Halloween is not just for children, most of the haunted houses and attractions are geared towards adults and teenagers. But with so many different venues to choose from it’s hard to know where to spend ones time and money. For a good scare or just for fun visit one of these top-rated Halloween haunts in the Chicago-area.
Haunted Houses and Attractions in the Chicago-Area
Located 20 minutes west of Chicago in Elk Grove Village is Eleventh Hour Haunted House . Offering four unique haunted attractions in one location, this haunt is guaranteed to scare even the bravest haunted house enthusiasts. The most impressive attraction at Eleventh Hour is the manor house where each room depicts a chilling scene of the criminally insane using live actors and theatrical-quality props. Next visitors blindly follow along the narrow passage ways of Intensity; a pitch-black maze of corridors paired with deafening music and the occasional burst of light, designed to deprive and disorient. The disorientation wears off quickly with the sounds of screams and chainsaws coming from Chain Reaction; a maze of chain link fences where a surprise awaits. Finally get lost in Creatures of the Corn; where visitors wander around in the darkness among the towering cornstalk rows blindly searching for the exit.
Dream Reapers, located 20 minutes west of Chicago in Melrose park is a fun and interactive haunt offering 22 rooms filled with terrifying scenes. The 40 live actors coupled with 40 animatronics add an element of fear and theatrics in this venue. One unique feature of Dream Reapers is its use of distinct scents that match many of their scenes, like the smell of a freshly dug grave. The actors do a good job of entertaining the long lines during the wait to get inside. While waiting face the fear of being buried alive in the virtual coffin. Step inside a real life-like coffin that simulates the experience of being thrown into a grave and buried alive. Those brave enough to be sealed in the coffin will not only feel the bumpy ride on the way to the graveyard but will also smell the freshly-dug graveyard dirt being thrown on top of the casket. Entertaining not only to the participant but also to the crowds of onlookers who can view the terrified person on the live-cam built into the coffin.
One of the newest Halloween attractions is the Asylum Xperiment located in Villa Park. This 30,000sq ft venue features high-quality special effects and sets designed by special effects expert Dave Link. As a horror industry professional, Dave Link, has created horror themed designs for many well-known companies such as Lucas Films, Disney, Sony Pictures, Sega, and Williams/Bally. The one-of-a-kind animatronics coupled with the horror movie-style sets is guaranteed to satisfy the most hard-core horror fanatics. Included in the price of the Asylum Xperiment is a second attraction; Blackout, a pitch-black maze of terror filled with thrills and surprises.
Since 1996 Statesville Haunted Prison located in Crest Hill Illinois, has been one of the more popular haunted attractions in the Chicago area. Small groups wander through a replication of prison cells and halls that house the 200 violent and criminally insane inmates of Statesville. A gory mix of blood and special effects combined with live actors playing killer clowns and insane inmates makes this a terrifying and interactive attraction. Afterwards visit the City of the Dead where the souls of the inmates go after death. Due to its popularity the lines can be long especially on weekends, skip the line passes which significantly cut down on the wait time are available online.
Haunted History Tours and Cemetery Walks in Chicago
Learn about Chicago’s sordid past by taking a historical haunted tour. What is more frightening than hearing true tales of treachery. The Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest will host its 19th annual program the Tale of the Tombstones on Sunday, October 16th, 2011.
Visitors watch as live actors bring to life many interesting tales of the heroic and the treacherous who are laid to rest in the historic walls of Forest Home Cemetery. Hear the chilling and true story of Adolph Luetgert; the Chicago Sausage Vat Murderer; who in 1897 killed his wife then dumped her body into a vat of sausage meat in his Chicago sausage factory to hide the evidence. Or the story of Belle Gunness; the first female serial killer who in the early 1900's placed personal ads in many Chicago newspaper's, luring wealthy men to her home in rural Indiana only to murder them for their money and bury them out back. This two hour tour is fun, disturbing and informative. Tours depart every ten minutes between 1:00PM and 2:00PM
Graceland Cemetery is one of Chicago’s most beautiful and haunted cemeteries. During a tour offered by the Chicago Historical Society visitors can learn about the history of many famous Chicagoans buried on the grounds such as Marshall Field, Louis Sullivan, and George Pullman. Look for the glass-enclosed life-like statue marking the grave of 6 year-old Inez Clark, who unfortunately died when struck by lightning. Some claim that at night and during storms the statue disappears allowing her spirit free to wander the cemetery grounds. The tour is offered October 24; October 30and October 31; 10:00 a.m.– noon and 1:00–3:00 p.m. each day.
This Halloween experience terror, thrills and fun by participating in one of these entertaining Chicago haunted houses, events or attractions.
Christine Zenino - Christine Zenino is a travel writer and photographer specializing in urban destinations and adventure travel.
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