WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. — Take a wrong turn in Wesley Chapel and you may find yourself at a haunted castle.

  • Michael Martin transformed his home into a haunted castle
  • "Dracula's Castle" is open to the community to visit
  • His address is 5636 Grindstone Loop, Wesley Chapel

That’s because one man there takes Halloween to a new level every year.  This time, Michael Martin transformed his Wesley Chapel home into a castle — literally.

“I have more Halloween stuff than I do Christmas,” Martin said. 

Even he admits he may have gone overboard this time. 

He found the parts to the castle at a yard sale of all places. With a lot of handiwork, he put the fiberglass walls up around his home. He added a graveyard with light and sound effects, making it the standout house of his block. 

“I enjoy the fact that every year, people look at it and say how the heck did you do that? They’re kind of in shock. And they know every year I step it up a bit,” Martin said. 

A Marine veteran, Martin’s Halloween obsession began at a young age.

“When you grow up in Sleepy Hollow, New York, you have to embrace Halloween,” Martin said. 

Sharing a few scares is why he likes to transform his home, as he opens it up to the local community to visit each year. 

“I love the look on kids' faces. Halloween is special,” he said.

Dracula’s Castle, as Martin calls it, is just as creepy inside, complete with a real coffin.

“It’s odd to have a real coffin. It gives some people the creeps," Martin said. "But what better way to have a wet bar than a real coffin?” 

When it gets dark the house transforms again with projections of ghosts, fire, and more haunts. 

“Everybody that knows me says ‘if Mike is going to do it, he’s going to big. And he’s going to do it right.’”

Martin said his home is open to all. He’s hoping kids groups will take a trip. His address is 5636 Grindstone Loop, Wesley Chapel in the Lexington Oaks community.