Halloween comes to life in Cathlamet yard

Steve Powell and his wife, Celeste, know how to get in the Halloween spirit. They know how to get into the Christmas spirit too, but that's another story.

The couple live on Jacobson Road in a house that cannot be missed. There are holiday flags and lights. There are spooky inflatables and animatronics taking up their entire yard, and decorating the outside of their house.

Their garage has become a tiny haunted house filled with screaming creatures with red eyes and moving parts. Dracula sits up in his coffin when you least expect it and spiders fall from the ceiling, while bats fly back and forth. There are black lights and pictures with eyes that follow you when you move.

Powell's favorite is a convict in an electric chair.

"The first year," he said, "I sat next to him and the kids couldn't tell if I was a prop or not."

They've been adding to the yard decorations since they started four years ago. Each inflatable costs between $85-$400, Powell estimated. This is the third year they've had the haunted house.

The couple had to build a shed in the back yard just to store the decorations.

"It was just something to do that is fun," Powell said. "We light the whole place, do it to music. We enjoy the reaction from the kids. When the school bus goes by, it leans to one side."

They've got a pumpkin on the roof, and a new dinosaur section. A projector runs visions of Halloween at night. They added a pirate this year, and a shark eating a fellow below.

"We had him walk the plank," Powell laughed.

The couple were busy getting ready for the trick or treaters on Tuesday afternoon. They were getting dressed as Sally and Jack from The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Speaking of Christmas, keep your eyes pealed for the 18 foot tall snowman and the 15 foot tall Santa Claus.

The Powells moved to Cathlamet in 2000.