:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/shawmedia/EEGPOLYCHL5A7LEG7NRIOCSRVM.jpg)
For some, Halloween may just be a once-a-year holiday that allows for freaks to come out at night.
For others, it is a time of enchantment; when you can be as scary as the latest movie monster or as pretty as a magical princess, fairy dust and all.
For me, it’s time to explore haunted houses. I went on a spooky assignment at a local haunted house to experience first hand and report on how the hair-raising, blood-curdling creatures of the Dungeon of
Doom in Zion prey upon their victims, I mean guests.
Not for the faint of heart, the Dungeon of Doom gives chills before you even park the car in the field across from the turn-of-the century Warwick building that it’s located in.
Before the doors open, people in line can hear the screams and sounds of the demons inside who are starving for their soul. As you enter, your entire party can take a photo you pick up on your way out with a scary background scene.
There are two floors with 45 different themed rooms in this evil place. Some include interactive scenes where the frightened guests can decide the fate of a man and a few that include demented-looking little girls asking you to stay and play. Clowns with razor-sharp teeth try to terrorize you with their evil smiles.
As you go from room to room, every creature that has ever haunted your dreams will encounter you and either call out for you or chase you into the next room.
Witches, burned victims, zombies, man-eating killers and demons, they all want to hear you scream and they’ll pop out from the ceiling, the walls, the floor and out of thin air to do it.
In some instances you may even get little splashes of water when the illusion of blood is called for. It’s just another way to make you believe that the undead want you to join them.
The main attraction of this dungeon is a human slaughter house where the phrase “feet don’t fail me now” is one you’ll be sure to use.
As you make your way through the semi-dark room, you’ll have to dodge the animal carcasses that hang down from the ceiling. But beware, not all are animals.
Sometimes you’ll have to crawl and others you’ll have to feel your way in complete darkness.
The dead people, with their torn outdated clothes and their flesh wounds showing, sometimes will trick you into running in the direction they want you to run in.
It’s a madhouse!
The Dungeon of Doom uses almost 100 costumed characters – some so scary you’ll swear it’s the real deal chasing after you.
If you’re a claustrophobe, as I am, the buried dead or alive room will make you hyperventilate and possibly wet your pants. The good news is, if you really can’t take it (and you don’t mind getting called a yellow-belly chicken), you can opt out.
“I don’t scare easy but the unexpected things jumping at you scared me. Good costumes, too,” said Mike Ulibarri of Lakemoor, who was there with a group that included his 9-year-old daughter.
The Dungeon of Doom is located at 2701 Deborah Ave., in Zion, east of Sheridan Rd, just minutes from tollway 94, and only 500 yards from the Chicago - Kenosha (Zion) North Suburb Metra Union Pacific Train Station.
A bonus to visiting this haunted place is that, if you do make it out alive, with your wrist band you can get everything half off at the Dairy Queen that’s just three minutes away – If you make it out alive.
Their days and hours of operation (because let’s face it, monsters need their time to rest, too) are Friday and Saturday from 7 p.m. until the last body crawls out. The house is open Sunday and Thursday, Oct. 18 and 25 and Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct. 30 and 31 from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Tickets are $17 for general admission, which gets you in the first and second floors and takes about 30 minutes to go through.
The ultimate package is $25 and includes separate passageways and the buried dead or alive room. This takes about 50 minutes.
The VIP ultimate is a $40 e-ticket only that will get you front of the line access and no wait for the buried dead or alive room. It’s only available on certain days, so check the website.
For more information on the Dungeon of Doom Haunted House, visit www.dungeonofdoom.com or call 262-331-0092.
See a list of other haunted houses in the area on page 9. After you visit them, go to our facebook page at www. Facebook.com/LakeCountyNews and let us know what you think.