Story by Allison Razic | Photography by Harris Visual Media
When Jeff and Ashley Rimel first walked through the doors of their home in 2012, they saw potential beyond just becoming their family’s home.
Spanning 5,300 square feet, the home’s empire style immediately appealed to their design instincts, and Ashley had a vision from the start, this would be a place where Halloween wasn’t just celebrated, it would come alive. “I knew this house could be something special for Halloween,” Ashley recalls. “It has that timeless, grand feel, and I knew I could turn it into something that really embraces the spirit of the season.”
What began as a few simple decorations has grown into something much more, it is now a full-blown Halloween extravaganza. Over the past four years, the Rimels have transformed their home into a “Monster Mansion.” What started with a giant spiderweb and oversized spiders crawling down the front of their home has snowballed into an intricate display that draws attention from across the community. “Ashley always goes all in,” Jeff laughs. “She doesn’t do anything halfway.”
The transformation is nothing short of remarkable. Inspired by her favorite movies, Ashley has incorporated elements from pop culture and classic Halloween lore into every corner of the home. A hallway reminiscent of the great hall in “Harry Potter,” a staircase paying tribute to “Halloween’s” Michael Myers and a backyard with nods to “Hocus Pocus” all make up the tapestry of the Rimels’ creative vision. Each space is a world of its own.
The couple’s hands-on approach to decorating has become a defining element of their process. Sourcing materials from all over the country, they refuse to settle for anything that doesn’t match their exact vision. When they couldn’t find the perfect skeleton lamps, they built their own.
“We couldn’t find what we wanted, so we made them,” Ashley says. “We spent our college years refinishing furniture, so if I can draw it, Jeff can make it.”
Jeff, who admits to being drawn to the technical side of things, takes pride in the details that most visitors might overlook at first glance. Last year, for example, he added blinking eyes to the top windows of their home to create a sense of movement that gives the house an eerie, lifelike quality. “The eyes really make the house feel alive,” Jeff says. “And I worked on making the giant spider blink too."
Ashley, whose background as a new construction interior designer informs much of her work, takes a different approach. Her goal isn’t just to decorate for the sake of it, it’s to create an immersive experience that takes visitors through an elegant but haunting world. “I want the house to feel like you’re walking through a haunted house,” she explains, “every room tells its own story.” And she means it. Each space is carefully themed, from a haunted dinner party in the dining room to an apothecary in the powder room. The attention to detail is staggering, yet it feels natural, creating a seamless blend of Halloween vibes and elegance.
Starting in July, the Rimel’s spend months preparing for the big reveal in October. Each year, they add new elements to the display, constantly building on what they’ve done before. Despite being tucked away from the main road, their home has gained attention, especially after photos of it were shared on social media last year. Ashley says that what motivates her to continue decorating is seeing the children’s faces light up when they see the display. “Last year was bigger than ever, and we hope it keeps growing,” she says.
“We even give out full-size candy bars on Halloween to draw more people.” For the Rimel’s, Halloween isn’t just a holiday, it’s a passion project. It’s a way to blend creativity, craftsmanship and community spirit into something memorable. And judging by the growing crowds of trick-or-treaters and the reactions from visitors, it’s safe to say their “Monster Mansion” will continue to be a Halloween staple for years to come.