A two-story haunted ship is part of this year’s Halloween display at the Plano home of Kurt and Jennifer Sidenbender. The family’s annual event is a big celebration for neighborhood families. (Chronicle Media photo)

Talk about an idea taking on a life of its own.

Nine years ago, Plano resident Kurt Sidenbender just wanted to provide a bit of Halloween fun for his two young boys while he and his wife Jennifer hosted their Halloween party. So he placed down plywood in the living room and dining room and turned it into a haunted house, complete with graveyard.

“The cemetery was in the dining room,” Sidenbender said. The next year, he said, “It went into the (attached) garage.”

And from there it evolved annually. Three years ago it got so big it had to be moved outside. Now Sidenbender’s Halloween event is a full-blown weeks-long construction project taking up his entire driveway and part of the front lawn on the end of the 4000 block of Peterson Court. 

Sidenbender, who owns JKS Heating and Cooling in Plano, uses his carpentry and electrical background to create something new and cool for his sons Jacob, Nathan and Cameron to enjoy. 

“We do a different theme each year,” he said. Last Saturday the Sidenbender’s had 85 people at their annual private Halloween party. That included 40 lucky kids who got to wander through a two-story haunted ship Sidenbender built. 

This coming Saturday, Oct. 31, the public will be invited to tour the ship.

“Public” as in around 2,000 people.

“It used to be a private thing. Now it’s a public thing,” Sidenbender said. “The response has been huge. It’s gotten so big.”

On Saturday morning he still had finishing touches to make, noting, “I have to finish the cannons.”

He said the ship is meant to be scary, but not gross. To entertain kids 11-years-old and younger. 

“There’s nothing gory, just scary. It’s age appropriate,”  Sidenbender said.

Neighbors Jamie and John Edwards moved in down the street from the Sidenbenders in 2006 and have watched his craftwork expand annually. They have three kids of their own, Kelsey, Bryce and Ty, all of whom appreciate the Halloween magic Sidenbender creates. 

“They love it,” Jamie Edwards said. “They love seeing it go up every year.” 

Edwards said before Sidenbender moved the project onto his driveway, neighborhood kids would try to guess what theme he was building in his garage.

“It used to be a secret because you couldn’t see it. So, the kids would guess at it,” Edwards said.

Edwards said Sidenbender gives back to the neighborhood year-round, not just on Halloween. 

“Kurt’s just a very nice, hard-working guy who’s always willing to give neighbors a hand,” she said. 

As the annual Halloween project grew in size, Sidenbender said, he’s been blessed with great cooperation by his neighbors and local government.

“Everyone’s been on board since the beginning,” he said. “There’s no problems with the neighbors or the homeowner’s association.” 

Numerous neighbors have pitched in as needed, offering decorations, material and even labor.

“We’ve had neighbors help,” Sidenbender said. “We accept donations. People have given money. One of my builders (who use his heating and cooling services) let me use a cherry picker (hydraulic lift) to put the sails up and place the flag on top.”

The 20-foot mast took three hours and a great deal of old-fashioned muscle power to erect.

Everything else, Sidenbender said, “is pretty much all me and my wife.” 

With the move outside to a freestanding structure, there are now permits and inspections to deal with as well. “The city stepped in. They want everyone to be safe,” he noted. 

Sidenbender said work on this year’s project started in August. Though the ship itself couldn’t be started until Sept. 1, due to permit requirements.

“The city used to give me a month,” he said. “This year we went to the City Council and got approval for a two month building permit, due to the scale and size.” 

After all the fun and excitement, on Sunday, it all has to come down.

“I start taking it down right away,” Sidenbender said. “Takes about a week.” 

It’s a process of de-construction rather than destruction, with everything recycled and stored away for use in next year’s concept. 

“I have a shop in town,” Sidenbender said. “All the wood gets stored there or in a trailer. The rest goes in my attic.” 

It’s a lot of work before and after for just two nights of enjoyment, but Sidenbender says that’s fine with him. 

“I do it for my children,” he said. “It’s only one time a year,” Sidenbender shrugged. “It’s OK, I’m cool with it.”

While Sidenbender says he doesn’t charge an entry fee, he does offer people a way to express their appreciation for all his hard work, and in the process help those less fortunate.

“A supply house I work with does a two-month long food drive every year,” he said. “Munch Supply of Aurora. I pass on what I collect to them.” 

“I’ll have signs outside the house notifying people of the food drive,” he said. “We ask that they donate non-perishable food items.”

So, Sidenbender was asked, what’s next year’s Halloween concept going to be?

“Oh, I have no idea,” Sidenbender said. “We don’t figure that out until next summer.”

–Halloween attraction an annual neighborhood event–