Homeowner Wins City Permit Battle Over His ‘Spooktacular’ Halloween Display

Every Halloween, thousands of costumed children and their families flock to Raleigh’s Historic Oakwood neighborhood in North Carolina, drawn by an elaborate "haunted" house decked out with animatronic zombies, towering monsters, and other frightening sights.

Jesse Jones, a criminal defense attorney and former North Carolina State football player, spends more than a month each year preparing the display at his home at 504 Oakwood Ave., transforming it into a sprawling horror spectacle that has become one of Raleigh's largest Halloween attractions.

It all takes place in Historic Oakwood, a neighborhood known for its century-old homes and close-knit community. A Victorian house on Oakwood Avenue, built in 1883, was sold for $1.1 million in November 2025, while the neighborhood’s median listing price reached $924,450 in September 2026, according to Realtor.com®.

Since Jones started the tradition in 2012, it has grown into a community celebration, with neighbors joining in and decorating their own homes to welcome thousands of visitors.

But this year, the event faced a last-minute hurdle when city officials required Jones to obtain a special-event permit rather than the neighborhood block-party permit he had obtained last year.

With Halloween around the corner, Raleigh officials confirmed on Wednesday that the city would issue the permit and close the surrounding streets, clearing the way for an event expected to draw more than 5,000 trick-or-treaters, according to The News&Observer.

The decision followed weeks of negotiations over insurance, fees, and police staffing—a process Jones described as frustrating and a "complete mess." Still, he says the dispute did nothing to change his plans, and he was determined to move forward.

“As far as I’m concerned, it’s a go,” he tells Realtor.com. “It's Halloween. Kids are going to be trick-or-treating. There's no stopping it. I could turn my lights off and leave town, and thousands of people would still come to Oakwood on Saturday.”

The elaborate display at 504 Oakwood Ave. features animatronic zombies, towering monsters, and other frightening sights. (Jesse Jones) Jesse Jones, a criminal defense attorney and former NC State football player, spends more than a month preparing the display that attracts thousands of people every year. (Jesse Jones)

A historic home with a 'haunted' history

The house at 504 Oakwood Ave. has a chilling history—one that seems eerily fitting for its annual Halloween transformation.

Jones, who bought the three-story home in 2007, says he was drawn to its historic characteristics and location in Raleigh’s Historic Oakwood neighborhood.

But the property’s past holds an eerie history. According to Jones, the man who built it back in the 1890s, who lost an arm fighting at Gettysburg during the Civil War, died inside the house. Decades later, Jones’ father-in-law died in the very same room at the age of 98.

“My wife's father, who swam in on D-Day, passed away in the exact same room he did about three years ago,” he explained. 

It is a haunting detail for a house that now draws thousands of visitors each year, when its yard transforms into a scene straight out of a horror movie.

Bloody zombies appear to be clawing their way out of shallow graves and snarling werewolves can be seen lurking near the historic home. (Jesse Jones) Jones’ elaborate Halloween display began with a simple idea: to create an experience he never had as a child.  (Jesse Jones)

Bloody creatures are depicted clawing their way out of shallow graves and snarling werewolves appear to be lurking near the home. Some of the one-of-a-kind pieces were made by people who worked on AMC’s "The Walking Dead."

“I have stuff you can get at Home Depot and at Lowe's, but I also have one-of-a-kind props,” Jones explains. “It was made specifically for me to use. And the combination of all that makes it look really cool and unique."

A childhood wish becomes a neighborhood tradition

Jones’ elaborate Halloween display began with a simple idea: to create an experience he never had as a child. 

“I didn't go trick-or-treating growing up, not because of religious purposes. My dad and my grandfather just thought it was a waste of time,” he says. “So I knew when I had my own house, I would do this.”

He later realized the display could serve a purpose beyond fulfilling a childhood wish. 

“I saw a need for kids that live in condos, for kids who live in apartments or in neighborhoods that are not safe, that this would be a great opportunity to get people to come to Oakwood, and to have a safe night of trick-or-treating," he says.

What began as a personal project has grown into a free community attraction, drawing families from across Raleigh and beyond. Jones estimates he handed out 6,000 pieces of candy last year.

The Halloween decor features a T. rex and a raptor chowing on their prey. (Jesse Jones) The Wicked Witch of the West, her blue-winged monkeys, and a skull arch adorn Jones' yard as part of the display. (Jesse Jones)

How Halloween became part of Oakwood’s appeal

Oakwood’s appeal extends beyond its annual Halloween festivities. The historic homes, tree-lined streets, and active community life have helped make the downtown Raleigh neighborhood a sought-after place to live.

For Jones, the Halloween tradition has become another way to bring people into the neighborhood—and show them what makes it special.

Several residents have told Jones that the elaborate decorations that are put up in the neighborhood during both Halloween and Christmas were a major factor in their decision to move there.

But Jones says this year's Halloween celebration became mired in the permit dispute.

For years, the event operated under a neighborhood block-party permit. But Raleigh officials determined that the gathering had outgrown that designation, citing crowds of more than 5,000 people and street closures spanning five blocks.

The folks who worked on AMC’s "The Walking Dead" created some one-of-a-kind pieces for Jones' display. (Jesse Jones) Ultimately, the city agreed to issue the permit and close the surrounding streets, using heavy barriers to keep vehicles away from the crowds as thousands of people are expected to flock to the area on Oct. 31. (Jesse Jones)

The city required Jones to apply for a special-event permit, adding insurance, filing fees, and police staffing requirements to the cost of putting on the display.

Jones says he spent roughly $1,000 on liability insurance and faced a $350 filing fee, in addition to the cost of hiring off-duty officers. He estimated the total expenses associated with the event could reach $6,000.

Raleigh spokeswoman Julia Milstead told the News & Observer that the city had been consistent in its requirements while remaining flexible in addressing Jones’ concerns.

Ultimately, the city agreed to issue the permit and close the surrounding streets, using barriers to keep vehicles away from the crowds.

Still, Jones says the dispute left him questioning whether city officials appreciated the event’s value to the community. Despite this, Jones says he never had plans to cancel.

“My house this year is over the top, and people are going to come see it,” he says. “It’s not even Halloween yet, and we’ve had the most visitors ever this year come by the house to check it out.”

For the thousands of people expected to visit Oakwood, the show will go on—with Jones’ jaw-dropping Halloween spectacle taking center stage.