Video Tag
Every video tagged “yard haunt” in the library — a focused slice of the Halloween archive.
488 videos
Hauntcast presents a top-10 countdown of creative ways haunters can use expanding foam to build Halloween props on a budget. The video covers a wide range of applications — from crafting gory innards and body forms to constructing toxic barrels, rope vines, and skulls. It serves as a practical inspiration guide for home haunters and attraction builders looking to get maximum versatility from a single, readily available material.
This VanOaksProps tutorial introduces DIY gobos as an accessible way to dramatically upgrade haunt lighting for yard displays and haunted houses. Using plumbing pipe, free 3D-printable model files, and affordable LED bulbs, viewers can create focused, patterned light effects inspired by theatrical lighting techniques. The approach emphasizes keeping costs low while achieving a professional, atmospheric look. No single lighting solution is presented as perfect, but gobos are offered as a powerful and underutilized tool in the home haunter's toolkit.
VanOaksProps walks through a full build for realistic flickering candle props using compact low-voltage LED flame bulbs wired through a buck converter. The tutorial covers soldering the electrics, forming candle bodies from PVC pipe, and adding convincing wax-drip textures with hot glue and paint. The result is a brighter, more lifelike candle effect compared to standard flicker LEDs. The finished props suit home haunts, yard haunts, or any atmospheric Halloween display.
This tutorial walks DIY haunters through building an animated levitating teapot prop using crafting techniques, a motor mechanism, and thrift store sourced items. The build combines a clever illusion with movement to create the appearance of a ghostly, self-pouring or floating teapot. The finished prop works equally well as a yard haunt centerpiece or as eerie Halloween dinner party decor. The channel's signature approach emphasizes accessible, budget-conscious methods that yield professional-looking results.
Part 2 of VanOaksProps' following bust monument series focuses on the finishing stages: applying paint, faux marble effects, and a Drylok texture base coat before adding craft paint layers via airbrush. LED strip lighting and decorative faux ivy are incorporated to complete the eerie cemetery monument look. The build is sponsored by ChickenProps, whose staring statue mechanisms power the 'following' eye effect. This episode bridges the gap between raw prop construction and a polished, display-ready Halloween centerpiece.
A walkthrough of the creator's 2022 Halloween yard haunt setup, blending creepy and cute characters across an outdoor display. The haunt is designed to evolve week by week throughout October, growing progressively scarier as Halloween night approaches. The video also highlights a few key products used in the build, including decorative fencing and RGB floodlighting.
This step-by-step tutorial walks viewers through building a motorized skeleton raven animatronic suitable for a witch's den, haunted house, or front-yard cemetery scene. The build incorporates a FrightProps motor kit to bring the raven to life with realistic movement. At just over 25 minutes, the video covers both the required materials and the full construction process in an accessible, beginner-friendly format. It is part of a broader series of Halloween DIY prop and special-effects tutorials from the same creator.
Distortions Unlimited celebrates Dick Van Dyke's 99th birthday with a tribute to the entertainer's decades-long love of decorating his home for Halloween. The video highlights his use of Distortions monsters, props and animatronics since 2012, along with the studio's visits to help set up his display. It frames the beloved actor as a self-described 'big kid' who delights in scares and monsters.
This tutorial from Monster Tutorials walks viewers through corpsing a half skeleton and transforming it into a groundbreaking zombie prop for a Halloween graveyard display. The build uses accessible materials including a plastic skeleton and drop cloth, shaped with a heat gun to create a decayed, fleshy appearance. The finished prop is designed to appear as though a zombie is rising from the ground, making it a striking yard haunt centerpiece.
Distortions Unlimited — the professional Halloween prop and animatronics company — documents their annual tradition of helping legendary entertainer Dick Van Dyke set up his home yard haunt, this time in celebration of his upcoming 100th birthday. The crew brought out several 2025 props including the new Xenovore animatronic and the Giant Talking Head to dress up the display. It's a warm behind-the-scenes look at a decade-long collaboration between a Hollywood icon and one of the Halloween industry's most respected prop makers.
VanOaksProps walks through a simple, low-profile method for keeping Halloween tombstones standing firm even in windy conditions. The technique involves drilling into foam tombstones and using stakes driven into the ground to anchor them securely. At just four minutes, this is a quick, practical tutorial suited for any outdoor graveyard display.
This video offers a full nighttime walkthrough of Menefee Manor, a TikTok-famous Halloween yard haunt located in San Antonio, Texas. The display, situated near General McMullen and Menefee Boulevard, drew widespread attention in 2024 for its elaborate outdoor Halloween decorations and atmosphere. The attraction is free to the public, with donations accepted to support the creators' efforts. Viewers get an immersive after-dark tour of one of San Antonio's most talked-about seasonal displays.
