MEEKER | For more than two decades, Halloween night at the Johnson home has been one of Meeker’s most anticipated community stops. Every Oct. 31, hundreds of costumed trick-or-treaters make their way up Sage Hills to the Johnsons’ house — nearly 500 last year alone — to see the elaborate decorations and walk away with a full-size candy bar.
What began modestly more than 30 years ago has grown into a full-scale event for Alida and Ellis Johnson.
“It started way back on Third Street,” Alida Johnson said. “I had four little kids, and we didn’t have much money, but everyone on that street started decorating and handing out candy. We had over 200 kids coming by back then.”
When the family moved to their current neighborhood in Sage Hills, things were quieter — only a handful of houses nearby. So Johnson decided to bring Halloween to them.
“I started buying full-size candy bars to get kids to come up here,” she said. “And every year, I’d buy one or two new decorations. After 25 years of doing that, I’ve got this huge collection. I can switch out three or four different themes now.”
Johnson, who retired from the Rio Blanco County Sheriff’s Office and has a background in art, channels her creativity into every display.
“I’ve always been an artist,” she said. “After I retired, I started my own business, FLAKIES by Alida. I closed it a couple of years ago, but I still love creating.”
Her artistic touch extends beyond Halloween. On one wall of her home hangs a custom snowflake design she made for her husband, Ellis, a Vietnam veteran.
“If you look closely, you’ll see the story of his life in it,” Johnson said. “There’s a shotgun with a pheasant and our name, ‘Johnson.’ He used to have a CJ-5 Jeep. He flew airplanes and taught at CNCC. There’s an American flag and an eagle because we’re patriotic, a little cabin for our home, an elk for the country, and an owl to watch over everything. There’s also a 700 Remington rifle, a 1911 pistol, a service revolver and a star — because he worked for the Sheriff’s Office.”
As Veterans Day approaches next week, the Johnsons’ story carries an added layer of meaning — one of community, service and pride. Their display isn’t just about spooky fun; it reflects their love of country and the joy of bringing people together.
Themes over the years have ranged from spiders and bats to full graveyard scenes, complete with lights, sounds and photo backdrops. Her granddaughter, Eliana — “the tall one,” as Johnson affectionately calls her — has long been part of the tradition, helping decorate whenever she can.
As the display has grown, so has the community excitement.
“We love it,” Johnson said. “The kids are so excited to come up here. They get just as much joy out of it as we do.”
Her husband, Ellis, is her “backup man,” handling the heavy lifting and building hangers for decorations.
“Without him, it would be a long haul,” she said.
The couple keeps careful track of their visitors each year.
“Last year we had 486 trick-or-treaters,” Johnson said. “I know because I count my candy bars. I buy enough for 500 kids — after that, they get a cookie or something different.”
The Johnsons have watched generations of families come through their yard.
“Some of the kids who used to come here now bring their own children,” she said. “They yell, ‘Hi, Alida!’ from the street. It’s wonderful.”
There have been plenty of laughs along the way, too. Johnson recalled one Halloween when her granddaughter’s boyfriend dressed as a scarecrow and stood motionless on a cross near the front of the house.
“Some guy started poking at him, saying, ‘I wonder if he’s real,’” she said with a laugh. “Then he jumped off, and the guy about jumped out of his skin.”
For the Johnsons, Halloween is about more than decorations — it’s about community spirit, creativity and staying young at heart.
“It keeps us young,” Johnson said. “We used to do Christmas decorating too, but we had to pick one. I love Halloween — the colors, the spooky, the cute — all of it.”
This year’s display includes new lights, wall murals for photo ops and a few surprises that only appear once the sun sets on Halloween night.
As for what she hopes visitors take away from the experience, Johnson’s answer is simple:
“Enjoyment,” she said. “That’s what it’s all about.”
As the sun sets on another Halloween night in Meeker, the Johnson home will once again glow with lights, laughter and the steady rhythm of footsteps climbing Sage Hills. What began as a small effort to bring a few trick-or-treaters to their quiet street has become a cherished community tradition — one that celebrates not only the spirit of Halloween, but the joy of giving, the power of creativity and the pride of a family whose sense of service extends far beyond their front yard.
Ellis and Alida Johnson stand in front of their dragon-themed arch the day before Halloween at their home in Sage Hills. The couple has been creating elaborate Halloween displays for more than 25 years. Jared Henderson PHOTO