LEGO really did try valiantly to keep the majority of the LEGO Scooby-Doo sets under wraps until the 2015 New York Toy Fair, but alas–it was not to be. But while I initially only got to talk about a small, low-quality image, I had the opportunity to go up-close and take a ton of hi-res photos of the LEGO Scooby-Doo Haunted Lighthouse 75903 set!

I probably watched every episode of Scooby-Doo about eight times when I was growing up, but it’s been a “few” years since I’ve seen the classic Scooby Doo cartoon, so I had to go back and see if I could find the actual classic episode that this 75903 Haunted Lighthouse set is based off of. As it turns out–I couldn’t!

Near as I can tell, this set is based more off of the 2005 “Fright House of a Light House” episode of the modern “What’s New, Scooby-Doo?” than anything else. But even if this set isn’t necessarily vintage Scooby Doo-inspired, it’s still one of the high points of the new Scooby-Doo theme!

We don’t get LEGO Lighthouse buildings very often at all in licensed sets, and the last memorable one that came out (from the Pirates of the Caribbean theme) looked far more drab and realistic than this fun, red-and-white striped cartoon-y lighthouse design.

I love the goofy skull at the base of the lighthouse (which can be moved to reveal a secret compartment!), the “moss” growing on the side of the building, the brown stairs that lead to the second level, and the whimsical “Keep Out” sign posted in front. If there’s one word to describe the 75903 Haunted Lighthouse, then it’s definitely “fun”.

Along with the brick-built Lighthouse, the set includes what has to be the most garish boat in the history of LEGO: a neon green and orange motor boat. Coupled with the teal skis that come with the set, this is absolutely one of the wackiest-looking “realistic” vehicles released in recent history–and I love it!

The set includes five minifigures, with two unique characters: exclusive LEGO Lighthouse Keeper and Swamp Monster minifigures. Neither of these villains seem to be totally on-model to any references I can find from the Scooby-Doo cartoons, and the Swamp Monster in particular is clearly a recolored Monster Fighters minifigure. Even so, both figures look very cool and have a vintage Scooby-Doo vibe to them.

Meanwhile, on the heroic side, we get a Daphne minifigure (which is otherwise only available in the very expensive Haunted Manor set), along with an exclusive Shaggy minifigure covered in sea detritus and a sitting Scooby-Doo figure. The Shaggy figure with a starfish and seaweed printed on his torso is actually a really neat variant, and looks way-cool jet-skiing on the back of the boat.

While these three characters are all available in other sets, this still feels like a great mix of minifigures.

We still don’t know how many pieces are going to be included as part of the 75903 Haunted Lighthouse set, so it’s difficult to gauge exactly what kind of value this set is going to be. Even so, with five minifigures included, a boat vehicle and a decent-sized lighthouse playset included, I think that the LEGO Haunted Lighthouse is going to end up being worthy of its $49.99 retail price in the United States.

The 75903 LEGO Scooby-Doo Haunted Lighthouse set is scheduled to be released with the rest of the Scooby-Doo sets in August 2015 (with early shipments hitting Toys R Us stores and the LEGO Stores in July 2015). I was unsure about this set until I saw it in-person, but having gotten to see and touch the Haunted Lighthouse firsthand, this is a definite pickup for me at the end of the summer!

Will you be buying the Scooby-Doo LEGO Haunted Mansion set, Scooby fans? Or does the lack of any true exclusive minifigure members of “The Gang” and an iconic locale from the classic cartoons deterring you from wanting to pick up this Summer 2015 set?