Rockport artist Ken Knowles and his wife Meg Knowles have taken Halloween decorating to new heights.
Every year, their house on a major corner entering Rockport, at the corner of Main and High streets, becomes a sight to behold with its Halloween themes.
This year, a two-story roller coaster, the “Skull Shaker,” has been erected, in which a family of seven wigged skeletal riders raise their bony arms for the thrill. And a large imposing clown serves as the carnival attendant, standing ready at the control lever to start the ride.
“We have always loved Halloween and it is Meg’s favorite time of year,” said Knowles, an award-winning fine artist. “We have always been well aware of the visibility out there and we get a lot of people over the years who have been appreciative of any decorating we did.
“People tell us that it made their day, so it become part of why we do it, because we know we are making people happy.”
Last year, they created a scene showcasing Ozzy Osbourne, who had died a few months earlier in July 2025.
“That one got a lot of response and love,” Ken Knowles said. “When we were taking it down, Meg asked what are we going to do next year. I said ‘I don’t know, maybe something bigger.’ And it came to me, what about a roller coaster coming off the roof. She laughed and said ‘yeah, sure’ and I said ‘yeah, haha.’ And I couldn’t get that idea out of my head.”
He started planning last winter. By late spring, he had drawings depicting how it would look. He started the actual building in July, working in his back yard on the major three pieces that he painted and then assembled in the front yards he created the roller coaster.
“The whole thing is trying to figure out what this family of skeletons is going to do each year. We started with one skeleton and now we have seven, of which some are kids, and each year they become something new,” Ken Knowles said.
“The roller coaster was a major build. I’ve been building things my whole life and I learned a lot from my brother, a professional builder. We outdid ourselves to the point of thinking about how are we going to top this one.”
For now, the ghoulish scene has been a hit again, with social media comments applauding their efforts.
And anyone who knows this couple and their delight at Halloween creations knows next year will surely bring another crowd-pleasing seasonal spectacle.
Gail McCarthy may be contacted at 978-675-2706, or gmccarthy@northofboston.com.