Popular New Jersey Halloween display draws crowds, complaints

BLOOMFIELD, N.J. -- For more than 20 years, a Halloween display at a home in Bloomfield, New Jersey, has drawn thousands of visitors in the two weeks leading up to Halloween.

The display, created by James Joanow with the help of friends and volunteers, features an elaborate haunted attraction stretching from the side yard to the back of the property.

"We love doing it. We plan in late July and we decorate right up to Halloween night," Joanow said.

Among the attractions are animated displays and themed sets.

"Yeah ... this is what we call the catacombs. Kids go crazy when they come here because they see things you don't see at most decoration sites," Joanow said.

The attraction has become a popular Halloween destination, but Joanow said not everyone is a fan.

There's only one problem. There's someone who's such a non-fan, they took it out on Joanow, who says someone put nails in his driveway. His car rolled over those nails and he got a flat tire.

Joanow said complaints have also been made about noise from the display, which he said operates only between 6:30 p.m. and 10 p.m.

"The two officers that were here... they were very respectful. They told me there's a dozen anonymous complaints. Just about too many people walking around and the noise here. So they had to do something about the complaints. I guess that's what their version of doing something was. But we stayed open till 10 because that's what ordinance allows us to do," he said.

Joanow said he has tried to be accommodating and noted that the display's run is nearly over.

"It all comes down Halloween night after 10 o'clock. Usually, we start at 11 o'clock at night at which we take it all down. We stay out till 3 or 4 in the morning," he said.

The display is scheduled to remain open through Halloween night before it is dismantled.