Why would someone purposefully want to get scared? Well, I ask myself that question every year and I still pay money to walk through houses filled to the brim with goons and ghouls. This year, Halloween is approaching quickly which means attending as many haunted houses as we can before the holiday is gone. Here are some of the top haunted houses in the Illinois area.
This year, one of the top haunted houses is Basement of the Dead in Aurora. This house has been open since 2000. It has a huge array of scary personalities and is named one of the most fun houses. For people who don’t like the heart-attack feeling, they offer special nights excluding jump scares on Wednesdays. Scarlet Enright, Class of ’26, says, “It was not only scary, but so much fun; I totally recommend going with a group of your friends.”
Next is the Dungeon of Doom; this house is located in Zion and is one of the biggest houses with a set of 45,000 square feet. Dungeon of Doom offers many special amenities such as paying an extra $5 to get “buried alive” and in early November, the only light allowed is a single glow stick that you carry. This house is a far one, but worth it.
Third is Disturbia Haunted House located in Downers Grove. Intense and scary are two words to describe this house. By the creator of Basement of the Dead, Disturbia is one of the newer houses, but it has so far made its mark. The themes and rooms are very distinct and the attention to detail is impeccable. The line for this house is known to be extremely long; however, the creators made this long wait interactive because while you are waiting in line, actors like a rag doll, monster pigs, and demons are preparing you for the scare you will get inside the house. The line is long, but they make it so fun and interactive. I think that this is a house to keep on your radar this Halloween season.
The last haunted house to look out for this Halloween season is Evil Intentions in Elgin. This haunted house is local to those who attend St. Edward and is a fan favorite. As soon as you step into the coffin-shaped door, the scary chase begins. This house is one of the best as the actors are very committed to their roles; in every room the actors play their part perfectly and are not only scary but funny. Mia Arroyave, class of ’26, says, “I was so scared I fell to the floor! Thankfully, the actors didn’t try to scare me more but instead laughed at me.”
This season’s haunted houses are some to remember as they are the go-to spots for teenagers to meet up with their friends and enjoy a scare together. If you are looking for a place to scream, cry, laugh, and feel like your life is being flashed right before your eyes, I recommend going to one of these four amazing, haunted houses.
