Time was when I used to decorate our yard for Halloween; however, that was before my neighbor Ammon Smith started doing the same. Since Smith got into the spirit of the season, his front yard has been transformed into King Kong climbing the Empire State Building, Area 51, and Jurassic Park—each tableau meticulously constructed by hand, using largely repurposed materials. The skyscraper-scaling giant ape, for instance, only set him back $140— less than what it would cost to buy, say, an inflatable vampire from Home Depot.
This year’s installation is titled “Carnival of Creeps” and features a carousel and Ferris wheel—each peopled with a gruesome assortment of zombies, ghouls and skeletons. What looks to be the entrance to a sideshow is actually the front door to Smith’s house. Lord only knows what monstrosities lurk within! I suppose I’ll never know, because I’m too old to go trick-or-treating, and even if I were still a child, I’d be hesitant to venture past the gate, which is where you will find a QCode that will direct you to a website managed by Ammon’s wife Tera. Visit Designs on 9th and find out how to redecorate your home on a budget. Also, how to transform your front yard into a spook alley, alien encounter or prehistoric dinosaur preserve. All I can say is, Good Luck trying to creep up with the Joneses!
