Agassiz man transforms property into haunted Halloween display

When Wayne Hunken moved into his Agassiz property on Ashton Road three years ago, he knew exactly what he wanted to do with all his new space.

Combining his creativity, technical skills, and love for holidays – spooky and cheerful alike – Hunken decided to create new worlds, both festive and spooky.

Walk past the “mad scientist” on Hunken’s property and a high-voltage display goes off – one of many spooky displays for visitors.(Nina Grossman/TheObserver)

“I always liked Halloween but I never had the spot to do it,” he said. “Now that I’m here and I have enough property to do it, it’s a lot of fun.”

Many of his Christmas decorations were ruined during a harsh winter, but Hunken’s Halloween collection has continued to grow from visits to Costco, thrift stores and off-season Halloween stores. The end result is an ever-evolving collection of skeletons, ghosts, witches and even an evil dog.

But Hunken’s display goes a step further. With a career in designing electronic security systems, the Halloween-fanatic loves electronics and has the skills to bring his collection to life with motion-sensored movements and sounds that create bone-chilling effects for those who dare to make their way to his doorstep.

“Halloween is kind of big because I like the scary portion of it and I like making things,” Hunken said.

As much a cautionary tale as Halloween decor, the “ex-smoker” on Hunken’s patio is one of the final spooks for trick-or-treaters. (Nina Grossman/The Observer)

And make things, he does.

Ghosts zip from one side of the property to the other – with wispy white sheets dragging behind them – a skeleton awakes from a coffin and “Cuddles” the long-dead canine pops out from his dog house to greet visitors.

Enter Hunken’s transformed balcony and you’re greeted by an “escaped prisoner,” evil witches, and a very, very mad scientist. Not to mention some hungry rats and a deceased smoker. Hunken even prints his own original photography onto canvases to create realistic backdrops for different “scenes.”

And that’s only some of the Halloween fun (or fears) that await visitors to Ashton Road. The scary set-up has already been visited by more than 100 curious visitors, and Hunken expects more this week, especially on the big night: October 31.

Hunken was busy preparing the final touches of his display Tuesday, but said he’s already thinking ahead.

“I have ideas for next year that I’m going to make it even bigger.”