How to Make a Haunted House

Create the spookiest entertainment on the block, and terrify children and adults alike on Halloween night. If it turns out to be a success you will definitely be the talk of the town for quite some time. Just set a budget and determine if you're targeting young kids or adults and teenagers.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Spider Webbing
• Wigs
• Halloween Candles
• Halloween Decorations
• Halloween Light Sets
• Black Lights
• Cauldrons And Foggers
• Fog Machines
• Jack-o'-lanterns
• Table Candelabras
• Tombstones (prop)
• Antibacterial Soaps
• Hand Wipes
• Masks
• Halloween Sound Effects CD
• Coffins

1. Find a safe place large enough to accommodate all the things you plan to do. You can use your house, basement or yard--or if you really want to be extravagant, you can rent a large, vacant building.
2. Draw up a plan. Using a diagram of the space available, figure out what you want to have in your haunted house and where it might go. Plan an entrance and an exit.
3. Do the hard stuff first. Order or construct props, including such items as fake headstones, guillotines and coffins.
4. Put the haunted house together. Make it dark using black plastic trash bags or blankets over windows, then add eerie lighting. Include lots of unexpected scary sounds and sensory experiences to startle visitors. Keep in mind the need for adequate ventilation.
5. Use peeled grapes as eyeballs, placing them where people will touch them in the dark. Use Styrofoam heads from a beauty supply house and turn them into monsters.
6. Spritz visitors, faces with cold water in the dark, or have visitors walk through spider webs made of stretched cotton or wet string.
7. Create a bubbling-cauldron effect with the aid of dry ice. Fill a rubber glove with water colored with food coloring and freeze it, then remove the glove and float the 'frozen hand' in the cauldrons.
8. Invite several adults to participate with you. They can dress in costume and be part of the haunted house, but can also keep an eye on things and help supervise participants.
9. Advertise. Whether the haunted house is simply for trick-or-treaters in your neighborhood or a community affair, put up a sign telling kids where to find some haunted fun on Halloween.

Tips & Warnings

• Start planning early in the year and gather or make the necessary items in time for Halloween.
• Check out your local costume or specialty shop, or browse online to find Halloween props for your haunted house.
• If your library has an audio section, you may find some scary music there.
• Mix citrus soda and blue punch for a bright green beverage.
• Small children may be terrified of the goings-on in a haunted house. Set an age limit, or post a sign warning children of the level of scariness within.
• Do not allow dry ice to touch anyone's skin.
• Keep anything wet safely clear of electrical effects or outlets. Do not use any candles or other live flames.
• Always remember: Safety first.