The Midnight Valley Collection: Could this be the start of a new original Story Theme?

ramblingbrick 18+, Lego, Midnight Valley, , , , , ,
A display of the Midnight Valley Collection featuring a detailed building model surrounded by various themed elements and books on a red shelf.

Where is Midnight Valley, and what is going on there?

The LEGO Group has just revealed the first in a new series of collectible building sets, aimed at grown-up builders. Mayor Manor is the first of the Midnight Valley Collection.

Box of the LEGO Icons set 'Mayor Manor' from the Midnight Valley Collection, featuring an intricately designed haunted mansion with detailed architecture, trees, and several mini-figures.
LEGO haunted house model box featuring intricate details and themed characters, with previews of interior scenes and a ghostly design.

LEGO ICONS 11383 Mayor Manor has 1420 pieces, three minifigures, a cat, and a mouse. It is priced at $AUD179.99 / $USD119.99 / 109.99€ / £99.99 and will be released on September 1, 2026. At this point, more questions are being raised than answers are being provided. Read on for more…

A detailed LEGO model of a spooky house featuring a dark, ornate design, surrounded by trees and garden elements. Three mini-figures are positioned in front of the house, including a woman in an apron, a man holding a tray, and a character in a long coat. There are small animals and a pumpkin visible in the garden.
A detailed LEGO haunted house model featuring various mini-figures, including a knight, a wizard, and a scientist, with intricate interior and exterior designs, set against a dark background.

This derelict mansion, with crumbling walls, misshapen windows,and a crooked facade brings across a feeling that is at once Creepy, Kooky, Mysterious and Spooky, without engaging the Intellectual properties of Charles Addams (you might know his family…) Part Halloween village, Monster Fighters without the steampunk heroes, and legally not the Nightmare Before Christmas, this mansion brings in a built effect similar to that of the upside-down Byers house, while also drawing cues from Wednesday, Hidden Side, Creator Expert’s Fairground Tower ride, and last year’s creator Haunted House.

At this stage, formal lore is lacking, but I presume the lady in the dark red dress is the Mayor of Midnight Valley, with her butler and maid keeping the inside of the building in far better condition than the outside. (Could that gem be releated to the Ninjago Portal Crystal?)

A collection of LEGO mini-figures including a character in a red dress with a black and white hairdo holding a gem, a man in a tuxedo serving tea, a cat, a woman in a maid outfit with a broom, and a small mouse near a piece of cheese, set against a green background.

With a hidden Key, fluffy cat and mouse (to say nothing of the obligatory cheese), it feels as though there is a mystery waiting to be solved, with both the story, and the directions that the future might take us remain as far as sets might be concerned: will this become an annual set for a Halloween Village, akin to the Winter Holiday viallge series. Will the Winter Holiday series continue? Are 32×32 baseplates totally doomed?

Or does this provide an opportunity for the winter village to be wound up, with the purchasing timetable moved 2 months earlier, and setting up a Halloween village?

All of the minfigures glow in the dark, which is certainly an interesting choice, and one that has not been taken for a few years.

As an open-backed facade, the model feels as though it is lacking something, BUT, it does mean that anyone looking at it can appreciate the level of detail inside, without dismantling Main Street as you might with other collectable buildings.

And, of course, if you were frustrated trying to pick up the older Winter Village or modular buildings at a civilised price, this is your chance to start work on a new range, without exorbitant aftermarket expenses.

But will this be haunted and full of monsters? Or simply a bit weird and creepy? Or should we just make it our own, with the aid of the occasional Collectable Minifigure?

An overhead view of a wooden table scattered with various Lego pieces and two bowls containing more Lego bricks. A chair is partially visible next to the table, along with some books and a leather wallet.
A person holding a LEGO figure with black hair and a red outfit in one hand, while using the other hand to fit a reddish LEGO piece onto it, with a wooden surface in the background.
A woman assembling a model building on a wooden table in a stylish living room with plants, bookshelves, and comfortable furniture.
A red shelf displaying a spooky Lego house model surrounded by stacks of books, a plate of red string lights, and a potted plant.
A detailed LEGO model of a spooky house with colourful stained glass windows, surrounded by small figurines, including a wizard and other characters, on a wooden table next to decorative items.
A dimly lit silhouette of a decorative haunted house model against an orange background, with glowing lights inside and festive strings of lights nearby.

Next come the Really Important Questions?

A detailed Lego model of a haunted house, featuring two floors with various rooms, including a living area with furniture, a clock, and a character in a dress. The lower floor includes a knight figure and a character in formal attire, surrounded by decorations.

Will Mayor Manor have an animated special on Netflix? A graphic novel from Skybound? A comic book in the box? A LEGO.com microsite? A passing joke in the kids’ LEGO Magazine? Or do we just make of it what we will?

This reveal or this set asks more questions than it answers,

I haven’t felt this excited about a range of minifigure-scale sets launching since Dreamzzz. With a launch frequency of one per year, I can probably afford to get in on the ground floor, AND keep up with the release schedule.

Does this hold more appeal than another Winter Holiday Village set? Let me know in the comments below.

LEGO ICONS 11383 Mayor Manor has 1420 pieces, three minifigures, a cat, and a mouse. It is priced at $AUD179.99 / $USD119.99 / 109.99€ / £99.99 and will be released on September 1, 2026.

If you have enjoyed this post, please feel free to share it with your friends, families and communities. You can also keep up to date with us by following The Rambling Brick on our socials: Facebook, Threads, Bluesky, Tumblr (or just sign up for our mailing list) and find some extra content on Instagram and TikTok.

We really value your feedback: please let us know what you think about the sets we review, and the articles we post. And if you wish to support the Rambling Brick, consider clicking on our affiliate links before going shopping at LEGO.com. The Rambling Brick receives a small commission, and it costs you nothing extra.

Until Next Time,

Play Well!

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.