Housing in Austin is terrifying. No, not the pricing (which is a real horror), but the delightfully frightful decor that dons each house for Halloween. Austinites are dead serious about celebrating this macabre holiday properly, transforming their yards into graveyards, and turning their homes hostile. It’s a full-on keeping up with the Jim Joneses out there. Enjoy the cooler weather as winter creeps closer, and wander around these spooktacular streets as you take in all the scenery.

Please remember these are still places where people live, so be respectful of monsters when you visit.

Where to Find Awesome Houses Decorated for Halloween

Allandale
This classic tree-lined neighborhood in North Austin has plenty of great decorations, but one that cannot be missed is a passion project of a local stay-at-home Dad who goes above and beyond when it comes to his Halloween decor — the @AllandaleHalloweenHouse. Collecting trinkets and materials from local buy-nothing groups throughout the year, this homeowner can create a monstrously memorable stop for all the local trick-or-treaters. Taking things beyond the typical setup, the front of the house looks like it was turned into a full-on crumbling log cabin straight out of the haunted woods of your nightmares, with a witch’s front porch and much more. You can find this off Shoal Creek Blvd. across from the west side of Northwest Park, just a few blocks from Greenlawn Parkway.

Crestview
Have we reached a point where we can say “Rest in Peace Austin Weird”? Crestview homeowners are making a statement about the changes our city has endured over the recent years, paying homage to all the local businesses, restaurants, and local “celebrities” that we loved and miss as part of their front yard Cemetery of Old Austin.  You can find this on W. St. Johns between Arroyo Seco & Hardy Dr.

Clarksville
Neighbors go all out and cover their cottages with massive spider webs, ghastly ghosts, and all the classic tropes. You’ll find plenty of great spooky homes in this neighborhood like the one pictured below by longtime resident, Ms. Lofton, who loves decorating every year.

 

Great Hills/Barrington Oaks
You might have heard about the Barrington Halloween House in the past since the family who lives in this North Austin neighborhood have been going BIG with decorations for more than 15 years. Each year brings a new theme, and from the looks of their Facebook page, we might encounter some Nightmare Before Christmas this year. You can find this at 11306 Barrington Way.

Leander
The deeper into suburbia you go, the higher the chance you take to see some truly spooky stuff. For more than seven years now, Mike and Mandi Stine in Ridgewood North up in Leander have been terrorizing the neighborhood for a good cause. Turning their house into a horror, they continue to lead Leander into every Halloween with ghoulish delight. Typically set up to accept donations for a charity, feel good knowing your screams are going to make the world a happier place.

Kyle
The drive down 35 is scary enough to some drivers, but for those willing to brave the traffic, there’s a spooktacular surprise deep in the exurbs of Austin. Kyle couple Milburn and Rhonda King are Halloween royalty in their subdivision. Covering their entire yard in aliens, ghouls, a headless horseman, a talking plant, and even a candy-spewing dragon. Essentially, the Kings of Kyle make it worthwhile to visit for your spooky season fix of over-the-top decorations. The King’s house is located at 911 Whispering Hollow Drive in Kyle.

via Bud Hasert

Circle C
Submitted by Do512 Family reader, Bud Hasert: “Well, we all know that the Harry Potter house in Vintage Place (Circle C) is taking the year off. But that just means that the rest of the neighbors down here are having to step it up!  Check out the Ork Fortress in my front yard….on the same street as the Harry Potter house.  I sculpted and painted all the little Orks and Goblins standing guard. And the Ork War Boss is watching over all the trick-or-treaters…and occasionally throwing out insults … and farts. As Orks will do. The yard has custom lights, fog machines, four different audio soundtracks, and a movie Dungeon in the driveway. Sorry, no Tim Burton on this screen. It’s all custom-made videos of my family … of Orks”.

Got a favorite haunt we forgot? Let us know at [email protected]!

This write-up was modified from an original Do512 page by Deven Wilson