POST FALLS - Dan Treend figures, at this point, it would be scarier to not transform his place into an old-fashioned funeral home, autopsy room and graveyard each Halloween than to skip the production altogether.

"It may be dangerous," Treend said of the thought of doing nothing. "The house would probably get egged."

Treend (pronounced Trend) and friends have been hosting seasonal spooks for 27 years in Post Falls, including the past 16 at his home on the western edge of the Riverside Harbor subdivision near the Spokane River.

Kids and adults brave enough can reach to find out what's inside a "body" undergoing an autopsy, peek at what's inside a 1972 Cadillac hearse in the driveway and step into the Georgian-style home turned into a funeral home viewing parlor.

If that's not enough excitement, there's the poor souls being zapped in an electric chair or facing the guillotine, a mad doctor hanging out at the autopsy table or inviting you in the home and freaky folks greeting you or firing up a chain saw in the graveyard.

"It's become a tradition for us," said Treend, adding that the free attraction runs from dusk to roughly 9:30 p.m. "It's a fun, creative outlet, and the kids love it."

Boy, do they.

Two years ago, Treend and Co. counted more than 500 visitors. Large groups as well as neighborhood trick-or-treaters flock to the place to make it part of their Halloween experience.

"We have three generations who have visited," Treend said. "We've been scaring people awhile."

Treend said the intent is to make the show pretty graphic, yet not go overboard and be sensitive to ages.

"We try to tone it down at the front door if they're little, but I'm always amazed that some still race up to the crazy, mad doctor," he said. "We try to make sure we're approachable for the families and kids who want to participate."

Sufficient lighting for safety purposes is also important.

Treend said his neighbors have been good about the increase in vehicular and foot traffic that the production attracts each Halloween for a few hours.

"Kids seem to come earlier in the night and some of them, especially if they're new to the neighborhood, drag their parents back," Treend said. "People thank us every year for doing it."

Adults, Treend said, seem to enjoy the haunted home as much as the kids.

"When I was growing up, Halloween was all about the kids, but these days there's a lot more adults involved," he said.

Treend and his four or five helpers spend about eight hours setting up - and much of the work isn't done until Halloween because the fall weather can be rough on the props.

The collection has grown.

"Every year we try to change it up - just a bit," Treend said.

Treend said he wasn't allowed to participate in Halloween activities growing up, so he's making up for it as an adult.

"It's fun, and that's the reason we keep doing it," Treend said. "It just adds to the excitement that's going on."