The History of the DC Cemetery

What is the DC Cemetery?
The DC Cemetery is a "home haunt" that resides in the heart of the Old Mountain View neighborhood that is designed with the residents of Mountain View and its surrounding communities in mind. Over the years we've concocted a haunt that is fun and bone chilling for all age groups. We also like to think that our efforts aid in the progression of Halloween, and hopefully our actions will spread onto others, so they too can provide a safe element for all kids (and adults) to enjoy.

The DC Cemetery has recently become one of the most elaborate and complex haunted house displays in America, gaining consistent media attention and in 2007 nationwide exposure. The haunt is so elaborate that they were the winners of FEARnet.com’s 2007 Scariest Home Haunted House contest, flown to New York City, and presented with a $50,000.00 check live on NBC’s Today Show.

So is it worth seeing? We’ll let you decide. Please leave a review on Yelp DC Cemetery on YELP.

How did the Cemetery come about?
The haunt began in the early 1980's like most family's holiday decoration fascinations. The Ross’ (Mike and Mary-Ann, Brent, Scott & Clayton decorated the porch with jack-o-lanterns, hand drawn/colored paper cutouts, stretchable spider webs, and a colored light replacing the "standard" porch light. As the years progressed we all got more into Halloween and each year my parents spent approximately $50-100 on a new prop or decoration. Around 1985 Brent helped build a haunted house with his local Boy Scout troop and his enthusiasm and love for the holiday inspired his parents to go "all out", purchasing a skull, black light, and dry ice. With those two starting points Brent’s love for Halloween turned into an obsession that grows to this very day (with no end in site).

As the porch display grew year after year it was soon evident that the space required for Brent’s grand visions would not be fulfilled with the area available, so they decided to move the display to the driveway and erect a “horror chamber” type walk thru haunt. A plywood façade was built and painted to mimic a stone building, and the inside was sectioned off to create a couple “main scenes” that changed year after year; however the one scene that always grew and outshined the others was the graveyard. “With the glowing fog, tombstones, and exhumed grave site, that scene always had the most Halloween feel so the next year we based the entire haunt off it and the cemetery theme was born.” The next year they changed up the overall design and moved the façade walls to the back of the display and the added a faux fence and two mausoleums to display the main show pieces which at the time were extremely simple static props.

What do you see at the DC Cemetery? (A scare-by-scare description)
The DC Cemetery is a large display that is separated into two sections. The first and largest portion is the cemetery scene that encompasses the Ross families entire side yard and half of their neighbor’s yard. It houses three main mausoleums each containing a complex animated prop, and each is surrounded with other props that blend the scenes to create a realistic graveyard scene.

Inside the cemetery the main character located behind the main gates is “The Grim Reaper”. The reaper features 22 individual movements, synced fog and lighting and as he awakens goes from a 7’ seated pose to an impressive 13’ towering height. He tells the animated tale of the cemetery and subtly gives a couple rules for the viewers to abide by. As his story winds on, the creatures of the DC Cemetery become active and are synced with the reapers directional gestures. The reaper bids farewell with a final “beware” and retracts back into a seated position and hands the show off to the other characters.

The next main prop located in the far left mausoleum is the “Skeletal Organist”. This 8 movement animated organ player that not only mimics lifelike organ playing jestures, but does so as a naked skeletal figure with all mechanisms hidden out of sight from all viewers. The mechanical mayhem is hidden within its chest, head, and under the organ bench. The organist and is topped off with white hair, an old top hat and lit with a UV reactive clear paint that gives a ghostly glow under a HID UV black light. To add additional pizzazz, the organist sits in-front of an antique faux pipe organ with animated keys to simulate the keys being depressed during his performance.

Moving outwards towards the viewer’s area, you meet up with the “Mourner”. The Mourner is a crowd favorite that sits crouched crying over her lost husband’s coffin. Once activated this 8 movement prop moves towards the cemetery gate 30”, spins 180 degrees, stands up (from a seated 3.5’ to standing 7’), lifts her head revealing a skeletal face, red glowing eyes and animated jaw movement while screaming at the viewers. She then begins to rotate back to resting position before going back for one additional scare; spinning back around, opening up her arms outwards then up, yells “boo”, then sprays a mist of water out of her mouth. She then cackles a wicked laugh while retracting back to her husband’s side.

