Kelly Hertel, who lives in Clinton, has spent more than 400 hours creating his own version of Terroride, a spooky attraction at Lagoon amusement park. 2026, report, the display drew visitors on its opening day and generated enough donations to fill half of Hertel’s truck, according to reporting by FOX 13 News Utah and KSL. A Utah homeowner has transformed his front yard into a Halloween attraction inspired by one of his childhood fears, turning memories of a popular amusement park ride into an elaborate display that is also raising money for charity. The attraction combines themed decorations and carefully arranged scenes designed to tell a story, rather than simply cover the property in Halloween props. Its growing popularity has turned the residential display into a seasonal destination for visitors from across Utah.
Hertel told FOX 13 that he had put more than 400 hours into the display, reflecting the scale of the decorations and the attention given to individual scenes. The homeowner is collecting donations for the Mascot Miracle Foundation, Lamp House in Ogden, which supports people experiencing homelessness, and a Christmas house that played a role in his own beginnings with the project, according to FOX 13.
Hertel said the contributions go directly to the organisations he supports. Hertel’s inspiration comes from his memories of riding Terroride at Lagoon, an amusement park in Farmington, Utah. As a child, he was so frightened by the ride that he would keep his eyes closed throughout the experience. His mother repeatedly encouraged him to open them, but he would sometimes pretend he had done so to avoid being asked again. Years later, that childhood fear became the creative foundation for his own Halloween attraction. Instead of simply recreating the ride, Hertel developed a themed outdoor experience with different sections, each designed to contribute to the overall atmosphere. The project has demanded a considerable investment of time and effort. For visitors, the result offers a neighbourhood alternative to travelling to the amusement park itself, with the added appeal of a display created by a local resident. Beyond the elaborate props and spooky scenes, Hertel’s project is built around supporting charitable organisations. The donations began accumulating quickly, with his truck already half full on the first day of the attraction. The early response illustrates how a community Halloween display can become a way to encourage local giving while bringing residents together around a shared seasonal activity. Rather than charging visitors simply for an entertainment experience, Hertel is using the attention generated by his decorations to direct support towards charitable causes. Hertel’s Terroride-inspired display brings together childhood nostalgia, creative ambition and community service. What began with a ride he once found too frightening to watch has evolved into a project that takes hundreds of hours to prepare and attracts visitors eager to see the finished result.
The attraction has drawn praise from visitors, including people who have seen the display in previous years. Its appeal lies not only in the number of decorations but also in how the different elements are arranged. Each section has its own theme, creating a sequence of scenes intended to keep visitors engaged as they explore the property. The display has also become a gathering point for people looking for Halloween activities in Clinton. For families and other visitors, it offers a chance to experience seasonal scares without visiting a commercial haunted attraction.
Some have described the latest version as an improvement on earlier editions, suggesting that Hertel continues to develop the experience.
For Hertel, the most meaningful part may be the opportunity to help others through something he enjoys creating. As the Halloween season continues, he hopes visitors will come for the scares but leave having contributed to a worthwhile cause. His Clinton home offers a reminder that Halloween attractions do not always need a commercial setting. Sometimes, a front yard, a childhood memory and a commitment to helping others are enough to create something that brings an entire neighbourhood together. You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.