Mike Kane is a 40-year-old software engineer, father, and Halloween enthusiast living in West Chester, writes Erin McCarthy for The Philadelphia Inquirer. 

In 2022, Kane founded the app FrightMaps, which is free of charge and allows other Halloween lovers to find both professional and amateur haunted houses and list their own.

According to FrightMaps, several residents in the surrounding area that recently gone all in on their Halloween displays, which takes time, creativity, and money. 

Kane’s haunted house features what he calls the “Cul De Sac of Terror” and includes a six-foot animatronic dragon that blows smoke out of its mouth, zombies crawling across the yard, and towering skeletons. Kane has spent about $5,000 on his display, which he says is a relatively small number. 

“If you’re a home haunter and not just an average decorator … $5,000 is the entry cost,” said Kane. 

Some Halloween lovers get donations to make their spooky specular scenes, but most are using their own money. Often, it is more than just decorations that need to be bought. Most displays also include lighting, fog machines, speakers, and projectors.  

Read more about Mike Kane and his love of Halloween at The Philadelphia Inquirer. 

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