Guide to Haunted Houses in Chicago

Halloween's almost here, but the good news is you don't have to wait until Halloween night for some good 'ole haunting fun! Chicago has many haunted houses to give you the haunt you're looking for, and today you'll discover 10 of the most popular haunted houses in Chicago. No matter what haunted houses you plan to visit, be prepared for a scare!

Do you love horror flicks just as much as you do haunted houses? Then you have to visit Dream Theatre, it will let you experience what it's like to be in one of those horror flicks you enjoy so much.

Once there, you'll enter a house where a young teacher is trapped and the entire town is out to kill her. While inside, you'll watch as Jeremy Menekseoglu's play, "Anna in the Darkness," unfolds right in front of your eyes! Upon entering Anna's living room, you too will be trapped. Can Anna escape, or will you watch in horror as she's murdered? Better yet, will you be able to escape or become the town's next victim?

The Chicago Tribune described their experience as a "chilling" one. Hmm... I wonder... will you ever watch another horror flick after you visit the Dream Theatre?

Location: The Side Studio; 1520 W. Jarvis, across from the Jarvis Red Line stop.

When: October 18-21, October 25-31. 8:00 p.m., then again at 9:30 p.m..

Admission: $10. Phone 773-552-8616 to reserve your tickets.

Ages: They don't specify an age, but personally, I wouldn't recommend it for the younger children.

Dream Reapers, the #1 rated haunted house in Illinois, offers something unique: smells related to each room's theme. In addition, you'll blindly make your way through 22 rooms, where you'll encounter scary actors and actresses, as well as a bit of old and new technology mixed together. Dream Reapers is wheelchair accessible.

Location: 1945 Cornell in Melrose Park, IL.. For more detailed directions, please see the Dream Reapers website.

When: Sunday through Thursdays (7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.), and Friday and Saturday (7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.).

Admission: $15 per person, or bypass the line for $25 per person.

Ages: Will allow any age at the discretion of the child's parent or guardian.

Wander aimlessly through the darkness and see if you can master the mazes in the Eleventh Hour haunted house in Chicago. You even get to experience 3D with a pair of 3D glasses -- remember those?

Location: Bertholds Garden Center; 434 East Devon Ave in Elk Grove Village, IL..

When: October 1-7, 11-14, 18-21, 25-31; November 1-2. Open 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and until 11:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights as well as Halloween night.

Admission: $17 at the box office or $15 online.

Ages: 10 or older.

At the Mazon Dungeon of Terror, which is said to be a real haunted house in Chicago, you'll roam in darkness through a graveyard, cockroaches, freaky clowns and more.

Location: 515 Depot Street in Mazon, IL..

When: October 5-7, 12-14, 19-21 and 26-28. See website for list of times (click on hours).

Admission: $6.00 per person; groups of 10 or more are eligible for discounts.

Ages: Not recommended for small children.

You won't watch the movies in the Lombard Jaycees Haunted House in Chicago; instead, you'll walk right through them! Past visitors have gotten so scared that they earned their place on the Wall O' Shame... Will you be the next victim? This year's theme: Theater of the Lost Souls.

Location: 1000 North Rowhling Road in Lombard, IL., next to Harlem Furniture.

When: October 12-31 (closed on the 15, 22 and 29). The kids' Matinees takes place on October 20 and 27. Open 7:30 p.m. until 10:30 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday, and 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Halloween nights. The kids' Matinees take place from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m..

Admission: $10 for adults, $5 for children 10 and under, and for the kids Matinee the prices are $3 for kids and $2 for adults.

Ages: Recommended for all.

Be sure you stop in Raven's Grin Inn on your haunted house adventures in Chicago. This 1870's New England-style inn is bizarre to say the least, and has been featured on television shows such as Wild Chicago, HG TV's Extreme Homes and Comedy Central.

Location: 411 N. Carroll Street in Mount Carroll, IL..

When: 360 days a year! Visit Monday through Friday from 7:00 p.m. to Midnight, and Saturday and Sunday from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., or 7:00 p.m. to Midnight.

Admission: $12 per person.

Ages: All ages welcome.

At Six Flags Fright Fest, the rides become even scarier! For the kids there will be thrills by day. They can ride haunted versions of their favorite rides or enjoy a day of trick-or-treating.

Things turn even more frightful by night for the not so young, and if you choose to eat some Fear Factor-type treats from the Wheel of Fright, you could win yourself a front-of-the-line pass for all of the spooky rides.

The fun began October 6 and will end on October 28. See Fright Fest: Six Flags Great America for location and ticket information. All ages are welcome.

Chicago Park District and Walgreens returns with their 4th annual Haunted Sanitarium. You'll experience the sanitarium's past as you wonder through several horrifying rooms. This haunted house use to be a real sanitarium! While you wait, you can enjoy concessions and spooky movies.

Location: The Theater on the Lake at 2401 N. Lake Shore Drive in Chicago.

When: October 12-14, 19-31. Hours will be from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. (Monday through Friday), and 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. (Saturday and Sunday).

Admission: $10 or $8 for students who present their school ID.

Ages: 13 and older.

Wonder through Castle Dracula, but watch out for the monsters lurking all around.

Location: South of the midway airport at 6348 S. Latrobe in Chicago, IL..

When: October 5-31. Starts at dusk and ends at 10:00 p.m..

Admission: Free

Ages: All ages welcome.

Looking for a more original haunt? Visit the Saint Pascal's haunted house. There you'll go under the church where it's dark and dreary.

Location: 6143 W. Irving Park Road in Chicago, IL..

When: October 13-14, 19-21, 25-28. 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Thursdays and Sundays, and 7:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Admission: $7 per person or $6 with a coupon from their website.

Ages: 7 and older only. Free childcare will be provided for children over the age of 3.

That sums up 10 of the most popular haunted houses in Chicago. Have a happy and safe Halloween!