The gates to the 8-acre estate in Wesley Chapel, Florida, are finally unlocking. After years of silence, the family of Lewis VanDercar—locally known as the 'Warlock of Wesley Chapel'—is hosting the first 'Warlock Family Spookfest' on October 3. This isn't just a tour; it’s a resurrection of the property’s identity as a living, breathing artistic experiment that has sat dormant for too long.
VanDercar arrived in the area in 1973, turning his eight acres into a concrete jungle of dome-shaped, ivy-covered caves and bizarre sculptures. He didn't just build a house; he built a myth. Neighbors like Jeff Daniels remember the 1970s, when VanDercar invited local kids over for stories and tricks rather than scares. That specific, playful energy is the backbone of the new event. No jump scares. No haunted corridors. Just games, crafts, and a 'Warlock Apprentice Passport' for kids to stamp at stations ranging from herbology to broom decorating.
The artist’s legacy is as strange as his property. Before becoming a sculptor, he drew Popeye cartoons in Miami in the late 1930s and worked as an aircraft engineer during WWII. He also crafted a giant dragon for a Merritt Island park and a gorilla lair for the Monkey Jungle in South Dade. His 1988 Miami Herald obituary captured his ego perfectly: when asked if he was a 'crazy' artist or a genius, VanDercar replied, 'I'm both. I think us geniuses should be modest.'
Now, his grandson Bobby VanDercar, who runs a painting studio in Tampa, is keeping the magic alive. The Spookfest runs from 2 to 6 pm at 25950 Queen Sago Place. Admission is $15 for adults and $10 for kids over 10; younger children get in free. But the doors won't stay shut all year. The property will also host statuary tours on Tuesdays and Fridays in October at 7 pm and 10 pm, giving locals a rare chance to see the concrete creations up close before the season ends.