The idea
We both grew up in broken homes, without the family support we craved. Halloween was the one night the whole neighborhood felt like family. It didn't matter how much money you had. You threw on what you could, and total strangers opened their doors and handed you candy. That was so much more than candy. It was belonging when you felt like you belonged to nothing. People say to build what you want to see in the world, so we did.
The odds
Halloween had been a full family affair since our kids were born. Then in 2021 we moved to Texas, left all of it behind, and our kids were heartbroken. We were new in town, with no neighbors who knew us and no crew, so it started with just the five of us and whatever we could build ourselves.
The move
I build dreams in the studio, literally. Every year we throw out the old theme and start over, and I dream it, design it, and then we build every piece of it by hand, ourselves. On Halloween night more than 20 volunteers bring it to life. The year we built the Wizard of Oz, the Tyler Junior College Dance program walked through. We donated all of our props to them, and then they hired us to build out the rest of their vision. TJC told us it became the most-seen show the program has put on to date, and we're continuing to build with them.
The result
Tyler Halloween House now comes alive on Halloween night, and we mean that literally. What started with the five of us is now an immersive experience with a full volunteer staff, a full cast of characters, three cotton candy machines running all night, and candy for every kid who walks up. Hundreds of families and thousands of kids come through. We built Tyler Halloween House into a full brand, and people from across the country follow along every year to see what we're building next. Our kids take off work every year to serve the community that welcomed us, and the builds that started in my studio led straight to a set design gig with the Tyler Junior College Dance program. In 2026, Matthew and I took Tyler Halloween House to the American Advertising Awards, and it won a Gold ADDY, Best of Category in Out-of-Home and Ambient Media, and Best of Show at AAF East Texas.
Results at a glance
Gallery
Credits
- Photography Austin Sandy
- Follow along @theTylerHalloweenHouse on Instagram, @TylerHalloweenHouse on Facebook and TikTok