Yonkers 'Halloween House' Gets In Spooky Spirit

YONKERS, N.Y. – What started as just a few yard decorations has turned into the infamous “Halloween House on Park Hill” – and Yonkers' spookiest holiday display.

For nearly two decades, sisters Maria Hadala and Anne Casamassa have turned their home at 326 Park Hill Ave., into a must-stop destination for city trick-or-treaters.  With its elaborate display of gravestones, blow-up skeletons, cobwebs, ghosts and ghouls, the home has gained a reputation as Yonkers' best Halloween attraction.

“Anyone that’s from Yonkers knows this house,” Hadala said. “It’s the ‘Halloween House on Park Hill.’”

Casamassa said it all started about 20 years ago when the family moved into the large brick home. They set out a few yard decorations and each year they added a couple more. Pretty soon, their house had turned into a full-blown Halloween display.

“We started and we just couldn’t stop,” Casamassa said.

Now, dozens of gravestones line the sidewalk in front of a half dozen blow-up ghosts and vampires standing in the yard. On the house, several skeletons hang from wires while cobwebs and orange lights dangle nearby.  

And on Halloween night, the sisters, both teachers in the Yonkers Public School District, will spare no expense. Trick-or-treaters will be welcomed by a dancing skeleton, spooky Halloween music and fog machines to go along with the elaborate yard decorations.

While it’s a lot of work and money, Hadala said it’s well worth it.

“You don’t do this unless you want to,” she said. “It’s a simple thing for us and it makes the kids happy.”

Very happy, apparently, as Casamassa said the sisters are planning to welcome more than 1,800 trick-or-treaters to the infamous house Tuesday night.  While the crowds can be exhausting, Casamassa said they knew what they were getting themselves into.

“We understand you can’t have your house look like this and not expect people to come,” she said.

While the throngs of visitors may cause the occasional traffic jam along Park Hill Avenue, Casamassa said there hasn’t been any serious problems over the years.

And neighbors have been more than understanding, the sisters said. In fact, they get worried if the decorations aren’t up by Oct. 1.

“They come by and get mad at you if the decorations aren’t up soon enough,” she laughed.

So while the sisters, and their neighbors, are ready to host hundreds of Halloween revelers Tuesday night, there is one rule trick-or-treaters must follow when they visit the Halloween House on Park Hill – costumes are not optional.

“No costume, no goodies,” Casamassa said with a laugh.   

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