Legendary Halloween haunt prepares for one last fright

Dancing to “Thriller” has become a favorite part of the annual Halloween tradition. (COURTESY OF DAVID FRANK)

LEAVENWORTH — This Halloween, the beloved “Terror on Cedar Street” tradition will be celebrating its 25th and final year of haunted mazes, all-out decor and “Thriller” dances in the neighborhood of Cedar Street and Kelley Avenue.

The tradition’s humble beginnings trace back to Halloween in 2001. The Frank family had just bought and stripped down a dilapidated home with gapped siding and broken windows.

“The place just looked creepy and haunted,” said David Frank, homeowner and curator of Terror on Cedar Street.

When Halloween came around, the Franks did little more than put out a few carved pumpkins. The house drew enough attention, not only for its spooky aesthetic, but also for its history. When families stopped by, they shared stories about the house and their excitement around its restoration.

The next year, they added a few decorations to lean into the still-haunted looking house. This time, attendance jumped threefold, according to Frank.

“It was crazy. We had lines out to the street,” said Frank. “Then it just became like a self-serving prophecy. This thing just kept on growing.”

The remodeled house eventually lost its naturally haunted appearance, but Frank made up for it with a growing collection of scary animatronics and spooky decor. Now, the macabre vibes are limited to the basement, where it’s all stored.

“It's super creepy, because there's all these zombies and horrible things down there,” said Frank.

Over the past 25 years, the corner of Cedar and Kelley has become an expected production on Halloween night, with the help of friends, family and neighbors. Frank commissions the Cascade High School’s Technology Student Association to build his maze; Epic Motion Dance Studio dances to “Thriller” throughout the night. Meanwhile, the property is transformed into a nightmarish scene, complete with 20-plus animatronics, professional grade fog machines, and Avalon music sound system.

The house draws in upwards of 1,800 people on Halloween night, according to Frank’s estimates. The frights and thrills are toned down in the early evening for younger trick-or-treaters, then turned up as the night matures.

“It’s just astounding the amount of candy we go through,” said Frank, noting the storage bins needed to hold the candy.

But, as Frank puts it, “Every legend has a beginning. Every nightmare has an ending.” After so many years, he’s ready to retire from the “Terror on Cedar Street” tradition.

“I hope that somebody picks this up and keeps it going, because it’s a great way for the community to come together,” said Frank.

For Frank, it’s a fitting ending. This Halloween marks a symbolic 25 years of the tradition. It also falls on a Saturday — the best night of the week to go big. Frank plans to pull out all of the stops, from the animatronics to the haunted maze. His neighbor has gathered a group together to practice their dance to “Thriller.” He’s even hired a DJ to synchronize lights to the music.

When Frank announced it would be the final year, he received an outpouring of comments from the community, such as neighbors grateful for the tradition and former trick-or-treaters sharing their favorite memories — many of whom are now returning with their own children.

“That's one of the best parts…That to me, just spells community, and I love that. I'm going to miss that part of it a lot,” said Frank.