Story and photos by Doug Petrowski

As Halloween decorations go, few can top the efforts of Brier residents Ron and Shelly Magnuson, who for ten years have turned their home into a display like few others.

“Yeah, it’s gotten a little crazy,” Ron admitted.

The Magnusons have tricked out their home at the corner of 217th Place Southwest and Vine Road for the past 10 years, using lights, props and sound to create a treat for all who come by.

This year’s edition includes a number of skeleton and zombie creatures in their front yard, now dubbed “M&M Cemetery,” and a web encasing nearly their entire home, complete with giant spider above the front door. Tombstones and coffins dot the front yard, and various flying monsters are seen hanging from tree limbs and roof overhangs.

“I spent all of last weekend putting it up,” Ron said. “Well, I did take a break to watch the Seahawks game.” Ron was out completing some finishing touches when a reporter drove up to the house earlier this week.

The display will be up through Halloween night, when Shelly will dress up in costume to greet visitors and Ron will hide inside to control some of the displays. One coffin is wired to shake, while other decorations are sound and motion-activated. Ron also uses a sound system to “talk” through some of the creatures.

When asked how much money he has spent over the years on the display Ron answers, “I don’t even want to know.”

The Magnusons use their efforts for a charitable cause. “Last year we collected 200 pounds of food for the Mountlake Terrace Food Bank,” Ron reported. Visitors are urged to bring non-perishable food for collection again this year.

Ron thinks this may be the last year he and his wife put up the display. “It’s a lot of work,” he confided, then sheepishly added, “but we’ll see.”