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Ryan Routh, a contractor, also bought the circa-1840 log cabin next to the house.Over past five years, he has connected the two buildings, adding a sweeping central hall and fairy-tale turret from timber he salvaged from ancient farmhouses.
``If the definition of a gentleman architect is a guy who designs his dream house with no training, that's me,' Ryan laughs.
Paul Stutts created a far more high-tech extravaganza on Deep Green Drive in northwest Greensboro. A man-size Frankenstein with eyes that shoot green beams greets visitors at the edge of the yard. Thanks to a fog machine, gray mist swirls around him. Ghosts, bats and skeletons dangle from branches. A huge inflatable Spiderman climbs toward a second-story window. Tombstones with dead bodies wait under a tree.
``And as soon as I get his mechanical head fixed, Wolfman will be ready to scare people,' Stutts says.
Though Polaroid-toting hordes tramp through the yard and traffic idles at the curb all Halloween night, Stutts, an accountant, throws himself into the annual artistic extravaganza. I wouldn't call it a talent; it's a desire,' he says.I want the kids who visit to remember their holiday as adults.'
He wants the display to be memorable but not too scary.
The first time, some had to be dragged up to the door because they were afraid of monsters,' he says.So I added forces of good - Batman, Spiderman - to the display. They figured if the superheroes were hanging out here, it was safe. No one's been scared again.'
Beth Harrington proves that sometimes the best Halloween decorating advice is to cast off all inhibitions. Illuminated witches, ghosts and skeletons beam from the roof and porch of her bungalow at 1510 Park Ave. A giant black plastic cat pops out of a jack-o'-lantern. Sweet-faced, glow-in-the-dark witches crowd the yard.
A real marmalade-colored cat mysteriously appears ``the second we decorate, then hangs around 'til Halloween, then disappears again,' Harrington says.
She dresses like a witch to hand out cupcakes.
I just throw everything out there for the holidays, and if it's bright or pretty or has light, it always turns out fun,' she says.Do you want to look inside the house? We're already decorating for Christmas.'
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