After 23 Wonderful Years Oak Lawn's 'Boneyard' Is Retiring

The Boneyard at 5904 W. 97th St., Oak Lawn.

After 23 wonderful years, one of Oak Lawn’s legendary Halloween yard haunts is calling it quits.

Doug and Donna Carvelli, who’ve been scaring the hell out of their neighbors since 1992 with their nightmarish display of 1980s serial killers, zombies, werewolves and some disgusting thing in a garbage can, are retiring ‘The Boneyard’ at 5904 W. 97th St.

“It’s hard to sleep at night worrying about the display,” Donna said.

The Carvellis’ main helper -- the couple’s oldest son -- is away at college, making set up that much more time intensive, so decided that 2015 would the final year of ‘The Boneyard.’

“We’ll still decorate for Halloween, but this will be the last full yard display,” Donna said.

Over the years, the Carvellis have stood outside encouraging visitors to interact with the display and watching their reactions as an animated figure suddenly lunged out at them. They’ve also become known among neighborhood trick or treaters as the house with really good candy.

Doug said it takes about three weeks to set up the display, and two weeks to take it all down. The pieces are stored in their home’s attic.

The Carveillis are selling parts of the display and some of their neighbors have made offers to keep pieces of The Boneyard in the neighborhood.

“The zombies are staying,” Donna said.

Visitors are invited to stop by for one last look at the creepy yard o’ bones. The Boneyard, 5904 W. 97th St., Oak Lawn, is lit up from dusk to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and dusk to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, through Halloween.

Thanks for the memories Carvelli family.

Patch has corrected a typo in the address. The correct address is 5904 W. 97th St., Oak Lawn.