Nico Geraci

Staff Writer

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What started out as a three-word Craigslist offer, “Free Halloween Decorations,”  is now an attraction that gets around 20,000 visitors every October. The Halloween display is located at 315 Spruce St. in Traverse City, Michigan, hosting a plethora of Halloween decorations, lights, and fog machines aiding the spooky atmosphere. Run by Nate Taylor and his wife Vicky Taylor, this attraction requires them to put in at least two hours of work beginning in August to get everything set up.

 

Nate Taylor opens up this attraction to the public, free of charge, starting every October: Mon-Thurs 6-10 p.m., and Fri-Sun starting an hour earlier and closing up at the same time as always. 

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The Taylors have been putting this on since 2017, with some pauses like in 2020 for COVID, and have been going strong since. They mean for this attraction to be a place where people can go to take their minds off of the troubles of the world and enter a whole new one.

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This attraction is made for all people, with interactive decorations and wheelchair accessible pathways. No matter your need, this place caters to you so all can enjoy. 

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Nate and Vicky, who have a natural sense of giving and have two special-needs children of their own, decided that they want to give the community a fun place where anyone can go. In 2017, a Craigslist ad for free Halloween decorations caught their eye. This ad was offering a 20-year-old collection from a couple that had recently gotten a divorce and wanted the decorations gone. They jumped on the offer. 

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Since 2017, this event has grown in size and interest. Local businesses such as Thirlby Auto even donate a Chevrolet Hearse to park in the Taylors’ front lawn. Sitting right next to this hearse is the vast guestbook that is filled with thousands of visitors' signatures throughout the years. 

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Some schools are even getting involved by planning field trips to this Spruce St. extravaganza, giving the kids a fun day to embrace the autumn holiday.  

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In recent months, all of this enjoyment has been in jeopardy by the city. 

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Traverse City released a statement on Sept. 11 expressing concerns regarding the safety of the public due to the enclosed, crowded space of this attraction, which affects the popularity of the attraction and traffic, along with noise and light pollution issues. 

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Nate Taylor has combated these claims, saying he has gotten nothing but positive encouragement from the community. As well as saying if he needed to move locations he would, but the Dead Ends on Spruce will not die, it brings too much joy to too many people. 

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Reacting to this statement, local landowners have reached out to Nate Taylor, offering alternative locations if the attraction needs to be moved. 

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For now, the Dead Ends on Spruce attraction is still alive and well, but there are big concerns about where it will be next year. There is one thing for certain: the residents of Traverse City love Dead Ends on Spruce and will fight to keep Nate Taylor’s dream alive. 

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For first-hand information, you can check out Dead Ends on Spruce’s Facebook page.