Cedar Rapids Resident Builds Elaborate Halloween Display

Ward Fulmer’s home at 2025 Meadowbrook Dr. SE features an animatronic pumpkin king and 300 harvested cornstalks.

Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Landscaping

Bold vector editorial illustration of a pumpkin-headed animatronic figure standing before a rustic wood pallet cabin amid harvest cornstalks. — Cedar Rapids resident Ward Fulmer has transformed his Meadowbrook Drive property into a seasonal attraction featuring custom-built displays for local families. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do elaborate residential holiday displays like this one help bring your community closer together?

Cedar Rapids resident Ward Fulmer has transformed his yard into a Halloween attraction featuring an animatronic pumpkin king housed in a cabin made of wood pallets. The 58-year-old forklift salesperson has been decorating his property for six years to bring joy to neighborhood children.

Why it matters

Fulmer creates the display to celebrate the season and his October 13 birthday, providing free candy to visitors as a community gesture. He does not accept donations from the public, focusing entirely on the festive experience for local families.

The display uses 300 harvested cornstalks and 3 fog machines to create the atmosphere. Fulmer has prepared $500 worth of candy to distribute to trick-or-treaters on Halloween night.

The players

Ward Fulmer

A 58-year-old forklift salesperson for Altorfer CAT who resides in Cedar Rapids.

The details

The display includes figures collected over the years, all surrounding a custom cabin built from wood pallets. Assembly of the expansive set began in early September.

2024: 300 people visited the display.
2025: 350 people visited the display.
Early September 2026: Fulmer began assembling the yard display.
October 31, 2026: Remaining features will be added and candy distributed.

Culture Shift

This display follows the pattern of the residential home decorating hobbyist trend, where individuals invest significant personal time and resources into seasonal neighborhood attractions. These installations reflect a broader shift toward immersive, do-it-yourself community experiences during holidays.

Residents can visit the display at 2025 Meadowbrook Dr. SE to see the animatronic features and receive candy. Visitors should prepare for high traffic volume on Halloween night given the anticipated increase in attendance to 500 guests.

The takeaway

Creating large-scale holiday displays can foster strong community engagement and provide a creative outlet for homeowners. Residents planning similar projects should account for increasing foot traffic over several years of growth.