A new family moved into an old stone mansion in Carroll Township and they brought tombstones for the front yard, ghastly characters along the driveway and movie cameras.
And the neighbors are all invited to come on in to see how the former McCormick mansion off of Coyle Curtin Road has been transformed into "Demon House."
This Friday will mark the beginning of a new chapter at the mansion as Europa Productions will begin taping a 13-week television documentary titled "The Haunting of Emerald Hill" at what is now called the McCue Family Estate, 417 Coyle Curtin Road.
Tours of the "Demon House" will begin Friday and run through Nov. 5.
The opening of "Demon House" is a dream come true for executive producer and Halloween enthusiast Billy McCue.
"From the time I was a little boy, I dreamed of opening a haunted house and taping a reality show there," said McCue, who was raised in the South Hills and now lives in Washington, Pa.
He got his first taste of the movie business when he was about 15 years old, making $1 a day as a zombie extra in a George Romero horror flick.
McCue later moved to Los Angeles, where he ventured into the movie business and has since directed 57 films and 14 television series. After getting married and having children, he and his wife decided to move back to this area to raise their kids in a more "conservative" atmosphere. That's when he started looking for the perfect location to tape a haunted reality show.
After months of research and scouting for mansions, McCue found the old McCormick mansion, also known as the Emerald Mansion. They bought it last year.
The 17-room mansion has been completely revamped and transformed for the haunting season. Tours of the mansion will take visitors through all of the rooms, except for one, which will be used as the "green room" for production.
"It's a haunting experience like none other," McCue claimed. "What people won't see is a chain-saw coming at them."
McCue and co-executive producer David Dennis are keeping details of the mansion a secret until opening day, but said the visitors will be videotaped for the show, footage that may be used in their reality show, which will be broadcast on a national cable network.
McCue and Dennis also developed a Web site, www.demonhouse.com, where the "history" of the mansion includes the following excerpt: "The McCue Mansion has a history that is layered in horrors and lost souls, and, until now, kept secret by the mansion itself ... the land that the mansion now sits upon was once used as a burial ground for a civilization that once populated the land of Monongahela."
During a visit to the grounds during pre-production, the house exudes an aura of creepiness as cobwebs, skeletons and scary figures adorn the grounds. At night, Demon House glows under eerie red lights.
"Evil has a new home," says McCue as he paces the grounds and chain smokes.
Dennis and sound designer Carlton Stern of Hollywood, Calif., have been staying at the home during the renovations and admit they've had a few spooky experiences.
"There was a bad storm one night and I heard this awful explosion sound," said Stern. "I went out and sat in my car."
McCue said they have hired Pittsburgh area and other local actors for the show, including associate producer Mark Cassata. Since coming to town, McCue said they have worked with the Carroll Township supervisors to be good neighbors and attended a recent public meeting.
"My objective is not to have problems with noise over crowds. Our money is being spent here and I hope it is all in the positive direction. If there are any issues, we will address them immediately," McCue told the supervisors.
But the house has definitely sparked the interest of passersby.
"There will be cars coming up the driveway at three in the morning, just curious," Dennis said.
But visitors be aware, the cameras are rolling to capture every facial expression and scream.
Demon House
417 Coyle Curtin Road,
Carroll Township
Gates open at 7:30 p.m.
Open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in October
and Oct. 19, 20, 26, 27 and 31 and Nov. 4 and 5
Admission $15
Tickets can be bought at the door or in advance at www.demonhouse.com.
