ASHLAND — Children in Ashland know one of the best places to trick-or-treat in the city on Halloween.

They flock to Don and Whitey Miller’s house on the corner of 17th Street and Lexington Avenue, by the hundreds turning up in masse not just for the candy but the spooky experience.

Decorated with jack-o-lanterns, zombies and a host of animated characters, the home has become a Halloween destination in Ashland.

“It’s all about the kids,” said Don Miller. “We want absolutely nothing from it, except for the kids to have a good time.”

Each year, the couple hosts a gathering of friends and neighbors who dress up and hand out treats to the costumed children that show up for the fun. They get their photos taken with the characters and the more than 150 unique jack-o-lanterns on display at the house.

The cast of animated characters includes a 6-foot ape and the popular Edward the Butler.

 “We also have one that is motion-detected that will start singing some type of crazy Halloween song,” said Don. “We have a knight in shining armor, too.

“This year, it’s gotten a little crazy. We added two coffins this year, with two zombies or dummies or maybe me handing out candy (from it),” he teased on Monday.

The Miller’s Halloween tradition started about five years ago, when the couple found out they were expecting a daughter. Courtney, now 5, “loves Halloween” and the tradition has grown from there.

The family starts decorating in September, dedicating the entire month of October to Halloween. It takes about four or five days for all the decorations to go up and be lit with electric lights, but Miller says the family hunts down those plastic molded pumpkins at yard sales and antique shows all year.  

The Miller’s Halloween display will stay up through Courtney Miller’s birthday on Nov. 3.

Then, “Halloween will come down and Christmas will go up in it’s place,” says Don Miller, adding “It’s not as extravagant, but it’s getting there.”

CARRIE STAMBAUGH can be reached at cstambaugh@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2653.