Spirit Halloween ~ Camp Harbor Lake

I was so thrilled to see the Spirit Halloween doors open at the mall this week! I was really in my happy place, listening to the music, trying out the animatronics, taking photos. It was a blast. Of course, there will be more to come, because they're just getting started, but I still have a lot to share. There will be spoilers ahead, so if you plan to go to the store and get surprises, maybe wait to read this.

So the theme they're going with this year is Camp Harbor Lake, which sounds an awful lot like Camp Crystal Lake. As it happens, I just got around to watching Friday the 13th earlier this year! I mean, for the first time ever. Hard to believe, right? Not that I needed to see it to enjoy what I saw in the store, but still it was cool to have seen the movie first. The only reason I did finally get around to watching Friday the 13th is that Svengoolie, or rather The Sven Squad, was featuring it.

See the canoe propped up over the roof of the cabin? Well, when you step inside the cabin, be sure to look up. Then you'll see who is stashed inside of it. And someone has left a message: "avoid the lake"

I'll get more into what's inside the cabin in a bit. Here's more of what's lurking outside.

Jason has to be here. He swings his machete up and down and makes that sound effect you hear in the movie when he's on the prowl.

 

 

 

And you guys know this pumpkin man is my kind of prop. I like those country looking pumpkin critters that seem half scarecrow.

As you can see, his eyes light up a bright red. He sways from side to side and eventually lunges out.

 

This is a little cutie. I can't remember what he says, but he does look like he's playing a harmonica and you will hear harmonica music out of him.

 

Michael Myers of course has to be there. Imagine a campground with both Jason and Michael stalking about. 

As you can see on the sign, this witch is interactive. This is the first time I'd interacted with a prop. You have a choice of four answers to give her, and then she's set with a response. It's like talking into the phone when you call the bank, and hoping you're understood.

 

I have to say, I felt a little embarrassed as someone in there alone, talking to this witch. I thought I'd look like a nut if she didn't answer, but she did. This is one of those Monkey's Paw situations where whatever you say she gives you some evil response, but it was fun.

On my second visit to the store, I watched a lady desperately trying to get the witch to understand her. She kept yelling her word of choice and the witch was just not getting it. We were all laughing after a point.

 

 

Look who else is hanging around the cabin.

And look what shoots out of its mouth! This was another one that scared any kids nearby.

Back inside the cabin, you'll see all kind of cool details.

 

Just like at a real campground, words have been "carved" into the furniture.

You see that button on the Survival Tactics book? Well, press it when you're in the cabin. I was going to tell you what it does, but you give it a shot.

I couldn't get any of those switches to do anything! Let me know if you get these to work. I was actually hoping one of those switches would shut off the clown that was yacking away next to me.

Isn't this a fun detail with the little Spirit skull in the middle of the Bingo card?

She spins around and around.

OK, so this is the one I wished would not talk so much. But that being said, it's a really cool design. So the clown starts off like this, looking pretty standard. Actually, I could imagine this in an antique store.

Yeah, surprise! 🤡

Outside, at the actual "lake" area:

This skeleton's digital eyes move back and forth, just like on those giant yard skeletons.

 

This guy is a jumper! I warn you because this is the one that knocked a few people down. I heard them hit the floor. I don't understand that because there were so many jumpers, and this one is kind of cute in its way. I'm wondering how the average person could use this. Maybe if you have a water feature in your yard or a hot tub?

 

Neat twisty horns, hey?

 

Looks like the lake monster took a bite out of the two-headed turtle.

And now for a true camping nightmare. It starts like this:

You hear some rattling inside, and then - BAM!

Then it slithers back down into the can. 

And wouldn't you know this thing was motion activated? Not the kind of prop where you step on the little foot symbol to activate it. No... this sucker just violently shoots up on its own! Definitely heed that "keep out" warning. As if anyone would want in.

Speaking of pests... Maybe this is even more of a camping nightmare!

Or... this. How dang long is that rodent? Unless it is a ferret or weasel of some kind?

