Just a few miles south of Devils Lake there is a magical place where even the most serious anti-Halloween “Bah Humbugger” will be enchanted. It’s David and Debbie Cavanaugh’s place on Mathoin Road.
Well worth the drive, go south on Highway 20 as if you are heading to the Spirit Lake Casino and Resort but go past that turn off, turning instead at the very next left on BIA #1 (I think), cross the bridge and take the first right on a highway dedicated to Dancia Jackson, David and Debbie’s grandaughter who lost her life in 2015 to West Nile Virus. She was 23 years old at the time of her passing. There’s a sign marking that dedication at both ends of this paved portion of highway.
Once on this highway dedicated to Dancia’s memory, drive a little ways, past four or five homes (on the left side of the road) and you cannot miss the Cavanaugh display – it’s probably the most impressive private display this Journal editor has ever seen.
Debbie says they have spent hundreds, no, thousands of dollars on the display that includes a larger than life-sized Michael Myers from the Halloween movie franchise complete with huge “bloodied” knife and Pennywise, the evil clown horror icon whose eyes light up and speaks to you as you walk by. If that isn’t enough to freeze your blood on Oct. 31, you will find zombies and ghosts in the woods surrounding their driveway and nearly countless numbers of inflatable ghosts, gouls, witches and other spooky creatures. The display would be even larger, but the Cavanaugh’s donated most of their older items to the Casino for their Haunted House path.
On Halloween night the Cavanaugh’s give out over $100 worth of candy to trick-or-treaters and have been known in the past to host whole classes from preschools in the area, as well.
If you’re having trouble getting into the Halloween mood, try driving past the Cavanaugh’s home in rural St. Michael. It just might help. On Halloween night they’ll be ready and open for trick-or-treaters and the family’s dogs will be safely out of sight.
