Rick, Jake and Care Herpich, of Oak Lawn, stand in front of their elaborate Halloween display, Krazy Korner. (Supplied photos)
Herpich family’s epic Halloween decorations aim to scare
Care and Rick Herpich moved to Oak Lawn in 2001 with their son, Jake.
It was then that the family began what would become an elaborate Halloween tradition, with their display growing more frightening each year. It is now known in the neighborhood as the Krazy Korner.
Over the past two decades, the Herpich family’s Krazy Korner display has become a local legend, drawing crowds and winning accolades for its spook-tacular artistry.
“We started out not as scary at first, more traditional and whimsical,” Care Herpich said. “Then, as our son got older, we began creating and building a scarier display each year because of his love for killer clowns.”
Jake Herpich, now 16, not only loves the scary clowns—he plays one.
“I like the reactions I get when I scare people, because everyone gets a laugh after,” Jake said.
Jake has been a professional scare actor, dressing as a killer clown that will haunt anyone’s dreams, at four other haunted houses during off-season haunts.
“Halloween is our favorite family holiday, followed by Christmas,” Care said. “As soon as we disassemble Halloween, we get started on Christmas.”
The Herpichs’ display, located at 94th and Mobile in Oak Lawn, features a wide array of Halloween-themed animatronics, jump scares, fog, Michael Myers, a 12-foot skeleton, a hand-built mausoleum, and many other scare props, including a Demogorgon, Pennywise from It, and a 12-foot pumpkin-head skeleton. The yard also features live actors every weekend in October, weather permitting.
The actors are neighborhood teens who help build the display.
“They enjoy being part of the final product and being able to give some input in the setup,” Care said.
New this year, the Herpichs are proud to display their extra-large, ground-breaking skeleton—a horrifying figure protruding right out of the front lawn.
The Herpich family was selected as one of the Village of Oak Lawn’s Halloween Decorating Contest winners for “Most Frightening Fun” in 2023, sponsored by Midnight Terror Haunted House in Oak Lawn.
As Halloween approaches once again, the Herpich family is ready for another fright-filled season, hoping to capture the “Most Frightening Fun” title for a second year. But for Care, Rick, and Jake, it’s never really been about the trophies or the crowds.
“It’s the memories we’re building together,” Care said.
Know of a great Halloween display, tell us. Email thereporter@comcast.net
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Fantastic!
Love this story and the great photos!
It certainly is worth the trip to see this KRAZY house!!!
What’s the address
94th and Mobile in Oak Lawn