A Halloween enthusiast has turned his garage into some people’s worst nightmare.
A Wisconsin resident said he spent thousands of dollars over the last five years transforming his garage into an elaborate haunted house for people to explore on Halloween.
“Oscar,” the 58-year-old Halloween fanatic, stands at the crossroads of nostalgia and creativity, deeply influenced by his childhood love for the spooky season, according to SWNS.
From a young age, this real estate manager was not just a trick-or-treater; he was an architect of terror. Crafting his own costumes and designing chilling props, Oscar’s passion morphed into an annual endeavor that now promises spine-tingling thrills for his community. “I’ve always been a Halloween enthusiast,” he reminisced, reflecting on the evolution of his haunted dreams.
“About 15 years ago, I built my first animatronic, and it sparked a fire within me that compels me to innovate each season,” Oscar shared. His creative journey took a serious turn nearly five years ago when he decided to dedicate substantial resources to this hidden venture. With each prop costing between $200 and $600, the financial investment reflects a tangible commitment to genuine fear and amusement.
In the warm summer months, while others revel in the sun, Oscar immerses himself in design sketches and ideas for the impending October scares. The preparations take three months, filled with the gentle scratch of pencil on paper, each outline representing a new nightmare waiting to be born. Oscar confessed, “I’m old-school with pencil and paper. I research for months, figuring out the design and mechanics.”
As Halloween approaches, Oscar shifts his focus completely, setting aside the demands of daily life. With a whirlwind of activity, he dedicates five frenetic days to assembling his haunted house. “I’m just a one-man show,” he admitted, revealing the softer side behind his monstrous creations. He expressed gratitude to his wife, who supports him through this whirlwind; “She picks up the slack, and I’m really grateful for her support.”
The haunted garage opens its creaky doors for just four hours on Halloween night, a fleeting showcase of horror that entices locals. From the “Creepy Claw Crane Game,” which tricks guests into thinking they might win a prize, only to reveal a lurking zombie, to the “Zombie Meat Hook Thrasher,” an unnerving tableau of a gutted zombie suspended on chains, each creation weaves a tale of suspense.
The “Creepy Climber,” portraying a woman electrocuted while trying to vault a fence, sends chills down the spine. Another masterpiece, “Pepper’s Ghost Illusion,” cleverly uses mirrors and lights to conjure eerie apparitions. It speaks to Oscar’s relentless dedication—many props operate using compressed air, but the motorized “Reaper Puppet Master” stands out, channeling his technical ingenuity.
Undoubtedly, some inspirations wander from the internet, yet Oscar’s endeavor thrives on originality, too. Since this haunted house took shape five years ago, it has established itself as a neighborhood highlight. Attendees return, not just for the scares, but to marvel at the creativity on display. “The crowd favorite is the ‘Axe Door Murder’ prop,” he shared, amused by the bafflement it provokes; “It’s a guy axing through a door, and people can’t figure out how the effects work, even when they’re standing right in front of it.”
Each Halloween, Oscar’s garage becomes a canvas for fear, fascination, and community bonding. In a world often drifting into the mundane, his haunted house stands as a brilliant reminder of the magic found within passion and the art of storytelling—one animatronic at a time.
