If this Halloween is like others in the past, the corner of Hiway Lane and Riverview Boulevard will be a busy place tonight.
The home of Chuck and Eve Robinson, hidden behind layers and layers of Halloween decorations, has been a popular attraction in the community since the couple put up the dozens of ghosts, ghouls, goblins and witches more than a month ago.
“This was like the ideal neighborhood because we’re right out front,” Eve said of the location of her home.
Each year, both Chuck and Eve anticipate the Oct. 31 holiday and enjoy the days of preparation leading up to the spooky night.
“It takes us about a week to get everything out, put together and set up,” Eve told The Journal last week. “And it isn’t even all out yet.”
For several years, the two have been committed to making their yard something everyone can enjoy. And each year, the display grows. The decorations were once stored in a shed located right next to the Robinson’s home, however, Eve said this year, they’ve “outgrown it.”
“Now we rent a storage unit,” she said with a laugh.
Eve said although she has always enjoyed decorating for Halloween, she and Chuck only started out with a few things, but with Chuck as “the builder,” as Eve calls him, the couple’s Halloween decoration inventory quickly grew.
“I’ll do a sketch of something and he builds it,” Eve said. “This year, I wanted a coffin really bad and he built me a life-size one.”
In fact, most of the decorations in the yard are homemade. Eve said friends and family help out when setting up the display and the end result is a combination of everyone’s creative spirit.
“We all love it,” Eve said. “It is just a fun thing to do.”
This year, Eve believes her spooky cemetery, life-size witch, eerie pillory stock and creepy spider are the showstoppers.
When the couple lived in Duluth, they lived at the end of a dead end street and the audience for decorations was limited.
“It was even worse when we lived in Wisconsin,” Eve noted. “We were out on a lake by ourselves. When we moved here, I said, ‘OK, now I’m going to town.’”
And “go to town” they did.
Chuck said traffic in front of the house is “constant” from the time the display goes up until Nov. 1 when it all comes down.
“Sometimes they’re lined up on both sides of the street,” he said.
He added that with about 500-600 trick-or-treaters visiting the couple’s front door on Halloween night, it isn’t unusual to see a few traffic jams.
“Last year, it was so crowded you couldn’t even walk outside,” Eve said. “It was just like a big party out there and I love it.”
Eve said the highlight of the Halloween night festivities is after 9 p.m.
“That is when the older crowd comes,” she said with a laugh. “And they are fun.”
The couple admitted they have some “live actors” roaming around their yard that enjoy getting a scream or two from visitors.
“Won’t scare the little kids, but if you’re older, you’re fair game,” Chuck said.
Eve chimed in, “We have a lot of good fun with people. We’ve even gotten some adults.”
When the hype winds down at the end of the day and it is time to put the frightening masks away, Eve said she doesn’t let herself get too disappointed because then it is time to decorate for Christmas. And, plans for next year’s Halloween arrangement are already underway.
“Oh, I’ve got a lot of ideas already for next year,” Eve said. “It’ll be even bigger and better than this year.”
