The Free Haunted House on NE Fremont (and the Artist Behind It)
Drive down NE Fremont near 7th this week and you’ll notice one building going full Halloween. That’s Mike Bennett Studios, and what’s coming together inside is the best free thing to do with your kids in Portland this October.
Who is Mike Bennett?
If you’ve lived here a while, you already know his work, even if you don’t know his name. Mike is the Portland artist behind the Portland Aquarium, which he calls “the world’s first cartoon aquarium.” He’s also behind Wonderwood Springs, the fantasy-themed indoor mini golf course and restaurant.
The NE Fremont studio is his home base. It’s a family-friendly maker space with hands-on art activities, events, and kids’ birthday parties.
And the outside is half the fun. Out front you’ll find the Portland Keychain Library, where you leave a keychain and take a keychain. It started in St. Johns and moved to Fremont in 2025. There are swaps for stickers and Pokémon cards too, plus a “dog library” stocked with tennis balls. Yes, for dogs.
What’s coming this Halloween: Dead Media Video Rentals
Here’s the setup. The manager of Dead Media Video Rentals was alphabetizing the horror section when he played a tape marked DO NOT PLAY. Now nobody can find him. Your job is to go in and help, while dodging the movie monsters.
The details:
- Dates: October 1 through November 1, 2026
- Cost: Free
- Hours: Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday 2 to 8 pm. Friday and Saturday 2 to 9 pm. Closed Monday and Tuesday.
- Scare level: Family-friendly, but still a little spooky
- Where: 707 NE Fremont St, Portland, OR
- Learn more: mikebennettstudios.com
Mike has been showing the build on social media, and the outside is turning into a spooky little shopping plaza. If you’re a kid of the 80s or 90s, the video store theme alone is worth the trip.
Got old VHS tapes in the garage? He’s collecting them. Drop them off at Wonderwood Springs or the Portland Aquarium and show staff his post for a free goodie.
Why I love this (and why I’m writing about it)
I help a lot of families move to Portland from somewhere else. The first question is always about schools and commute. The second, once they trust me, is “what is it actually like to live there?”
This is what it’s like. A guy on Fremont turns his studio into a free haunted video store because he thinks it would be fun. Neighbors bring their old tapes. Kids trade keychains on the sidewalk. Nobody’s selling you anything at the door.
You won’t find that on a listing sheet. It’s the stuff that makes a street feel like home.
If you go
Weekday afternoons will be your easiest shot. Friday and Saturday nights close to Halloween are going to be busy. Bring a keychain for the library out front so the kids have something to trade.
And if you’re thinking about a move to NE Portland and want to know what the neighborhoods feel like before you ever tour a house, call me. That’s my favorite conversation.
Find Joy in the Journey!
