It looks like fans of the viral “Stranger Things” house in a Chicago suburb won’t have to enter the Upside Down for another chance to see the popular haunted exhibit, despite an abrupt closure this week.
The family behind the Plainfield setup announced plans to reopen, despite an incident with a neighbor that nearly shut things down for good.
But when they reopen, things will be a little different.
The owners revealed that there will be new hours for those who wish to visit with “lighting and special effects” in full effect, though the display will be visible throughout the week for those unable to make it during those windows.
“You can visit any day of the week, however the lighting and special effects will be off to help all of our neighbors and ourselves rest and relax,” owners Dave and Aurbey Appel wrote on the company’s Facebook page. Horror Props.
The new official hours are from 5 to 10 pm on Fridays and Saturdays and from 4 to 9 pm on Sundays. Halloween Monday will also be from 5 to 9 pm
However, guests coming to the homes on the first weekend won’t see Max’s famous floating display due to “expected strong winds.”
“The rest of the screen is active, including Max 2.0,” the post said.
The owners of the suburban home revealed their “final verdict” on Wednesday, announcing plans to reopen following a meeting at City Hall, where they discussed the future of the famed Halloween set.
“We’re freaking out doing this,” home owner Dave Appel said on a TikTok live about the decision. “Everyone’s support has been ridiculous. Everyone did all the legwork.”
The closures were initially due to an issue with a neighbor, who the Appels say began “threatening families and patrons with a baseball bat” during their first open weekend last weekend.
The family wrote that their neighbor called the police over security concerns and the family eventually closed their facility early Sunday, planning to tear down the following day.
But thanks to the support of fans and other members of the community, they chose to continue their fight, which led to a security meeting with Plainfield and Joliet officials.
“We’ve always come and seen the screen, I’ve never had a problem with it,” said neighbor Nick Durna. “We think it’s a really great thing that they’re doing. So this year, it’s kind of weird that it’s gotten out of hand.”
The Appels said they had discussed their Halloween plans with neighbors to get permission before building their facility.
“We wanted to make sure he was okay because we assumed this year was going to be a little bit busier than normal,” said Dave Appel.
The family said safety is the most important thing to them, stressing that visitors should be respectful of their property, as well as that of their neighbors.
Social media can’t get enough of the epic “Stranger Things” themed decor seen in the Chicago suburb.
The Appels spent months putting together this year’s Halloween decorations, but when their TikTok showing Max Mayfield floating in the middle of their driveway went viral, things changed.
The family began receiving comments from Netflix, screams from the Stranger Things writing room, and even calls from “The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon.”
Its show-inspired display features “Stranger Things” character Max Mayfield floating above his driveway, surrounded by various items from the Upside Down. The setup not only stumped fans who wanted to know how the pair pulled off such a unique display, but also drew praise from fans of the hit show, which ended its final season over the summer.
Beyond that, the Appels also dedicated part of their Halloween montage to “pop culture horror” movies.
“We don’t just have ‘Stranger Things.’ We’ve got killer clowns, pennywise, pet cemeteries, we’ve got Alien, we’ve got Predator… references,” Dave Appel told NBC Chicago in an interview last week. “And people can pick and call them, that’s amazing. Very funny… because we hide them. We love Easter eggs and horror movies and all that. So our side of our garden is all ‘Stranger Things’, the other side is every pop culture horror movie that we could basically fit in there that seems peaceful.”
The Appels said they put on their displays every year to the delight of those who come out.
“We do this for no money,” said Dave Appel. “It’s free. It’s just for kids. It’s for adults who want to see something different, who want their walks to be, you know, more fun.”