No Screams this Year at Famous Halloween House

Photo: Seen here are decorations that adorned the house in 2014.

The skeletons, gravestones and ghosts that would normally adorn the yard of a Naperville resident will not be seen this year after complaints to a local homeowners association from neighbors concerned about safety and noise issues.

Nick Thomas, of the 1100 block of Conan Doyle Road in Naperville, had lavishly decorated his house for Halloween for 18 years, but won’t be carrying on the tradition this season — a tradition that drew onlookers from near and far.

“I am disappointed,” Thomas told the Chicago Tribune. “For a lot of people, the house has become a tradition and it is something people look forward to.”

Videos of the home’s elaborate display would frequently capture national attention.

• ALSO ON PATCH: The Biggest, Best Halloween Show Set to Music You’ll Find on a Quiet Suburban Street

When neighbors complained to the Ashbury Homeowners Association about traffic and noise created by the home, the HOA created a new “Holiday Decorations Rule” at its Sept. 21 board meeting. The rule limits a person’s decorations to 50 percent of the yard, excluding lights, and restricts the display to 30 days before and after the holiday, according to the Tribune.

Thomas’ decorations brought joy to people in more ways than one. Last year he collected $6,500 in donations for Gigi’s Playhouse, which provides educational and therapeutic support to those with Down syndrome.

Naperville resident Dennis Meisinger told the Tribune he thinks the shutdown is a tragedy.

“That kind of altruism – to just throw that in someone’s face – is criminal. We have enjoyed seeing his house for years. It’s really a tragedy,” Meisinger said.