A free haunted house tucked into a Fruit Cove backyard has drawn large crowds, and the 18-year-old behind it spent six months transforming his family's property into a scene-filled attraction with more than 90 animatronics, live scare actors and elaborate sets. Preston Simmons charges no admission, yet hundreds of visitors show up, some waiting hours in line for their turn to walk through.
The attraction, now in its fourth year, extends through the side yard, backyard and garage of the home Simmons has lived in with his family for eight years, according to First Coast News. Simmons, who graduated from Creekside High School in 2025, has built scenes including a forest walk and a pirate-themed section, all designed through supply runs, online research and his own imagination. Scare actors have helped bring the display to life for all four years it has existed.
Visitors travel from as far as Orange Park and the beaches to see it, and some families have returned every single year since it started, per the same report. Simmons said he enjoys seeing families come back year after year, and that their appreciation for the work makes the long hours worthwhile.
From One Clown to a $25,000 Production
Simmons began collecting Halloween decorations about five years ago, and the project has ballooned from there. He and his parents once picked up a clown decoration at roughly half price from Spirit Halloween, and he has since purchased additional animatronics found online, building a collection that now exceeds 90 pieces. The attraction has cost more than $25,000 altogether, the outlet reports.
News4JAX reported in October 2025 that Simmons, then 17, had a free haunted house that was a local Halloween hit.
Weather has forced Simmons to adapt his setup along the way. He waterproofed one section of the yard to protect against the elements, and on rainy days he bags up many of the decorations to keep them from getting ruined.
A Home Along a Main Road Becomes a Halloween Destination
Simmons lives along a main road, a location that has helped turn passersby into visitors as word of the free attraction spread. He promotes the haunted house through social media, his YouTube channel and signs posted outside the home, and he runs a YouTube channel called Typical Haunts that has built him thousands of subscribers and supporters who donate toward the project's costs.
Looking ahead, Simmons hopes to eventually open a professional haunted house inside a warehouse.
If the attraction opens on October 31, 2026, it will be a Saturday. Visitors should prepare for scares and a potentially long wait; Simmons says he loves collecting animatronics and building something for people to enjoy.
The Fruit Cove attraction is just one entry in a crowded regional Halloween map. FrightMaps lists 18 Halloween locations mapped in and around Jacksonville, ranging from yard haunts to animatronics displays and live-actor attractions, with 11 listings specifying free admission and three charging for entry.