The Mourner’s husband is known as the “Screaming Corpse”. The screaming corpse is directly in front of the Mourner (when in resting position) and housed in a full sized toe pincher coffin that opens slowly revealing a ghostly green fog that the corpse rises upwards through. He pivots approximately 90 degrees at his waist then turns 45 degrees to face the viewers, while in the mean time making an evil moaning noise. When the Mourner screams the first time, the screaming corpse mimics with a similar scream, and when she yells “boo” the screaming corpse begins to laugh before retracting back to his final resting place.

Directly to the right of the mourner is our animated obelisk. The obelisk contains a full size 6’ hidden animated character that when triggered fills with fog, before splitting apart with the front half lifting into the air providing room for the web covered vile thing character crouched inside to stand up, open his once crossed arms and with his animated mouth and head movement scream for the viewers to leave the cemetery before its too late. Once done warning the viewers, he sits back don, lowers his head and the obelisk lid closes once again hiding the character.

Moving back to the right side of the cemetery, between the animated obelisk and the reaper is the “Thrashing Coffin” which is another full sized toe pincher coffin wrapped in chains to prevent the beast inside from escaping. When activated the upper lid portion thrashes violently against the chains and the coffin fills with fog. 3 seconds after the thrashing stops, the base of the coffin lifts and a full sized skeletal corpse emerges from a crouched position to a 6’ head height, lit with a colored strobe and armed with a evil scream.

Directly behind the thrashing coffin is the “rocking chair corpse” which throughout the evening rocks quietly in the background un-phased by all the surrounding action.

Moving further right, directly behind the reaper is DC’s main mausoleum that houses another of their original and most violent and realistic designs, “The Skeleton Victim”. The skeleton victim is a multi elemental prop that uses audio, violent movements, fog and lighting, as well as overall visual appeal to provide an illusion of a grave robber opening caskets within a sealed mausoleum before accidentally awakening the entombed angry sprits. As he flees in attempt to escape he is captured at the doors of the mausoleum. He frantically bangs at the doors trying to escape, synced perfectly to the audio, the doors slightly open after each hit. The doors then fully open exposing the victim being attacked by two skeletal corpses that restrain him from leaving. He attempts to break free from their grasps, but the skeletons prevail and pull him back into the depths of the morgue. The props 14 individual movements simulate realistic human movements and a soundtrack created by Mike Fox (www.foxproductions.tv) brings the props realism to life.

Moving further across the cemetery you come across the third and final mausoleum which houses a fully animated “Spider Victim”. The doors slowly creak open exposing a full sized human figure that is entombed within spider webs. Sounds of bugs eating away at his flesh are drowned out by the pleas for help as he dangles from the ceiling. struggling to free himself from his tomb. The movements become more violent as multiple oversized animated spiders move closer. He gives off one last scream for help and outstretches his arm before the doors close sealing his fate.

Directly in front of the spider victim is a house favorite, the “Thrashing Corpse”. Grasping the gate with both hands, the thrashing corpse looks around and randomly bites at his viewers. As he gets more anxious to escape, he violently lunges forward and back shaking the exterior cemetery gate.

To the left of the thrashing corpse is the “Embalming Spitter” which is an antiqued “embalming fluid” barrel that houses a submerged spitting corpse. The barrel is internally lit with an underwater green light and dry ice is added throughout the night to hide what lurks within. When triggered the corpse lifts 24” up from the murky water and spits a fine mist of water 8’ directly at the viewers.

Moving further right is where the cemetery ends and the morgue begins. The morgue entrance is guarded by an animated skeletal host that welcomes visitors before laying down the house rules. Once his speech is complete, he bid the gusts farewell and invites the next group of visitors to enter. When you enter the morgue you are immediately confronted with an onslaught of animated creatures and a multitude of visual effects.

The first animation you’re greeted with is the “Crypt Dweller” which is full sized corpsed skeleton that is posed a lying position grasping its bouquet of dead roses. When activated via a concealed infrared sensor the corpse begins moaning a deathly growl then abruptly leans over screams and outstretches his arm towards the passerby’s.

Below the Crypt Dweller is another outstretched corpse that houses a hidden pop up corpse that emerges from below the corpse’s shin bones. A hidden trap door flies up followed by the “Sneaky Pete” character that screams and sprays a mist of water at its viewers (at an adult knee level or a child’s head height) before retracting back to a completely hidden passageway.

