Kings Contrivance Halloween House to Lure Hundreds

Halloween has officially begun in Kings Contrivance, where a spooky attraction opens Friday.

“Over the years, it has become kind of a destination of sorts,” Columbia resident Gene Ryan said of his haunted house, which the Ryan family calls the ”Haunting of Nightmare Manor.”

The Ryans first decked their house out for Halloween in 2006 because they wanted to decorate their front lawn for the holiday, and a tradition was born. Nearly 1,000 people visited last year, according to Ryan.

“My family and I spend months building the ’Haunt’ so we can share it with our community,” Ryan told Patch. “Our kids get a kick out of watching the hundreds of people that stop by to tour our property.” As soon as summer was over this year, they started getting the house ready for Halloween.

New this year, Ryan said they created a website upon the recommendation of his son, Quinn. That seems to have generated even more interest, Ryan said. This weekend, the house will be featured in The Baltimore Sun, and it may be broadcast on NBC Washington next week.

The “Haunting of Nightmare Manor” attraction officially opens Friday, Oct. 24, and will run through Sunday, Nov. 2. If the lights are on, come over and take the self-guided tour. Parking is across the street in the pool parking lot. The home is at 7414 Weatherworn Way in Columbia.

Screenshot from YouTube video by Gene Ryan.