It’s nice to know that in a Halloween season where we’ve seen a downsizing of haunted houses in Sonoma County, one can still count on the free thrills and chills of suburban yard haunts. On Jose Ramon Avenue, in Santa Rosa, the all-American tradition of entertaining the neighborhood during holidays is alive and well.

The Wolcott family went all out with the Wicked West Ghost Town of Jose Ramon Avenue, turning their house into an elaborate Wild West-style haunted hotel. Their front lawn has been transformed into a graveyard and a horror maze was constructed in front of their home.

The suburban haunt combines theme-park style set design and special effects to maximum effect (the Wolcotts certainly didn’t skimp on the colorful lights). A touch of whimsical humor was added with the usual atmosphere of horror expected with haunted houses, giving it a very family-friendly appeal.

This is not to say that it doesn’t have the teeth to frighten visitors: the actors, who are neighbors volunteering to help out the Wolcotts, certainly know how to scare or, in the opinion of someone who doesn’t scare easily, creep anyone out.

The Wolcotts say that they’re doing their haunted house just for fun, and one gets the feeling that people in the neighborhood are joining in the fun.

There’s no shortage of creativity exhibited at Wicked West Ghost Town of Jose Ramon Avenue, and there’s no doubt a lot of work was involved in putting it together. For a place that offers Halloween frights for free, the festive atmosphere it generates every night for the neighborhood is priceless.