Directly adjacent the Sneaky Pete viewers are greeted by the “Head Banger” which when triggered quietly moans “get out” before slamming his head repeatedly into a bared window while psychotically laughing, before finally retracting into his upright resting position.

Moving further inwards you confront yourself within the reflection of an antique mirror. At first glance it’s just a mirror, but with further inspection viewers trip another sensor and behind the two-way mirror lights expose a lunging corpse posed directly against the glass. The startling site is accompanied by a deathly scream and a small air cannon blast at ankle level.

Passing the haunted mirror you’re greeted by a ghastly nanny who’s holding a crying baby corpse. The “Nanny and Peek-A-Boo” prop begins its animation with the baby cry echoing throughout the morgue. Suddenly the nanny’s head lifts, turns towards visitors, then she opens her mouth releasing a deathly scream. At the same time the nanny screams, the baby leaps upward and sprays a mist of water from its nose.

Passing the Nanny and Peek a Boo, you turn a corner and begin walking down a dim lit, dampened hallway filled with a light haze and faint sounds of thousands of bugs. About half way down the hallway a second sensor is tripped and bug spitting air blasters fire on the visitors from all sides, simulating being spit on by the creatures.

Distracted by the bugs you come face to face with the “Slammer”. The slammer is a violent prop that that greets his guests by slamming violently into a barred plexiglass window. The slammers room is completely blacked out and filled with dense fog to hide what lurks within, ensures a startle to even the most fearless visitor. A second before the slammer hits the window, the room and creature are lit with a bright strobe and the sheer sound of the prop hitting the glass sends most people running.

Turning the last corner you’re summoned by the “Candy Man”, which features an animated skull that beckons children to come towards his lair. Upon triggering the corpse lifts his head and begins talking, bribing the children to reach through the opening in the barred door and enjoy a treat. The corpse warns them to only take one piece, and as their hands enter the bowl, a second trigger is tripped fog blasts from behind, strobe lights the room and an oversized arm lunges out from behind the dish towards the children’s outstretched hands. The corpse laughs as the kids generally drop their candy and run, then waits for his next victim.

After passing the Candy Man, you exit the morgue and pass by either the burial grounds to the left, or the witches den to the right.

The burial grounds is housed between the entrance and exit doors of the morgue and houses multiple tombstones, a 24” black widow that lunges 6’ towards the gate spraying a mist of water at its victims, and overhead, a winged skeletal figure lit by UV reactive white paint that flaps its huge wings while waiting to attack its next victim. There are also two small pop up spitters that are placed throughout the grave scene that give simple startles to the people waiting in line.

Last but not least is the newest addition to the DC Cemetery, the “witches den”. The witches den is set in an overgrown swamp like setting and features two animated witches, one facing the viewers, and one with her back turned. The sounds of a crackling fire, bubbling cauldron, and witch incantations fill the air while one witch stirs her cauldron. The cauldron is internally lit with an off set motor driving the witches stir stick. Fog bellows upwards from a hidden fog chiller nested within the cauldrons base, and faux flames flicker between the burnt wood. When viewers get too close, the audio changes, and the rear facing witch spins 180 degrees, stands and lunges towards the gate, screaming at the viewers before cackling as she returns to resting position.

Who is involved in creating the DC Cemetery? (meet the crew below)
Although Brent is the driving force behind DC, he admits that the haunt would have never had risen to its current standings without the assistance of his entire family, and in more recent years his wife Kasey and a couple good friends (James DeBenedetti, Cliff Chambliss, and Dave Frerichs).

If you are interested in haunting your home with our products, please check out www.dcprops.com for simple thru fully animated creations.

Brent Ross
Creator & Designer of the DC Cemetery

Meet the DC Crew

Brent Ross: Designer & Creator of DC Design Studio, Devious Concoctions and the DC Cemetery	Clayton Ross: Lead assistant in prop fabrication and construction of the DC Cemetery
Mike Ross: Jack of all trades	James DeBenedetti: Electrical guru and master prop builder
Kasey Ross: Brent's very tolerant wife, and corpsing expert.	Scott Ross: Great all around helper and parts runner (when he shows up)
Cliff Chambliss: Seasoned veteran and prop building assistant.	Nick Ross: Morgue bouncer, and starbucks runner
Dave Frerichs: Original designer of the DC Midi system programmer for '03-'05 cemetery animation. Off site assistant.