Author: Gary Nager

The Grounds Of The Late Local Artist Lewis VanDercar’s Home Will Host The ‘Spookfest’ On Oct. 3; Tours To Continue All Month 

 Unless you live in Wesley Chapel’s Quail Hollow area, you may not be aware that at the northwestern end of where Quail Hollow Blvd. ends and becomes Queen Sago Pl., a renowned surrealist artist and self-proclaimed warlock named Lewis VanDercar built a domed house in 1973 that looks like something out of a storybook. 

VanDercar, who passed away in the house in 1988 at the age of 75, called his eight-acre property “Enchantment,” and the house passed to his daughter Muggins, who still lives there with her son Bobby and his wife Christine VanDercar. 

For the 15 or so years VanDercar lived on the property, he transformed it with dozens of his own weird, spooky-looking statues and sculptures, unconventional architecture and gardens. 

VanDercar also was known for throwing wild private parties every Halloween night, a tradition that Bobby and Christine have revived. But this year, for the first time ever, the property now known as “The Warlock House Enchantment” also will be opened to the public on Saturday, October 3, 2 p.m.-6 p.m., for “Spookfest,” a family-friendly event where, according to Christine, “children will explore different areas of the property with Warlock Apprentice Passports, meet characters, collect stamps, play games, make crafts and discover art and history, and ultimately, complete their passport adventures for a prize.” 

She adds that throughout October, “We’re also offering small Warlock House Statuary Night Tours every Tuesday and Friday at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., allowing visitors to experience Lewis’ artwork, statuary, architecture and stories beneath the trees after dark.” 

But, Christine says, “The events are really just the timely reason to tell what we think is the more interesting story: that a piece of old Wesley Chapel is still here. 

“Our family is working to preserve Lewis VanDercar’s legacy while once again making the property a living part of the community rather than simply something hidden behind the gates.” 

Muggins, Bobby and Christine have archival photographs of Lewis and the property, and family members will be available to share stories about Lewis and the earlier days of Wesley Chapel. 

Photographer Charmaine George and I got to tour not only the property but also inside the house — which will not be open to the public for any of the events. The walls inside the home are adorned with surrealist art painted by Lewis, as well as many of his press clippings from throughout his career, which began in Miami in the late 1930s, when he worked as an animator (drawing Popeye cartoons) before serving as a merchant seaman in the Merchant Marine during World War II. 

According to TheWarlockHouse.com, he also transformed that house in Miami’s Morningside neighborhood “with his cement sculptures, grotesque gargoyles, mythical creatures and faces of every age and culture peering from the walls. Visitors (including neighborhood kids) were free to explore this whimsical menagerie of art.” 

The website also says, “VanDercar liked to style himself as a warlock and clairvoyant… he cheerfully claimed to have mysterious powers like ESP and levitation…He placed outrageous Classified ads in The Miami Herald offering a ‘pet poltergeist’ for sale” and other absurd hoaxes. 

“In 1973, at the height of his fame, VanDercar left Miami in search of quieter surroundings,” settling in the home where Muggins, Bobby and Christine now live (photo below). 

“The driveway is lined with stone walls carved into eerie faces, and odd statues (dragons, tiki heads and mythical figures). He was literally painting up until days before his death. In his own words, he had spent ‘30 years and died doing what he liked — a fulfilled artist’s life.’” 

“The Warlock House Enchantment still stands as a folk-art landmark. Visitors to the property can see first-hand the fading but magical world he built.” 

Christine says that despite the spooky nature of the statues, “There is no warlock or black magic here. The ‘Spookfest’ will not be scary for children. We believe they will love it here!” 

Please note that the grounds are beautiful but rustic and Charmaine and I can attest to the fact that there are mosquitoes present, as well as some wild (live) peacocks and a parrot. 

The Warlock House Enchantment is located at 25950 Queen Sago Pl. The “Spookfest on Saturday, October 3, 2 p.m.-6 p.m., will be a family-friendly Halloween adventure filled with magical villages, interactive activities, peculiar characters, crafts, games, live entertainment, food, vendors and surprises around every corner. Costumes are encouraged. Tickets cost $15 for adults, $10 for kids ages 10+ and kids under age 10 are admitted free. For more info and to purchase tickets, visit TheWarlockHouse.com/warlock-family-spookfest-wesley-chapel. 

And please tell Christine, Bobby and Muggins that you read about them in the Neighborhood News!