends, we had another wonderful year.
So here we go, the moment everyone has been waiting for, please enter West Manor 2007...
[glow=red,2,300]THE GRAVEYARD[/glow]
(ABOVE) Pirates are everywhere these days, and West Manor added its own dead swashbuckler this year. It was wired with light for an unearthly glow at night. (BELOW)
The other new addition was the hanging man. (BELOW)
(ABOVE) Put together from parts of other bodies, it was a truly frightening display. The legs kicked and the body swayed from side to side, as if it were trying to free itself of the steel hook through its skull. At night, it was even more impressive. (BELOW)
The layout of the porch was a bit different this year. Due to the fact that the leaves had not fallen off my bushes, I moved the Jack-O-Lantern string to the archway, bathing the scene in an orange glow. (ABOVE AND BELOW)
We brought the bats outside this year. They flew around the tree and sat perched in the branches. (BELOW)
At night, the ghosts appeared to glide through the air thanks to well-aimed lights and a nice breeze. (BELOW)
(ABOVE) As usual, the Grim Reaper stood guard at the gates, and Freddy (BELOW) made his eleventh appearance.
[glow=red,2,300]THE HAUNT[/glow]
(ABOVE) Another new addition was a communications system, allowing those out front to warn us of coming victims...er...guests. And the rules were clearly posted for all to see. (BELOW)
(ABOVE AND BELOW) Gargoyles surrounded the front door. Some holding candles...
(ABOVE)...others providing a friendly warning above the door. (BELOW)
Once the door opened, guests were met by a variety of madmen. Some roaming the halls...(BELOW)
(ABOVE) ...others in cages. The hall itself was lit only by the flickering red glow of Jack-O-Lanterns. (BELOW)
(ABOVE) At the end of the hall, Michael Myers waited. Many thought he was a prop, until he sprang to life. (BELOW)
(ABOVE) Guests next entered a corridor lined with the tortured skeletons of those who had come before them. And at the center of the hallway, Pinhead offered dark and painful gifts. (BELOW)
Guests ran into the next room and found a large television displaying static. Strobes added to the effect. They were greeted by a terrified woman on a bloodied couch. "Watch the tape," she screamed. "Watch the tape before it's too late!" (BELOW)
(ABOVE AND BELOW) But it was already too late. The Ring's Samara Morgan has arrived for her next soul.
When the guests ran screaming out the back door, they did not get far. Our Killer Klown was there waiting for them with the head of his last kill. (BELOW)
(ABOVE AND BELOW) The head's tongue moved up and down, licking the air.
(ABOVE) Frightened children and adults line up, daring one another to enter West Manor, and everyone, even those too scared to walk through the door, received candy from the lovely Mrs. West. (BELOW)
(ABOVE) As the Ghost Rider sped off into the darkness, West Manor 2007 closed its doors...until next year.
So here we go, the moment everyone has been waiting for, please enter West Manor 2007...
[glow=red,2,300]THE GRAVEYARD[/glow]
(ABOVE) Pirates are everywhere these days, and West Manor added its own dead swashbuckler this year. It was wired with light for an unearthly glow at night. (BELOW)
The other new addition was the hanging man. (BELOW)
(ABOVE) Put together from parts of other bodies, it was a truly frightening display. The legs kicked and the body swayed from side to side, as if it were trying to free itself of the steel hook through its skull. At night, it was even more impressive. (BELOW)
The layout of the porch was a bit different this year. Due to the fact that the leaves had not fallen off my bushes, I moved the Jack-O-Lantern string to the archway, bathing the scene in an orange glow. (ABOVE AND BELOW)
We brought the bats outside this year. They flew around the tree and sat perched in the branches. (BELOW)
At night, the ghosts appeared to glide through the air thanks to well-aimed lights and a nice breeze. (BELOW)
(ABOVE) As usual, the Grim Reaper stood guard at the gates, and Freddy (BELOW) made his eleventh appearance.
[glow=red,2,300]THE HAUNT[/glow]
(ABOVE) Another new addition was a communications system, allowing those out front to warn us of coming victims...er...guests. And the rules were clearly posted for all to see. (BELOW)
(ABOVE AND BELOW) Gargoyles surrounded the front door. Some holding candles...
(ABOVE)...others providing a friendly warning above the door. (BELOW)
Once the door opened, guests were met by a variety of madmen. Some roaming the halls...(BELOW)
(ABOVE) ...others in cages. The hall itself was lit only by the flickering red glow of Jack-O-Lanterns. (BELOW)
(ABOVE) At the end of the hall, Michael Myers waited. Many thought he was a prop, until he sprang to life. (BELOW)
(ABOVE) Guests next entered a corridor lined with the tortured skeletons of those who had come before them. And at the center of the hallway, Pinhead offered dark and painful gifts. (BELOW)
Guests ran into the next room and found a large television displaying static. Strobes added to the effect. They were greeted by a terrified woman on a bloodied couch. "Watch the tape," she screamed. "Watch the tape before it's too late!" (BELOW)
(ABOVE AND BELOW) But it was already too late. The Ring's Samara Morgan has arrived for her next soul.
When the guests ran screaming out the back door, they did not get far. Our Killer Klown was there waiting for them with the head of his last kill. (BELOW)
(ABOVE AND BELOW) The head's tongue moved up and down, licking the air.
(ABOVE) Frightened children and adults line up, daring one another to enter West Manor, and everyone, even those too scared to walk through the door, received candy from the lovely Mrs. West. (BELOW)
(ABOVE) As the Ghost Rider sped off into the darkness, West Manor 2007 closed its doors...until next year.
