Yuba-Sutter’s Best Halloween Homes
Oct 25, 2024 11:34AM ● By Shamaya SuttonThis corner lot home located at 1639 Alicia Dr. in Yuba City. Photo by Shamaya Sutton
YUBA-SUTTER, CA (MPG) - The summer heat did a number on our yards and gardens this year, but its scorching touch left behind the perfect straw covered backdrop to ring in the harvest season. Not everyone chose to capitalize on this opportunity, but there were still several pockets throughout the community that more than made their neighbors apparent lack of Halloween enthusiasm.
Over the past few years, I've had the pleasure of tracking down some of the
region's spookiest decorators, artists that have become quite reliable in their
delivery and dedication to all things Halloween. The following list is a quick
roundup of the individuals on my current registrar and what haunts they had to
bring to the Yuba-Sutter landscape this year.
FARMHOUSE: 441 Pelican Pl. Yuba City
New to the roundup this year is a free haunted attraction being referred to as
“FARMHOUSE.” This is the residence of Corey Ringseth who has been decorating
for as long as he can remember.
“This year, because of the haunted house walk-thru, I started setting up September 2nd,” said Ringseth. “My inspiration this year was the 50th anniversary of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie. I took elements from that and made my own themed Farmhouse walk-thru.”
Tour dates for this haunted walk thru attraction are October 25, 26, 27, 30, and 31 from 7-10 p.m. While there is no admission fee, creators say that donations are much appreciated and go towards funding future aunts. This attraction is not recommended for those under the age of 13. Parental guidance encouraged.
FARMHOUSE is a free haunted walk through display located at 441 Pelican Pl. in Yuba City is open to the public. Parental discretion is advised. Photo courtesy of Corey Ringseth
Widowmaker
Lane Halloween Drive-thru: 2487 Feather River Blvd. Olivehurst
Speaking of interactive exhibits, Widowmaker Lane has quickly made a name for
itself as the region's only drive-thru Halloween light event. Lanette and Keith
Richardson started decorating their home for Halloween about four years ago
during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Each year features a new theme and
for the 2024 season the couple decided on “Camping and Cryptids.”
“The skeletons are enjoying lots of camping and outdoor activities,” said the Richardson’s. “This year a couple aliens show up looking for their spaceship, there's a Bigfoot hiding somewhere, and Paul Bunyan is out chopping wood.”
This drive-thru event is free and family friendly and may include graves and ghosts, but no gore. Hours of operation are 7- 9:30 p.m. on October 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, and 31.
Widowmaker Lane is a free Halloween drive-through event located at 2487 Feather River Blvd. in Olivehurst. The theme this year is “Camping and Cryptids.” Photo courtesy of Lanette and Keith Richardson
Eerie
Evans Estate: 1751 Sessler Pl. Yuba City
Shenise Evans is a veteran Halloween decorator with more than a decade's worth
of experience under her belt. Last year she struggled with finding enough time
to make her dreams, er’ nightmares come true, but still managed to pull off a
more than impressive display. It appears history may be repeating itself again
this year, however spectators can still expect some rather large developments.
“(I’m) super behind as usual,” laughed Evans. “I Brought my mausoleum out this year which is my fave prized possession. There's nothing else like it! It's bad in the wind though, so I have the top portion off for now. Found a cool old school prop called ‘Heads up Harry.’ Got my first air compressor prop this year and my new big guy replacing the 12 ft. skeleton in the cemetery.”
Eerie Evans Estate at 1751 Sessler Pl. in Yuba City. Guests can expect some new additions this year including a mausoleum. Photo courtesy of Shenise Evans
Jenn-erate Love Lights: 1385 Jacoby Creek Ct. Plumas Lake
The FM transmitters used to synchronize Christmas
light shows with holiday music are also being employed in Halloween set ups,
particularly those in Plumas Lake. The Jennings family of Jenn-erate Love
Lights are among these prominent homes who are finding ways to repurpose and
extend the life of their classic Christmas decor.
“We have two new animatronics in the front,”
said Nathan Jennings. “It’s set up a little differently with some new songs and
we have Minnie and Mickey Xmas animatronics dressed in Halloween costumes.”
If you happen to be in Plumas Lake you may want to venture down Roy Ranch Way
as well.
The Jennings family uses FM transmitters for a synchronized light show and gets extra miles out of their Christmas decor by giving it a Halloween spin. Photo courtesy of Nathan Jennings
Halloween
Harvest: 4458 Martel Dr. Olivehurst
Last year two neighbors, Kim Nichols and Darbie Houston, set the bar impossibly
high with the “Arachnid Amphitheater” and “Raven’s Inn.” These were by far the
best Halloween homes in the region, but things seem to have toned down a bit
this season. Nichols still sports a generous display that can easily be spotted
by its ominous orange glow from Highway 65. The theme this year centers around
an old-fashioned harvest hoedown complete with horses, farmers, and unique
skull-faced sunflowers. It appears Housten however stayed true to her word and
retired from her decorating endeavors this year. Perhaps her skills will return
elsewhere for another season.
The Halloween Harvest display is located at 4458 Martel Dr. in Olivehurst. Photo by Shamaya Sutton
Halloween
Manor: 429 S. Walton Ave. Yuba City
As always, that “one house off Walton” never ceases to impress with what could
quite easily be the largest amount of blowups in the city and perhaps all of
Sutter County. On Halloween proper, expect to be even more terrified as the
driveway and sidewalk transform into a complete haunted destination. Enter at
your own risk!
Halloween Manor located at 429 S. Walton Ave. in Yuba City sports one of the region's largest blow-up collections. Photo by Shamaya Sutton
Proceed with caution: 754 Bridge St.
Yuba City
Those who commute frequently between our twin cities have probably glimpsed a
gruesome display off Bridge Street in Yuba City. Here, a man by the name of
Robert flexes his artistic skills with a variety of salvaged materials,
favoring the insulation foam he scraps from recycled water heaters. He also
appears to have quite the affinity for Jason Voorhees from “Friday the 13th.”
Some of his displays stay up year-round but its true potential gets revealed
every October. This year’s set up incorporates a large number of “weird
barbies” into the mix.
This Halloween display located at 754 Bridge St. in Yuba City incorporates a vast amount of recyclable materials, particularly salvaged foam from old water heaters. Photo by Shamaya Sutton
Happy Halloween: 1639 Alicia Dr. Yuba City
A corner house in Yuba City that always garners much attention during the holidays is back to their usual antics again this year. Most of the display is the same, however we did notice a drummer got added to the skeleton band. Some of their jumpscare animatronics are handing treats out early with peanut butter crackers enticing innocent passersby to take a risk.
This corner lot home located at 1639 Alicia Dr. in Yuba City has added a drummer to their skeleton band. Photo by Shamaya Sutton
Pro Tips:
Most displays operate or light up between 5:30 and 9 p.m. Yuba City’s El Margarita Estates continues to be one of the hottest destinations for trick or treaters in Sutter County. Parking can become tough, and the crowds are dense so it's advised to arrive early and be creative in how you track your children. Many parents suggest using Air Tags.