One Final Ride: Mokena Home Ending Halloween Display After 25-Year Run

MOKENA, IL — Over on Fiona Street in Mokena, there is a family who has been delighting people — and, sometimes, scaring the devil out of them — with their annual Halloween display. They've done this for the past 25 years. But, all things must come to an end, and when the family puts away the display this year, it will be for the final time.

The Triolo family has earned a reputation for consistently having one of the most elaborate and frighteningly good Halloween displays in the area. Their home and lawn, at 19783 Fiona St., are covered in an assortment of spooky characters, props and jump scares.

It's a tradition that has not only brought the neighborhood together, but has also drawn people together from far and wide to a part of the Halloween magic. And seeing people come together and share in their joy is one of the biggest reasons the family has kept the tradition alive for the past 25 years, said Debbie Triolo.

Debbie and her husband, Jim, started The Scary House on Fiona — as it's known to the locals — shortly after they married and started raising their family. It was something for the couple to do together as a family and "create memories for the kids," Debbie said.

"By putting up that display, it really brought families together," Jim said. "And it's so rewarding to take a look down the street and see how families from husband and wife and all the kids dressing in costumes — it's kind of like one of those Normal Rockwell paintings."

Well, the Triolo children are no longer children, and Debbie and Jim decided this would be the last year for The Scary House on Fiona so that the couple can focus more on spending time with their now-grown children and enjoying other October activities that aren't Halloween.

The home started with a few tombstones and some other small decorations, and it quickly evolved over the years thanks to much support from family, neighbors and friends.

It is truly a community effort to make The Scary House on Fiona stand out from the rest, Jim said. The set up starts at the beginning of September and takes about two weeks to get everything ready and working in time for the Halloween season.

Jim handles most of the carpentry work and building of the props, but that's just part of the work that goes into putting on the display. One of the Triolo's neighbors helps out with building and installing the motors for the animatronic props, and friends and family — including the Triolo's children — pitch in with the massive undertaking of staking out the property and setting up the decorations.

"We have a laundry list of people to thank, and we have always been so grateful," Jim said.

The home consistently draws in large crowds, with as many as 3,000-5,000 people attending just on Halloween night, Jim said. For that reason, the family has worked with the Village of Mokena for the past 12 years to block off part of the street from dusk until around 8 p.m. Halloween night so that children — and some adults — can roam around freely without having to worry about accidentally running out into traffic.

"The goal has always been to keep kids safe at any cost," Jim said.

The Village had graciously been donating the resources and manpower to accommodate the Triolos the past 12 years; however, this year there were some complications in securing those resources, and, for a time, it looked like perhaps The Scary House on Fiona might not exist at all this year.

That is, until Mokena Village Trustee George Metanias stepped in to help the Triolos get what they needed to keep the tradition going for one final hurrah.

Metanias was able to get the Mokena VFW Post 725 to agree to lend a hand and provide what the Triolos needed to make sure people could still come out and enjoy the display as safely as possible, Jim said.

The Triolos' said it's been a bittersweet time for them now that The Scary House on Fiona is coming to an end, but did not want to go out without giving thanks to all who have helped and support them over the years.

"Everyone is so thankful for what we've done and have enjoyed our display, and everyone keeps saying how much we gave to the community, but we got so much more back." Debbie said.

"We've always been so grateful for the support that we've gotten," Jim said.

The Triolos are selling their collection of Halloween props and decorations. Those interested in purchasing any items can ask about them in person at The Scary House on Fiona, or send a message to their Facebook page, also called The Scary House on Fiona.