Halloween Spirit is Alive in Los Osos

Written by Theresa-Marie Wilson

Theresa-Maria Wilson has been a journalist covering the North Coast and South County area for over 20 years. She is also the founder of Cat Noir CC and is currently working on a novel.

October 23, 2020

The pandemic may have dampened some of the traditional Halloween festivities many look forward to every year, but denizens of the afterlife are lurking about and ready to mingle with the living at Bill and Sue McMillian’s house on the corner of Pine and Binscarth in Los Osos.

The daring are invited to enter the couple’s front yard through the archway and checkout the gruesome creatures waiting their arrival. There is a graveyard that Samara from the movie “The Ring” haunts, skeletal remains of all kinds of undesirable beings, empty eyed, soulless dolls, a zombie bride waiting for her mate, a sewer with more problems than even locals can relate to and a scene from “It” featuring Pennywise the clown and his signature red balloons.

“It just kind of morphed into this big project,” said Sue, the mastermind behind the creepy display and creator of many of the props. “It started with a little skeleton on the front door, and then, over the years, we did a little bit more. You know, it’s fun to just get out here, put on little music and see it all come together.”

Sue, a registered nurse, is a big fan of Halloween and this year, between her husband retiring when the pandemic hit and her being off due to a fractured wrist, they had more time to dedicate to the ghoulish hobby.

“We started it in August,” Sue said. “It takes quite a long time. I have a lot more dolls, but I’m not going to put them all out. I just pick and choose and try to dream up something.”

Those dreams would probably be nightmares for most of us, but it is all in good fun. Younger children enjoy it more in the daylight when the fright level isn’t as high and adults get a kick out of seeing it come to life at night.

“People come by and they see it developing over weeks and weeks,” Sue said. “I think it’s fantastic. You know, it makes you feel good about all the work. People really appreciate it, especially this year they said ‘thank you’ for putting it up, and they’re really happy.”
On Friday and Saturday nights the McMillians will also project some ghostly images to make the scene display even more fun.

You May Also Like…

Give Back to The Community

Give Back to The Community

On February 18, 2024 Cayucos Yoga and Estero Bay Kindness Coalition teamed up together at Cayucos Yoga 625 S. Ocean...