Terror at the Talley House

2011 Yard Haunt Photos and Videos

2011-11-25T22:00:00.000-06:00

Photos and videos of this year's haunt are
available in high definition by clicking
PHOTOS or VIDEOS.

Happy Halloween

2011-10-31T22:00:00.032-05:00

Approximately 800 tots visited The Talley

House in search of treats.

The Previewing

2011-10-18T23:30:00.082-05:00

Tomorrow marks the beginning of the 13 days of celebration at Terror at The Talley House leading up to Halloween. Tonight was the previewing to make any final adjustments. Emphasis was on the lighting.

Sam and his friends in "Trick 'r Treat".

"The Greatest Show Unearthed"

The Grim Reaper waits for all.

Technology Tweeks

2011-10-07T18:44:00.000-05:00

Terror at the Talley House is a high tech haunt and utilizes four projector systems, four controllers, two computers, fourteen speakers, sixty-six low voltage landscape lights with color halogen bulbs, two DMX lights operated by VSA software, seventeen timers, one air compressor and over one thousand of feet of wiring and cable. But the true secret behind the technlology is "Halloween Magic".

Scare Zones/Shows Set-up

2011-10-05T16:52:00.007-05:00

Custom built witches shack being set up

for the "Bloody Mary" scare zone.

Witches Shack Set-up: Walls

Witches Shack Set-up: Porch

Witches Shack Set-up: Complete

"Trick 'r Treat" scare zone being set up.

Sam and Ghost Corpses in position.

Pumpkins being added.

Even more pumpkins.

The "Greatest Show Unearthed" starts to rise.

Zombies being placed in positon.

Tombstones being added.

Coffins being positioned for effect.

Safety and Security Systems

2011-09-20T15:59:00.005-05:00

Safety and Secuitry Systems consists of wire fencing surrounding each scare zone/show, lighted pathways,video surveillance and sensor activated security lights. Scare Monitors (volunteer neighbors) are also onsite each night durring operating hours to police the haunt.

Landscape and Lighting

2011-09-18T19:01:00.005-05:00

Future site of "The Greatest Show Unearthed".

Topsoil, black mulch, fencing, wiring, waterproof lighting and signage all go into the mix to begin the transformation.

Preparation for the "Trick 'r Treat" scare zone.

The ivy will provide the perfect cover to hide the wires as well as some other hidden surprises.

Trick 'r Treat

2011-09-08T16:21:00.009-05:00

Sam and his friends are coming back to
The Talley House in 2011 ready to enforce
the Halloween traditions.

Prop Pre-assembly

2011-09-01T16:29:00.002-05:00

Custom built
coffins being
fitted with
pneumatic
mechanisms,
controllers and
sound systems
in pre-assembly
phase of
the build.

Zombie being assembled and posed prior to setting up of the haunt.

The Build

2011-09-01T11:23:00.003-05:00

Setting up "The Haunt"usually takes about 300 hours and is broken down into the following stages.

Prop Pre-assembly
Landscape and Lighting
Safety and Security Systems
Scare Zones/Shows Set-up
Technology Tweeks

Ghost of Bloody Mary

2011-06-26T00:58:00.012-05:00

Working on Pepper's Ghost illusion for
new scare zone:
Bloody Mary. She
lives for those that be brave or foolhardy.

Story Line for Bloody Mary Scare Zone

2011-06-25T23:56:00.010-05:00

Years ago… she lived in this tiny shack, nestled among these pines. Folks said she was a witch and they called her “Bloody Mary."
Many children at that time began to disappear, one by one. The neighbors became suspicious and then came the night, when the desperate few went out into the woods and saw Bloody Mary standing over a small child. The witch was glowing with an unearthly light as she set her evil spell upon the little girl. The angry crowd leapt upon the witch breaking off her spell. They built a huge bonfire and burned her at the stake. As she burned, Bloody Mary screamed…

“All Be Cursed That Speak My Name."

When she was dead, the grieving parents went deeper into the woods and found this shack you see before you. A boiling pot, some scattered bones and unmarked graves were all that was left of the little children the evil witch had murdered. She had used their blood to make herself young again.

From that day to this, any foolish mortal who chants Bloody Mary's name three times before a darkened mirror will summon the vengeful spirit of the witch.
It is said that she will tear their bodies into pieces and rip their souls from their mutilated corpses. The souls of these unfortunate ones will burn in torment as Bloody Mary once was burned, and they will be trapped forever… in the mirror

For those that be brave or foolhardy all you need do is look through side window and chant into Bloody Mary’s darkened mirror, still present after all these years.

A Bone to Pick with You

2011-03-25T23:39:00.002-05:00

Still shot from new scare show:
Shadow Theater where sinister shades of evil perform.

Purtid Pumpkins

2011-01-17T21:20:00.013-06:00

Working on a
new scare show:
The Greatest
Show Unearthed,
featuring three putrid pumpkins vocalizing a monstrous musical.

Yard Haunt 2011

2011-01-01T21:47:00.039-06:00

Just finalized the Yard Haunt layout for
2011. There will be eight scenes in total.
Four will be Scare Zones and they are:
Haunted Haven, Restless Rocker,
Trick r' Treat and Bloody Mary.
Four will be Scare Shows and they are:
The Greatest Show Unearthed,
Shadow Theater, The Tell-Tale House
and Words of Warning.

What's Brewing

2011-01-01T02:55:00.035-06:00

This month I will begin sharing an inside look into the activities that occur behind the scenes at Terror at the Talley House

Yard Haunt.