Sunday, April 28, 2024

The Best Haunted Houses in Chicago

haunted house chicago

John Hampton opened the theater in 1942 and dedicated his life to preserving silent films… using toxic chemicals that eventually gave him cancer. Lawrence Austin reopened the theater after Hampton’s death in the early nineties; in 1997, he was fatally shot in the lobby in a plot concocted by his lover/projectionist. Hampton is said to haunt the upstairs lounge while Austin covers the lobby. One woman, Elisa Lam, was even found dead on the roof in the water tank.

Evil Intentions Haunted House Attractions in Suburbs, Chicago - Time Out

Evil Intentions Haunted House Attractions in Suburbs, Chicago.

Posted: Wed, 04 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Haunted Houses & Halloween Attractions in Chicago

13th Floor Haunted House - WGN TV Chicago

13th Floor Haunted House.

Posted: Fri, 29 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

The three-hour tour lets visitors hop on and off the bus and covers both famous and little-known spots, revealing some of the city’s creepiest history and urban legends. They also offer a Devil and the White City Tour, which chronicles the activities of serial killer H.H. Whether you want an experience right out of ahorror flick or just want a brief scare, Chicago haunted houses deliver. From interactivemazes and dark, dim warehouses to houses that offer ghostly appeal, you can’tgo wrong with these OctoberChicago activities.

Excalibur Club

Several different spaces to explore, from the aptly named Slaughter House, which is full of what we hope are faux carcasses and butcher’s knives, to the popular Mercy General Hospital. “It’s a deranged hospital full of actors that are ready to give you an environment that invokes a feel of insanity,” Koklamanis explained to the publication. Taylor calls it "not just a vanishing hitchhiker story, but the vanishing hitchhiker story." After a night of dancing at the O’Henry Ballroom (now the Willowbrook) circa the 1930s, a woman was fatally struck by a car on Archer Avenue. She was laid to rest at nearby Resurrection Cemetery—but she’s not so restful. Since then, tales have circulated of a woman in ’30s garb who hitches a ride along Archer, only to disappear as the car approaches the cemetery.

H.H. Holmes' Murder Castle

But it's a grave bearing the name "Inez Clarke" that might actually be haunted. According to accounts from security guards and visitors, the statue of a young girl clutching a parasol enclosed in glass atop the tomb has a tendency to intermittently disappear. This year's haunting season is slowing fading into the darkness, but not without one last hurrah... This Saturday, November 11, 2024, the amazing folks at 13th Floor Haunted House Chicago will be hosting a special blackout event!

Well over a dozen haunted houses are in operation this season throughout the Chicago area

Below, the 13 haunted houses near Chicago that are liable to give you nightmares…or worse. While our beloved Halloween season is about out of time, we have one last chance to enjoy all that we love about our holiday. We call it, “Encore Weekend.” Inspired by the immortal, infamous words of Clark W. Griswold, “Where do you think... Chavez Ravine is haunted by more than just the eerie specter of displaced poor people—it’s also said to have one or two actual ghosts, as well as a spooky mist. The grand old department store (now a Southwest Law School building) is supposedly haunted by a little girl who was killed in an elevator shaft. There are also the usual lights going on and off and mysterious footsteps.

Knickerbocker Hotel

Nowadays, the alley is boarded up and inaccessible for exploration, but some still say that they can feel a ghostly presence. The 1926 hit that took down Al Capone rival Hymie Weiss outside Holy Name Cathedral left the church with bullet holes alleged to possess supernatural qualities. Believers say the holes have always resisted patching, claiming the mortar used would pop out or fail to harden. Every mission in California is said to be haunted, but only one has ghost cats! The lore goes that Father Francisco Uria kept four pet cats whom he loved so much that when he died, the “four cats solemnly marched to the chapel.

Haunted by Our Dark Side by Inside Chicago Walking Tours

H.H. Holmes or Dr. Henry Howard Holmes is the aliases of Herman Webster Mudgett, a notorious serial killer in America. In 1886, Holmes moved to Chicago and eventually opened the World’s Fair Hotel. When the Tonic Room owner’s opened their business they made an unusual discovery. Someone had painted a pentagram on the basement floor and on the ceiling someone painted Egyptian iconography. A room on the twelfth floor is sealed permanently and covered with wall paper because of how terrifying the room is said to be.

Single Largest Event

Sign up for our email to enjoy Chicago without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush).

Addams and Starr provided immigrants to America with a temporary home along with countless services until they found a permanent home of their own. With so many people coming in and out of Hull House it is only natural that it became the location of tremendous paranormal activity. The Catacombs is a non-profit haunted house run by a group of volunteers selected by the school and church. All money raised through ticket sales, concessions, and sponsorship goes directly to the school to help fund a better education for the youth in our community. The Catacombs is a family-friendly event, although the haunt is not necessarily recommended for children under the age of 12.

In 1971, Kowalski plunged from the apartment, falling to her death, and it’s been rumored that she has haunted the skyscraper ever since. The Museum of Science and Industry might be more known for its overwhelming displays and adorable exhibits, like the baby chick hatchery, but the museum also has a spooky side. One of the museum’s most popular exhibits is a German U-505 submarine, and while it might be an impressive sight, the sub has a dark history. The commander of the vessel, which was used during World War II, shot himself on board the submarine, in front of his crew.

haunted house chicago

First on our list is one of the best haunted houses in Chicago and a favorite attraction in the Midwest. This year, Dungeon of Doom is kicking off the spooky season on September 29, 2023, in Zion, Illinois. Dungeon of Doom will deliver thrills, chills, and immersive special effects and light shows. With Halloween shortly approaching, all the creepy and scary activities will begin to pop up around you! There are the more tamer choices, like heading to a pumpkin patch or corn maze.

The presence of these symbols has led people to believe the basement was a secret meeting place for the Golden Dawn’s American Chapter. Claims were made by an elderly woman that a murder occurred at the location in the 1930s. When the Chicago Water Tower was built in 1869 using Lemont limestone, no one knew the devastation it would live through.

We bring a premier haunted house experience to markets all across the country. Dan Aykroyd was living here when he got the idea for Ghostbusters—he says he was inspired by the house’s extreme hauntedness (door locking, lights going on and off, a piano playing itself). The ghosts could be former occupants “Mama” Cass Elliot or Natalie Wood. Hearing unusual sounds, seeing ghostly figures and the feeling of not being alone is all rather common for visitors to the hotel. If you are looking for a restful night’s sleep, it is not the best place to stay.

The Great Fire of Chicago, which took place in 1871, devastated the city destroying almost everything in its path including killing more than 300 people. Regarded by many as the most haunted hotel in Chicago, The Congress Plaza Hotel has accommodated everyone from presidents, to celebrities, to millionaires, and gangsters such as Al Capone since 1893. Eastland, carrying more than 2,500 crew members and passengers, rolled over onto its side.

There’s also a cold spot in the Blossom Room (the first home of the Oscars), near where a dapperly-dressed ’30s-era man is said to hang around. Located in what is now Calabasas, the Leonis Adobe was built in the 1870s by the wealthy rancher, Miguel Leonis. One of the oldest surviving buildings in the San Fernando Valley, Leonis Adobe is also considered to be extremely haunted. By 1991, no longer useful or functioning, the hospital closed its doors and remained empty for many years. While it sat empty, many paranormal investigators visited the site to see if the claims of activity were legitimate.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Top chefs pick the best Los Angeles restaurants right now Los Angeles Times

Table Of Content Today’s Global Headlines WATCH: Biden speaks at 2024 White House Correspondents’ Dinner Nutella. Bananas. Croissants. This ...