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It’s that time of year when we buckle down and enter a world of our worst fears to feel the thrill of the spooky season. Whether you’re looking for an adrenaline rush as you make your way through one of Illinois’ scariest-ranked haunted houses or looking for a uniquely themed attraction, there are dozens of options.
More and more haunted houses are opening this fall, so make sure to reserve your spot ahead of time. The COVID-19 pandemic has reduced the capacity at many places, so get your tickets soon so you don’t miss out on the Halloween festivities. If you’re planning to bring younger guests, be sure to check out the recommended age at each location.
Here’s a list of some places to check out. Hours, pricing and information on reservations can be found on the websites for the haunted places.
Where: 401 Woodruff Road, Joliet
Cost: Starting at $19.99
Step inside the historic prison that held some of the nation’s most dangerous criminals from 1858-2002. Known for the number of appearances it has made in films, the prison has opened to the public. This year’s new attractions are the Forsaken and the Ghost Chamber. Immerse yourself into Forsaken and escape the madness from the prison spilling out into the yard where the most infamous and violent prisoners are fighting to escape their eternal captivity. Make your way through the “open air smoldering ruins and inside the prison’s machine shop, laundry room and other various industrial spaces,” and escape from purgatory. The Ghost Chamber features a wealthy and dangerous eccentric who has purchased the prison to overcome the theory of spiritual existence. The top paranormal scientists are turning the haunted prison into a research facility to uncover the secrets of the afterlife. Within the prison halls “spirits from the most sinister entities the world has ever seen seek vengeance in condemned.”
Where: 5520 W. 111th St., Oak Lawn
Cost: Starting at $18
Check out their website’s calendar for information on special-event nights that will take place throughout the season. Coming to Oak Lawn for the seventh year, they’ve combined “old school” tactics with “new school” technology to create this terrifying actor-driven show. With lots of twists and turns, Midnight Terror’s playground features countless rooms throughout 26,000 square feet. The experience will be brought to you as the “Factory of Malum,” leading you into the theatrics of “Black Oak Grove.”
Where: 42 W. New York St., Aurora
Cost: Starting at $26.99
Basement of the Dead has been named the No. 1 haunted house by several publications. Featuring Shattered 3D, a smashing clown has wreaked havoc, killing more than 30 audience members and 15 workers who’ve found their final resting place in this building. The smashing clown is said to have taken refuge in the darkest depths of the Basement of the Dead.
Where: 17250 Weber Road, Lockport
Cost: Starting at $30
2021 marks the last year of one of the most critically acclaimed haunted houses in Illinois: Statesville Haunted Prison, which has brought terror to Chicago’s suburbs since 1996. Order your tickets today and find your way through the 23 maximum security cells, coming eye to eye with more than 100 criminals. The guards have fled, so it’s up to you to exit safely against the rioting prisoners.
Where: 5050 River Road, Schiller Park
Cost: Starting at $19.99
In an internal review of records, Otis Elevators estimated that 85% of buildings don’t have a named 13th floor, and this haunted house explores the legend behind that fact. Take a ride to the 13th floor and you’ll get to see who calls this floor their home and discover why it’s one of the world’s greatest mysteries. This year, 13th Floor Haunted House is bringing the new attractions called Bad Blood and the Spirit of Halloween.
Where: 301 W. 2nd St., Lockport
Cost: Starting at $35
More than your traditional haunted house, HellsGate brings you its own unique adventure. Start your journey in the woods that are crawling with zombies as you make your way to the Lost Souls Cemetery before finding your way into the haunted house. The multi-level mansion is filled with “secret passages, giant slides, ghastly secrets, undead abominations, really nervous groundskeepers and a darkness that the gate can no longer contain.” A parent or guardian must accompany any guests under the age of 16. The provided location is where you will park and be met with a shuttle that will take you the five-minute drive to the drop-off point on the HellGates grounds.
Hayride of Horror in Dellwood Park
Where: 199 E. Woods Drive, Lockport
Cost: Starting at $15
On weekends in October, Citgo sponsors this haunted hayride that winds its way through the heart of Dellwood Park. While waiting for your ride, sit around the bonfire watching eerie movies play on a 20-foot outdoor movie screen and enjoy the available food and drink options for purchase.
Where: 1213 Butterfield Road. Suite D, Downers Grove
Cost: Starting at $19.99
Brought to you by the owners of Basement of the Dead, relive your darkest nightmares as you make your way through Downers Grove’s haunted house. Tickets are available through November and must be purchased on their website. When looking online, you’ll see that the calendar dates are color coordinated depending on hours open, and if there are any special events going on. If you want to really get a thrill, book your ticket for their blackout night Nov. 6, when you will be surrounded by evil lurking in every corner as you blindly explore with no lights.
Sonny Acres Haunted Hayride, Haunted Barn or Haunted Daytime
Where: Sonny Acres Farm, West Chicago
Cost: No admission fee. Specific tickets available at Sonny Acres ticket booth
Haunted Hayride: Running from 7 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 7 to 9 p.m. Sundays, the haunted hayride features a cast of ghouls and goblins as you ride through the haunted woods. Holding about 45 adults, the ride lasts 20 minutes.
Haunted Barn: The newly renovated haunted barn is now twice as long and twice as spooky. Recommended for children 11 and older, the haunted barn transports you into a mysterious world, giving you an experience you won’t forget.
Haunted Daytime: If you’re looking for something that’s family-friendly, check out the Haunted Daytime activities. Take in the beautiful farm as the golden, scarlet and crimson leaves fall and scatter among the fall decorations. You can take daytime hayrides, a non-scary way to take in autumn’s alluring scenery. You also can go inside the Haunted Barn while there are no live actors.
Where: 299 Montgomery Road, Montgomery
Cost: Starting at $24.99
With more than 20,000 square feet featuring Hollywood movie set designs, the props are renovated every year to bring you an all-new experience. The custom-built haunted house has a haunted labyrinth with more than 60 rooms and 100 actors. It’s a two-in-one deal with two haunted houses at one location: The Massacre Haunted House and Fear Freakshow 3D Haunted House. Explore their mazes and terrifying animatronics for a fright-filled night.