“We’ll have a spiders’ lair, with a moving, cocooned man, about to be eaten and also a demon daycare, with a coffin buggy and zombie babies; it’s going to be very cool.”
You could say that Tim Jordan is a little excited about the return of his famous haunted house in Burkeville after a three-year hiatus.
Including this year’s big opening, on Monday, Oct. 23 at 6 p.m., Jordan will have been scaring and entertaining families outside his Hudson Avenue home on Sea Island for 34 of the last 37 years.
Only the poor health of his wife in the last few years and the birth of his son has prevented Jordan, who runs his own catering business, from giving the tight-knit Burkeville community its annual fix of frightful fun.
“Why did I take it back on? It’s my brain medicine I guess; it’s my release,” Jordan told the Richmond News, during a soggy, sneak preview of his latest, detailed, themed displays.
“Over the last couple of years, people have been asking about it, saying they’ve been deprived of their haunted house.
“But the gods are not with me this week. It’s been very stormy and wet and it’s hampering our progress. But we will get there. About 80 per cent of it is undercover, so that helps.”
Jordan started renovating the many displays, which surround his house, in July, but he’s been satisfying some of his cravings by making more props for the last two years.
New this year is a space pavilion, with a space shuttle type ship, alien pilots and passengers, and debut appearances for Darth Vader and Yoda.
“We’ve extended the captain’s cabin with a Pirates of the Caribbean theme, complete with an animatronic monkey.
“And there’s a new haunted wedding, in progress, with a preacher, bride and groom.”
And when Jordan references “we,” he means his neighbours who, for the first time, offered to pitch in this year.
“I’ve always done this by myself, but some neighbours wanted to help, which was amazing,” said a delighted Jordan.
“They just came up and asked if I needed a hand. Vaughn Philpott is great with tools; he’s been working here once a week for months and is now here full-time.
“Andrea Lilly is helping with displays, Alexis Tull is doing lots of sewing, while her husband, Gordy, has also been helping. And Pete Kirby has been helping with painting.”
It all kicks off Monday at 1051 Hudson Avenue from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. and runs the same time every day until after Halloween.
Donations are welcome, to go towards the cost of the displays, which Jordan buys and fashions year round.
