Meet Ray Mitchell
The story behind Hobby Halloween and Hobby Paranormal.
The Creator Behind Hobby Halloween and Hobby Paranormal
I am a retired Firmware Engineer with over 30 years of experience in the electronics and embedded systems field. Over my career, I’ve had the privilege of working with the Automated Test and Measurement division at Hewlett Packard (now Keysight), the Stanford University Solar Observers Group—where I helped design a classroom instrument to monitor the ionosphere (the SID Monitor)—and Davis Instruments, spending over a decade developing environmental monitoring products.
Alongside my industry work, I hold a master’s degree in Computer Science and an associate’s degree in Electronics. While working full-time, I also taught classes at California State University in the Computer Science department and the graduate multimedia program. Bringing real-world experience into the classroom was incredibly rewarding, especially knowing I was helping shape the next generation of engineers and creators.
Today, I’m channeling that exact same passion for engineering and education into Hobby Halloween and Hobby Paranormal. These channels are designed to pull back the curtain on the technical side of the spooky and mysterious, making DIY projects, animatronics, and builds accessible to fellow makers at home.
My Halloween Story: From “Mystery Walks” to Master Builds
My obsession with haunting started when I was just 10 years old. My parents were active members of our local church, and they asked my father to build a “haunted” attraction. Because the church wanted to avoid the phrase “haunted house,” we called it a “Mystery Walk.” It was my very first taste of creating a themed attraction, and I was instantly hooked.
Shortly after, during a family vacation to Disneyland, my only goal was to see the Haunted Mansion. Stepping into that portrait hallway for the first time—surrounded by stormy windows, changing portraits, and staring statues—was transformative. I didn’t just want to be a guest; I wanted to know how it worked. It spoke to me at a deeper level and set the course for the rest of my life. Years later, as a young adult, the church reached out to me to lead that same Mystery Walk. Alongside the youth group, we converted Sunday school rooms into themed environments, creating a successful community outreach program everyone looked forward to.
When my engineering career began in the late 1990s, I took that passion to my front porch. My first attempt was a bit rough—I was so unprepared I used unpainted cardboard boxes for tombstones. But I promised myself I would do better next year. Over time, I started integrating custom electronics to trigger lights and scares. Eventually, the porch display grew into a full garage walkthrough. Even when the COVID-19 pandemic forced a temporary pivot to outdoor yard displays, I couldn’t wait to bring back the walkthrough experience. In 2024, I finally opened a full “Haunted Mansion” inspired set to the public, tying it into the yard display for my best production yet. Space in a garage may be limited, but the drive to engineer new, immersive effects never stops.
My Paranormal Story: The Shadow in the Room
I have always held a deep fascination with the unexplained and have experienced a few strange occurrences over the years, but one incredible evening in 1995 left me with a once-in-a-lifetime encounter I will never forget.
While having late-night coffee with a friend in an empty restaurant, we both noticed a humanoid shadow materialize on a rock wall about 20 feet away. It was roughly six feet tall, lanky, and distinctly wore a bowler hat. For 10 to 20 seconds, we quietly watched this crisply defined figure slowly float down the 40-foot length of the wall. I studied it and looked into the empty space in front of it, there was nothing there to cast it. The moment it slipped around a corner, I chased after it, but the room and the kitchen were completely empty.
As an engineer and a special effects prop builder, my immediate instinct was to look for a logical explanation. I checked the ceiling for projectors—there were none. I tested the wall with my own hand and realized an object would need to be within 8 to 10 inches to cast a shadow that sharply. Furthermore, the dining room behind us was broken up by decorative glass dividers, brass rails, and ceiling posts, meaning a clean sightline from the distant windows was physically impossible. It remains a true, absolute mystery that defies explanation.
Thanks for Visiting My Website!
Whether you’re here because you love the creative mechanics of a great Halloween haunt, or you’re searching for answers to the world’s deepest mysteries, I’m incredibly glad you found your way here. This website is a central hub built specifically for our community.
Take a look around to find exclusive channel merch, grab project downloads to help with your own builds, and connect with fellow hobbyists. Thank you for watching, making, and exploring alongside me—don't forget to subscribe to both Hobby Halloween and Hobby Paranormal so you never miss a new project or investigation!