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Spooky vibes at the new Voorhees Estates

by TYLER WILSON/Special to The Press
| October 25, 2020 1:00 AM

Nestled between Prairie Avenue and the Upside Down, the newest North Idaho neighborhood will satiate all those out-of-state ghouls flooding into the Inland Northwest.

Voorhees Estates, comprising 13 new homes, mixes a classic Gothic style with modern amenities. With superior building standards, rest assured that the creaks in the floor aren’t the result of poor craftsmanship. That’s just the house poltergeist.

The neighborhood includes a park area with various torture devices (ages 5 and up recommended) and a jaw-dropping art installation by Jack Torrence — a massive elevator monument that spills gallons of blood into the streets on every full moon. It’s the definition of elegance.

Realtor Damien Thorn with Omen Associates praised the development’s primary builder, the Umbrella Corporation, for their attention to detail in all facets of the design process.

“Whereas most developments built on old cemeteries move both the headstones and the bodies before building, Umbrella made sure to leave all the skeletons,” Thorn said. “In fact, they designed the homes so all the main floor closets would align directly above those grave sites.”

The Texas-based Umbrella Corporation, known for their contributions to the pharmaceutical industry, entered the home construction game back in 2016, transforming a sprawling chainsaw factory into a 55+ community of condominiums. The neighborhood is now the state’s hub for exorcisms and overall paranormal activity.

Umbrella spokesman Laurie Strode hopes the same for North Idaho’s Voorhees Estates, which has already drawn interest from social media influencers like Gozer, Zuul and Vigo the Carpathian.

“Gatekeepers and keymasters alike have praised Voorhees Estates,” Strode said.

Just three of the original 13 properties remain available. The available homes are huge, with six bedrooms and six bathrooms each and an office with one of those bookshelves that rotates into the home’s sprawling network of secret passages. Decor elements are also incorporated, including chandeliers made of knives and framed portraits of historically-significant madmen, all with the eye holes poked out for convenient spying. The peephole aligned with the shower in the master bathroom is particularly discreet.

Prices on the remaining homes start at $666,000, but the Umbrella Corporation offers installment plans and various promotions. Sell your soul and get 50% off!

Despite strong buyer interest, not everyone in the area is happy about the popularity of Voorhees Estates.

“Most of the people seem nice, but I know I’ll have to stake someone eventually,” said Vanessa Van Helsing, who lives in the Transylvanian Heights neighborhood located just two blocks south of Voorhees Estates. “I guess it’s better than a bunch of California transplants.”

Thorn disagrees with the need for staking.

“Our vampires aren’t feeding on people,” Thorn said. “Just squirrels and the occasional stray cat.”

Visit the model home at 237 Crystal Lake Drive. Look for the red balloons and the evil clown standing in the front yard. Hours vary.

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Let us know about the not-haunted neighborhoods around North Idaho you want to see featured in Neighborhood of the Week. Realtors! Reach out to us with updates on new developments and established neighborhoods in Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls, Hayden, Rathdrum and the great beyond. Contact Tyler Wilson at twilson@cdapress.com.