Poughquag, New York Family Turns Their Property Into a Haunted Halloween Trail

Halloween Is a Family Affair in Poughquag, New York

For the last 6 years Frank and his family, his wife Tara and kids Samantha, Tara, Lynn, Sabrina and Steven, have been putting on quite the show in Poughquag on Halloween.

Starting the first day of August, Frank begins his trek of bringing Death Ridge Road to life.

Death Ridge Road is what Frank and the Halloween community called a home haunt. Starting from the front of his home on Lime Ridge Road, a trail decked out in everything from animatronics and fog machines to live actors and strobe lights runs throughout his property.

This isn't your run of the mill Halloween display.

Death Ridge Road Brings Halloween To Life in Dutchess County

Frank has always loved Halloween and the decorating that comes along with it. He studied Stage Design at the Parsons School, but has been passionate about spooky season since a young age.

As Frank's family started growing and he settled down and bought his home in Poughquag, he started to envision putting together a Halloween display that would have the whole town talking.

It wasn't until one year, while taking his kids trick-or-treating in Hopewell, that the gauntlet was thrown down. At one home, a group of boys were scaring trick-or-treaters. His kids said "Wow Dad, that was really scary!" So he told them "I can do better."

And like most kids, they rolled their eyes and said "Suuure, Dad."

The rest is history as they say and Death Ridge Road was born.

The home haunt has been running every Halloween since 2020 and thousands of people from near and far have visited the trail.

Brave the Death Ridge Road Trail if You Dare!

Frank gave us a sneak peak at this years trail and we were blown away by everything that is put into this Halloween production.

There is not a single part of his front lawn and backyard that isn't being used.

Death Ridge Road trail takes you through several spooky scenes like circus and witches den, there's also a jail involved and zombies! Frank tells us that he gets 3 of the same questions all the time:

Where do you keep it all? How much was it all? Why do you do it? and I tell them: Strategically. None of your business and why not?

Frank tells us the trail isn't officially done until the morning of Halloween.

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Death Ridge Road is opened on Halloween ONLY.  The haunting beings at 3 pm for the younger crowd, with little to no scares in the daylight. However, as the night progresses and the further you get through the trail... the scares get a bit more intense.

Frank said "I couldn't do any of this without the help from my family, friends and neighbors." He gets the whole community involved as he has about 30 live actors throughout the trail.

Additionally, there is usually a line to get in with about a 45 minute wait. It's worth every minute and people are said to have come out of the trail and go back again for round 2.

Visiting Death Ridge Road is FREE for any one that stops by and candy will be handed out to Trick-or-Treaters who walk through.

One of the best things Frank hears from visitors? That this is now part of their Halloween tradition. Frank tells us:

I have people telling me it's their tradition now. I got people that bring their children for the early time, then they come back later for a bigger scare.

Check out Death Ridge Road 150 Limeridge Road, Poughquag NY starting at 3pm on Halloween afternoon!