Family's display is a creepy creation

POLSON — Just off Mud Lake Road on Paper Trail lies a pumpkin patch surrounded by ghosts, ghouls, witches and other creepy creatures.

Though it's on private property, the Brown family invites trick-or-treaters to check out their expansive display — but only if you dare.

Around the proximity of the pumpkin patch, you'll stumble upon a graveyard where skeletons are illuminated by the soft glow decorative lights. There's a large bush surrounded by dozens of little ghosts. Park benches are occupied by the undead. And there's an outhouse where Witchey-Poo sits reading the newspaper with a cackling cat keeping her company.

But most impressive is an old shack where, from outside, you can see the silhouette of a mischievous hook-nosed witch stirring a cauldron.

The witch isn't real though. It's simply a wood cutout attached to a reciprocating saw, giving it motion, explained Rebecca Brown. The shack was built solely for this purpose, she said, and it's the newest addition to their festive creation.

In fact, the cut-out is only several feet tall, but from outside it looks like a full grown witch. The spotlight that casts the shadow on the curtains make it look twice as big as it is.

"It looks like a life-sized witch in there," Brown said.

All this is the product of her husband's imagination. Cody Brown is a bit of a landscaper, she said and holidays such as Halloween and Christmas provide him the opportunity to express his creativity.

"Halloween and Christmas, those are the big ones," she said.

Cody was inspired to set up a Halloween display after seeing a similar setup in Salt Lake City, though he has taken it upon himself to make his superior.

"He has to outdo it," she said.

Brown couldn't estimate how much money was put in the display, though the Browns buy everything at a discount price. Every year after Halloween they stock up on what's left over from department stores.

"We buy a little here and there every year," she said.

This is the third year the Browns have invited the public to visit their spooky display, and chances are next year's will be bigger.

"It'll go from here," Brown said. "He has to make it bigger and better."