Check out some of Chicagoland’s most frightening Halloween experiences!
The Catacombs
One of the smaller and least expensive haunted house options lies within an unassuming church on the north side of the city. Every October for over 40 years, St. Pascal Church transforms its basement into The Catacombs, where ghosts, monsters, ghouls and other dangers lurk. Don’t be fooled by the pious nature of the building: supposedly, the supernatural barrier keeping the ghostly evils away from visitors for the rest of year collapses during the spooky season, leaving everyone at risk for a fright.
Six Flags Great America Fright Fest
Even for adrenaline junkies who don’t happen to enjoy roller coasters, Six Flags Great America will have something for everyone this season. The whole park will be transformed in accordance with Halloween. This is one of the biggest haunted house attractions in the area, as Fright Fest boasts six haunted houses with different themes, nine “scare zones” with haunted walks and trail rides. You can’t miss the giant spider climbing the American Eagle roller coaster.
13th Floor
13th Floor is one of the largest Halloween-themed companies in the country, so it’s no wonder their attractions consistently terrify customers, such as last year’s fight between vampires and werewolves. Themes for the houses change each year, so be sure to keep an eye out: Once the themes are released, tickets will go fast! Located in Schiller Park.
The Old Joliet Haunted Prison
The famous prison featured in The Blues Brothers invites Halloween fans to walk among the halls where infamous convicts such as John Wayne Gacy, Baby Face Nelson, and Leopold and Loeb were prisoned. In addition to the purely historical excitement, of course the building will also be made up to look even more abandoned than it has already become since its closure in 2002.
Basement of the Dead
If ghosts aren’t your thing, the town of Aurora will be hosting a Zombie Outbreak Apocalypse haunted house, where visitors will actually get the chance to fight back against the monsters. Part Halloween, part laser tag, this is an adventure well worth the admission price.