Now aside from the camp theme, Spirit had a lot of other great large scale props/animatronics. There were a lot of jump scares in the store. There was a family in there and the mom and I kept exchanging looks and laughing. Her daughter, who was maybe around 5 years old, was carrying on a conversation with one of those talking clowns. It was adorable that she was so unafraid and carrying on. The mom seemed to decide it was a good teaching moment saying "What does this word say? CABIN" and "Do you know who this is? This is Michael Myers." The kid was getting an education. Now, this lady had a little boy with her too, and he was not having it. This kid was following me around and hiding behind me as I tried the props. He was saying things like "I hope this one doesn't jump". I guess he was going to let them get me first. 

Now, here's a little jumper. Cute and kid-like in its way, but he'll startle you!

I know I'm asking a lot here, but I think it would be cool if this clown would spider walk around the room. It kind of bobs up and down. Yes, it's creepy but it could be terrifying.

This guy looks like your standard yard zombie.

Until...

 

That's pretty darn cool, isn't it? I got a good shock/laugh out of that one. After his eye pops out and his jaw falls down, the parts slowly move back into place. By my second visit to the store, someone had added a Sheriff's hat to his head.

Spirit had some cool masks out. I hope they add a second wall of them again this year. Some of the masks I'd seen before, but a few I hadn't. Here are a few of the new ones that I liked:

 

The jaw on this skeletal wolf mask is actually hinged.

I'm not sure "Grandma" is the best name for this! Jeez.

We all know who this is! I wonder what Kiefer Sutherland would think of this. I think it's a pretty accurate likeness. I would have liked to have seen a mask of his usual spooky face in The Lost Boys, like before he vamped out.

Just look at the little details here. Like the color in his eyes, or the purple shading on his skin, or even that bit of a blond mustache.

They also had some great Halloween totes.

Here are my favorites. There is clear plastic behind the skeleton's hand, so you can see all the candy inside.

This one reminds me of one of those vintage paper candy bags. I find myself often comparing different designs to those.

This one is probably my favorite of them all. I'm sure it would be fun to watch the piles of candy grow in the cat's mouth.

The witch hat on this one is really pretty and metallic.

And this is just cute. This little Stay Puft man shakes side to side and makes some kind of vaguely menacing noise if you want him to. 

I would say most of the costumes were out, although I didn't see any of the pet costumes. I always get a kick out of those. I did see some Corpse Bride costumes. The Corpse Bride herself looks beautiful, but I'm really just including these pics to show you Victor. Because how is this dude doing this with his eyes? Good job, very accurate, but ouch.

They also had a werewolf and scarecrow section. Those are two costumes I happen to like. I didn't include the goofy versions of these characters. This is the way I want to see these portrayed for Halloween.

 

I see the "mouth and lips move when you do" Do any of you have experience with a mask like this? I'm sure I can find some video of this mask in action on Spirit's website.

How cool are these scarecrow gloves! I have some purple gloves that are shaped similarly to these and they add a lot. It's just fun to move your fingers around in them.

Spirit did not have a lot of baby costumes out yet, but these were my favorites of what they did have.

There's something so perfect about Mr. Oogie Boogie as a baby costume. Notice the wormy little feet.

This is something all you Beetlejuice fans will recognize! It's much smaller than the original of course.

On your way out to the mall, you'll see this guy. 

I'm assuming that they'll have all the Five Nights at Freddy's animatronics at some point. Just this morning, I heard on the news that someone is opening up an actual restaurant with the Five Nights at Freddy's theme. I assume all the characters will be there too. I just looked it up, and yes "Freddy Fazbear's Pizza" will be opening in 2027 in New Jersey. It will be "immersive"

OK, all this time I thought Freddy's was just Chuck E. Cheese inspired, but is this character Fozzy Bear inspired? "Fazbear" and "Fozzy Bear" sound awfully similar. And he has his little standup stage here. I assume. I actually don't remember if he was singing or talking! Maybe he was just moving around.

Back out to the mall. Here are those big posters that make me so happy, because they show the store is coming soon!

Is this more or less what your Spirit store has to offer so far? 🎃 I'm pretty pleased with this year's selection, as I'm sure you can tell! I'll do another Spirit blog if much more is added to the store.