Matt Knowles has spent 20 Octobers turning his West Linn yard into a free haunted house. This year, a new animatronic named "Mama" joins the lineup.

Mama wears a vintage dress from Red, White & Blue Thrift Store and stands surrounded by posed undead children, as first reported by the West Linn Tidings. Knowles built her the same way he built every creature in the display: from thrifted electronics and a do-it-yourself approach.

Knowles, creator of Carriage Way Cemetery at 1810 Carriage Way, started the project in 2007 with two or three handmade wooden tombstones. His birthday falls the day before Halloween, and he said the season has always been personal.

"My mom was an artist so I've always been super creative," Knowles told the Tidings. "My day job is more technical, so this is my outlet."

The attraction now includes choreographed lights and music, a haunted trail along the side of his property and interactive augmented reality games visitors can play on their smartphones. His first animatronic, "Rat Man," inspired what Knowles called one of the most meaningful moments in the project's history. A young girl once visited dressed as Rat Man, wearing a little hood with rats glued to her costume. She drew him a picture of the character.

Knowles said the display grew from a small yard project into a real neighborhood draw.

"I realized I had an attraction. It wasn't just a little tombstone and kids liked it," Knowles told the Tidings. "The best thing is you get these two age groups. You get the kids that are too small to know what to be afraid of and the age where they know what to be afraid and they just scream."

Admission is free.

All merchandise profits go to West Linn High School's theater department, according to the Carriage Way Cemetery website. Supporters can purchase items there or learn more about the project.

Carriage Way Cemetery is open every evening through Oct. 31 from 6 to 9 p.m. Visitors might spot Knowles himself in costume as "The Caretaker," making sure the cemetery is ready for Halloween night.

Upcoming community events:

  • Carriage Way Cemetery: Open nightly through Oct. 31, 6–9 p.m., 1810 Carriage Way, West Linn. Free admission.