Halloween Haunt: Silver Star Cemetery even better than last year’s display

A skeleton climbs a tree at Silver Star Cemetery, the Halloween scare display at Eric Poteete’s house in Vancouver. The Silver Star Cemetery is scarier this year with the return of the false front and more displays. Photo by Paul Valencia

Eric Poteete, if you recall, continued his annual tradition of turning his Vancouver home into the Silver Star Cemetery last year, but he was also coming off a health scare so he was not able to put up all the displays like he has this year

Paul Valencia
Clark County Today

Eric Poteete is feeling better this year, which means his Halloween display is looking ever scarier this year.

A year ago, Clark County Today highlighted Poteete’s house of horrors. His Silver Star Cemetery has been a big Halloween hit for neighbors as well as the region, for people in search of big, grand Halloween displays.

It turned out, last year really wasn’t as big as in the past.

Eric Poteete has gone through a series of medical scares in the past couple of years, but one of the things that keeps him going is his annual Halloween display. Photo by Paul Valencia

You see, Poteete had just been coming off of heart surgery in September and was not recovered enough to put up the full exhibit at his home. He had his granddaughter and her husband helped out, and they made it work, but, again, it was not the full Silver Star Cemetery experience.

Well, three surgeries later in 2025, Poteete is in a better state of mind — and body — this year, and he has made Silver Star Cemetery stand out once again.

The display has been open for most of October and will continue this week, Thursday through Saturday (Oct. 30-Nov. 1) from dusk until around 10 p.m. Silver Star Cemetery is located at 8909 NE 112th Ave., in Vancouver.

The Silver Star Cemetery display looks scary at all times of the day, but with lights, lightning effects, and projections, it is better at night. Photo by Paul Valencia

He has music, with a combination of the soundtracks from movies “Halloween,” “Friday the 13th,” and “Nightmare on Elm Street.” He has sound effects. Plus mummies, skeletons, ghosts, and more. There are three window projections, plus another projection on the garage door that highlights a grave robber. And a fog machine makes for the spookiest environments.

Last year, Poteete was unable to put up the false front, covering the whole front of his home. The wood paneling allows for more decor. That fixture has made its triumphant return, housing a large mummy.

“Everybody loves it,” he said of the reaction from visitors.

A new fog machine gives the Silver Star Cemetery even more of a spookier feel. Photo by Paul Valencia

Well, not everyone. During September, for example, he often had younger children come into his yard to visit with his dog on their way to school. Some of those children don’t dare go into the yard now, passing the ghosts and other scary figures.

Poteete has been doing this, wherever he has lived, for more than 30 years. This year, he estimates he put in $1,500 worth of product and repairs. That is higher than normal, but a few things have broken down since last year.

The entire display has hundreds of decorations.

A number of smaller ghosts and goblins and things hang by trees outside the Silver Star Cemetery. Photo by Paul Valencia

Among his favorites is one he made: Joseph the Caretaker, a skeleton with a lantern, which moves his body from side to side, welcoming visitors to the cemetery.

“Giving kids nightmares,” Poteete said of his motivation. “I just love scaring people.”

He concludes with a laugh. A maniacal, evil-like laugh? Or just his regular laugh? Hmmm. You decide.

The cemetery gets visitors all through the month. It peaks on Halloween night. Hundreds of people showed up last year, even though it was bad weather on Halloween.

As long as Poteete is willing and able, he will be putting on this display. He said he thinks about next year’s exhibit the day after Halloween.