From spider web to Haunted Backyard, the Badalls’ keep the scares coming
by Jenny Smith
As the October chill hits the air and leaves begin to drift from the trees, we may notice an ominous scene emerging from the mist on West Street in Stockbridge.
Glowing pumpkins guide the way up the walk toward an endeavor that has become a yearly tradition for the Badall family, and a favorite stop for the multitude of trick-or-treaters who stop by each Halloween.
The Badalls’ Haunted Backyard began as simple decorations around the family front porch when Tom and Lori Badall’s own children were small.
Tom, an upholsterer, turned a box of scrap fabric strips into a giant spider web strung between two trees and created hand-carved tombstones to bring a little extra excitement to neighborhood kids.
Over the years, the yard grew to include more props and decorations with the entire family lending a helping hand. A good friend began donating a giant pumpkin to the cause that, with the help of a handy reciprocating saw, gains an eerie face nearly big enough to swallow youngsters. One of the largest pumpkins weighed a whopping 1,535 pounds. Many a family takes photos of costumed children posing with the massive gourd.
About 10 years ago, the Badalls’ spooky yard took a slightly different turn. Daughter Danielle found a seasonal job at the former Boneyard haunted house on Green Road. She enjoyed the job so much that she decided to create a free one-night haunted venue in the family’s own backyard. It also drew inspiration from another local free haunt.
“It was my idea, due to the fact I worked at the Boneyard,” Danielle Badall wrote. “I did it because I heard about the haunted garage, but since theirs was on one side of town, I figured it’d be nice to have another attraction on the other side of town, so through the permission of the folks, was able to produce a fun evening scare for the kids in Stockbridge.”
With the help of friends and family, each year has a cast of spooky actors and different props. Past years have included a mad scientist, creepy clowns, feral people, zombies and more. Many props are made by the family through their talents with a sewing machine and paintbrush.
This year’s theme is “Freak Street,” so if you hear circus music emanating from the darkness, you know where it leads. Bring your kids and stop on in for a treat on Lori and Tom’s spooky front porch. If you’re in the mood for something a bit more intense, make the loop through the gates into the artistic abyss of Badalls’ Haunted Backyard.
