A Hollywood Halloween [Telegraph-Herald (Dubuque, IA)]

haunted house Address: 6412 Torrey Pines Drive, Asbury, Iowa Open: 6:30 to 9 p.m. every day through Sunday, Nov. 3 by the numbers Kris and Mishelle Ennis' 2013 Halloween display - 60 hours to set up - 36 strobe lights - 24 black lights - 7 industrial air compressors - 4 commercial fog machines haunted house Address: 6412 Torrey Pines Dr., Asbury, Iowa Open: 6:30 to 9 p.m. every day through Sunday, Nov. 3No need to go to Hollywood or Disney World to see movie-type animatronic Halloween displays - there's one in Asbury, Iowa, that's every bit as elaborate " and scary.

From the windows and grounds of the Ennis home on Torrey Pines Drive, werewolves leap out of shrubs, ghouls gobble human entrails, skeletons fight over a hapless woman, a glowing ghost floats gracefully and a howling, life-sized vampire soars above the entryway. The house itself is a perfect backdrop for the scenes, standing castle-like in a wide grassy area.

Kris and Mishelle Ennis create a fright-filled wonderland in and around their home every year. It all started innocently enough, after they were married 21 years ago, with a few decorations and moving figures. But every year since, the couple has added to and changed out their displays, spending thousands of dollars and working scores of hours to create scenes that rival movie sets.

"Halloween is such a fun holiday - it brings out the kid in everyone - and we want to entertain as many people as possible," said Kris Ennis, a vice president for Washington National Insurance Co.

The couple buy individual items and complete scenes from companies in Ohio and California that specialize in commercial displays. The couple sets up the elaborate scenes, starting in early September, with help from the pair's two teenage sons, in the front rooms of the sprawling house to be visible through picture windows. The scene elements are stored the rest of the year in a lower garage unit.

During the hours when the display is "on" (6:30 to 9 p.m. through Sunday, Nov. 3), the couple is working - Mishelle in the front yard, handing out candy to visitors and Kris monitoring and adjusting the myriad electronics and computer boards that "move" the many animated figures. The house is specially wired to support the complex setup. Inside, the walls fairly shake with thumps, whooshes and screams while the displays are moving.

On a typical night, cars creep past the house, stopping to let passengers crawl out and take photos and videos of the displays. Visitors young and old venture closer to see the details. It's just what Kris wants them to do, because some frights are scarier up close and personal.

"I'm scared out of my wits," said Audra McMahon, as she held tightly to Samantha Erickson Monday night. The 13-year-olds were nervously creeping closer to the ghoulish hubbub as they snapped cellphone selfies of themselves.

"I appreciate that they put this on for the city," Audra added, never taking her eyes off the moving figures.

The Ennises enjoy watching the reactions their creations elicit from visitors, whether wonderment or terror.

"You've got to make memories for people," Mishelle said, smiling at the thought.