This tutorial walks viewers through building a DIY animated skull prop whose jaw slowly opens and closes through a clever mechanical animation system — notably without requiring an additional motor. The skull is designed as a companion piece to the creator's Levitating Table prop, sitting atop the floating table to enhance the overall ghostly display. The step-by-step format makes it accessible for home haunters looking to add a professional-looking animatronic effect to a porch, yard haunt, or haunted house scene.
VanOaksProps walks through a full large-scale crypt build inspired by the iconic above-ground tombs of New Orleans cemeteries. The project covers design through final weathered finish using accessible materials centered on XPS insulation foam. Techniques include routing decorative details, foam carving, spackling for texture, and paint weathering to achieve an authentic aged-stone look. The finished prop is designed to be lightweight and durable enough for repeated seasonal outdoor use.
This video tours Menefee Manor, an elaborately decorated residential yard haunt located in San Antonio, Texas. The display features a large collection of animatronics alongside live scare actors delivering unexpected scares throughout the walkthrough. The 2024 edition of this free neighborhood attraction appears to be a standout Halloween destination in the San Antonio area.
StiltbeastStudios walks through a straightforward, low-cost method for fabricating decorative crow and bat props suitable for haunted houses or yard haunts. A downloadable bird silhouette pattern is used as a template, and a foam underlayment material serves as the primary build medium. The result is a lightweight, easily reproducible prop that can be massed for dramatic effect without breaking the budget.
Distortions Unlimited showcases a fully dressed Halloween cemetery scene populated with multiple Frightronics electric animatronic props, including zombie figures, a Moving Monument, Tipping Tombstone, Gargoyle, and Cracking Crypt, among others. The short showcase demonstrates how these pieces work together to create an immersive graveyard atmosphere. All featured props are part of the brand's 2020 product lineup and are marketed toward home haunters, yard haunts, and professional attractions alike.
Distortions Unlimited showcases their Frightronic line of moving, animatronic Halloween doll props in this short product highlight reel. The creepy, lifelike dolls are designed to unsettle guests at yard haunts, home haunts, and professional dark attractions alike. Distortions is an established haunt prop manufacturer and retailer with a reputation for high-quality electric fright props, having been featured on the TV show Making Monsters.
This tutorial walks DIY haunters through building a convincing floating, animated candle illusion suitable for both indoor and outdoor Halloween displays. The build combines basic crafting techniques with a reindeer (deer) motor to produce realistic levitating movement. The channel is known for step-by-step guides that help hobbyists achieve professional-looking results on a home-haunt budget.
Distortions Unlimited previews their 2020 product lineup at the Halloween and Party Expo and Hauntcon, showcased within the Morris Costumes trade show booth. The short walkthrough highlights a wide range of animatronics and props, including Nosferatu, Jack Attack, Monster Kids, Kreepy Kids, Giant Blazing Pumpkin, and several graveyard-themed pieces. Distortions is a long-established American manufacturer known for durable, high-quality Halloween products suited to home haunts, professional attractions, and theme parks alike. Prices visible in the video reflect show wholesale rates and are not indicative of current retail pricing.
GMHaunts covers the full Spirit Halloween 2024 animatronic lineup reveal, with a focused look at the Carnevil-themed collection. The video gives Halloween enthusiasts an early preview of what retail animatronics will be available for the upcoming season. At roughly 24 minutes, it offers a thorough walkthrough of the newly announced pieces before they hit store shelves.
This step-by-step tutorial walks viewers through building a motorized, animated pumpkin head prop that integrates with a fog machine for dramatic effect. The finished prop is versatile enough to serve as a scarecrow head, a haunted house centerpiece, or a creepy yard display. The channel specializes in accessible DIY animatronics and special effects projects aimed at home haunters and crafters.
Distortions Unlimited showcases their giant Haunted Tree prop, a professionally handcrafted Halloween decoration standing approximately 9.5 feet tall — or up to 10 feet with arms raised. Built in the USA from latex, foam, and metal armature, the prop ships in five modular pieces for straightforward setup and compact storage. Poseable arms and fingers allow custom positioning, while an included LED flame bulb illuminates the glowing eyes and mouth for dramatic effect.
Inspired by a cemetery tour in New Orleans, VanOaksProps builds a gothic-style haunt fence from PVC pipe and wood furring strips to complete a DIY family crypt display. The fence is elevated with 3D-printed finials and corner brackets, then finished with rubberized undercoating and rust-colored spray paint for an aged wrought-iron look. The build is designed to be accessible and budget-friendly while delivering a high visual impact as part of a larger graveyard scene.
