The Clinton, Utah, yard display serves as a custom homage to the Terroride attraction at Farmington's Lagoon amusement park, which Hertel was once too scared to look at as a child. Rather than a direct copy, Hertel spent more than 400 hours assembling sequential outdoor scenes that tell an original Halloween story. The highly anticipated installation attracted returning guests who observed significant upgrades compared to past editions. Generous attendees filled half of a truck with charitable goods on the very first day.
Key points
All contributions collected at the yard display go directly to supported charities includ…: All contributions collected at the yard display go directly to supported charities including the Mascot Miracle Foundation.
The elaborate setup provides local families with a community-based alternative to expensi…: The elaborate setup provides local families with a community-based alternative to expensive commercial haunted houses.
Proceeds and supplies also benefit Ogden's Lamp House homeless support organization along…: Proceeds and supplies also benefit Ogden's Lamp House homeless support organization alongside a foundational Christmas house charity.
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A Utah homeowner has transformed his front yard into a Halloween attraction inspired by one of his childhood fears, turning memories of a popular amusement park ride into an elaborate display that is also raising money for charity. Kelly Hertel, who lives in Clinton, has spent more than 400 hours creating his own version of Terroride, a spooky attraction at Lagoon amusement park. According to reporting by FOX 13 News Utah and KSL, 2026, report, the display drew visitors on its opening day and generated enough donations to fill half of Hertel’s truck. The attraction combines themed decorations and carefully arranged scenes designed to tell a story, rather than simply cover the property in Halloween props. Its growing popularity has turned the residential display into a seasonal destination for visitors from across Utah.
A childhood fear becomes a Halloween attraction
Hertel’s inspiration comes from his memories of riding Terroride at Lagoon, an amusement park in Farmington, Utah. As a child, he was so frightened by the ride that he would keep his eyes closed throughout the experience.
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