Sudden sighting of body parts inside the lockers which vanish in an instant. Congress Plaza Hotel is a 124-year-old historic, grand hotel located in the City of Chicago. 606 S Church St, Decatur, IL 62522, United States. Raven's Grin Inn in Mount Carroll: Recently rated among the most haunted places in America by Thrillist, the inn is owned by Jim Warfield, who "turned his house he does actually live there into a maze of his spooky art, prop gags, and a not-so-safe-but-exhilarating three-story slide into the haunted wine cellar. DeSoto House Hotel in Galena: Another haunted hotel, this one boasted famous guests including Abraham Lincoln, Stephen A. Douglas and William Jennings Bryan. The ruins of abandoned and crumbling brick and mortar Victorian-style structures showcase a harrowing racial past. Here is an overview of more interesting southern Illinois cities. These urban myths might seem scary but travelers definitely arent shunned by these stories since Congress Plaza Hotel is still a popular choice among travelers and we can totally understand why. Some of the most notable features of the house included gas lines that piped poison into rooms and massive safes with floors covered in acid where he would lock his victims to suffer an excruciatingly long and painful death. Follow Google Maps Here is an overview of more central Illinois attractions. Paranormal investigators and those interested in the otherworldly flock to this mansion every year in the hopes of seeing a ghost. That more than 35,000 people were once buried there, and as many as 12,000 bodies remained sparking rumors of hauntings. Just dont flub up a line or you may hear her sighing from her number 113 seat. This hotel is known to be haunted by one of its former chambermaids who drowned herself after her lover left her. Those who have read Erik Larsons Devil in the White City know the history surrounding the multiple murders that took place during the 1893 Worlds Fair in Chicago (historians believe that H.H. The Robinson Woods which once belonged to Alexander Robinson (Chief of an American Indian Tribe in the 1800s), supposedly have dark spirits lurking in the tree trunks while some spirits are not even of this world. Basement of the Dead. Even if it's not haunted, Raven's Grin has some pretty ominous warnings for visitors. Devils Bake-Oven, Grand Tower, Illinois, 7. In Golconda, theres Dixon Springs State Park. Address: 520 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60605. By 1880, the Galena had lost its luster, and the city removed the top stories. Founded in 1803, Alton is a historical town whose main attraction is the McPike Mansion. Let's visit the most haunted places in Illinois! The third floor has the most reported activity, including phantom footsteps, eerie noises from empty rooms, and an ominous presence keeping guests company from the foot of their beds. Since then, flutes have gone missing from the band room on many occasions. The Woodstock Opera House Best Haunted Places in Northern Illinois Woodstock Opera House, Woodstock The fifth floor of the inn is said to be especially haunted and is where most of the eerie things have been reported. Nighttime is the right time to visit this Illinois haunted attraction. Then this is the go-to list of 18 bone-chilling, spooky destinations around The Prairie State that will keep you awake days after you visit them. Let's have a look at the list of haunted places in Illinois that you may want to visit in order to disprove the beliefs of other people. Lebanon Rd, Collinsville, IL, United States. Police have even reported sightings of the Farmer as early as the 1970s. Congress Plaza Hotel in Chicago: Chicago has no shortage of ghost stories. Tucked away in the cornfields of Illinois is a quaint town in southern Illinois known as Okwaville. For many, this is considered to be one of the scariest places in Illinois. Here is a list of more places to visit in northern Illinois. And there are 16 miles of trails for you to take in all the fall foliage. Room service Learn more about, Illinois 1, IL-1, Equality Township, IL, USA, One of the strangest things to have ever happened in Illinois is something not everyone believes. 2001 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614, United States. See our web story that accompanies this post. One ghost is believed to be an old stagehand who was killed in the theatre when he fell to his death from the catwalk. ILLINOIS It's that time of year again time for hayrack rides, pumpkin patches, corn mazes and, of course, haunted houses. The Shoe Factory Road is infamous for the paranormal incidents which attract ghost hunters and investigators from all over the country. Legend has it that the opera houses ghost, Elvira, was an actress who committed suicide by jumping from the tower of the theatre after she didnt get the lead part. Holmes. Love Illinois? Disembodied laughter of children, disappearing objects, scraping of doors, and unexplained footsteps. It's long been an attraction for local paranormal investigators, and the cast of the recently resurrected show "Ghost Hunters" visited the site more than once and called it a "holy grail" for paranormal investigating. Holmes may have actually killed hundreds of people during his lifetime). Others have seen a little girl playing in the cemetery. Resurrection Cemetery in Justice: Late Chicago ghosthunter Richard Crowe documented dozens of sightings of hitchhiking ghost Resurrection Mary, most often seen by men driving along Archer Avenue near the Willowbrook Ballroom (which, sadly, burned down in 2016), where legend has it Mary danced her last dance before her tragic death. By 1954, there were more than 8,000 patients. Between the 1790s and the 1870s, the area was rife with river pirates, highwaymen, counterfeiters, and horse thieves. Address: Route 1, Equality, Illinois 62934. What are the best fall hikes in Illinois? The 40-year-old legend of this haunted location in Illinois says that if anyone drives under all the bridges on this road during midnight, they go straight to hell through a portal. Beulahs decomposed ghost that has caused people to fall sick on a single sighting. The story begins with Julia Johnson marrying Clarence B. Markham, a farmer, in 1896. Flashlights dying out without no reason, flickering of the lights, and a strong smell of lilac in the attic (a perfume Sarah wore). It is believed that whatever is haunting the abode comes from a time well before the mansion was even built. But bellhops and housekeepers arent the only souls wandering the winding corridors of the DeSoto House Hotel. Haunted Places in Chicago, Illinois 0 Benton House Chicago, Illinois 0.8 miles from the center of Chicago, IL The Benton House, circa 1909, may be haunted by "Ma" Benton. The following list totals up each type of haunt in Illinois, based on how they are listed on our website: Amusement/Themepark Haunts: 1. Instead, so-called medical professionals delighted in their research into the effects of injecting people with malaria, performing oft-botched lobotomies, and any other experiments that caught their fancy. This is an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliated sites without extra cost to you. One of the most famous ghosts here is Henry, who haunts the 1918 Shryock Auditorium. The prison closed in 2002, but "with numerous executions having taken place at the prison, rumor has it that many of the inmates may be serving time as ghosts," according to the Illinois Office of Tourism. 12853 Royal Road Farmer City, IL 61842. One of the best-haunted locations in Illinois, the Ridge Cemetery feels the grimmest when visited after sunset. With reports of a hatchet man who guards the mausoleum and author Michael Kleens naming it one of the top 10 creepiest cemetery, we recommend grabbing a buddy to go along with you. Address: Unnamed Road, Forest Park, IL 60130, United States. The resident ghost Elvira for whom the DD113 seat in the balcony is always kept empty for Elvira to sit. Many haunted stories involve the tragic demise of residents of the past who remain on this plane of existence still today. Morton Arboretum in Lisle has more than 4,000 different types of trees throughout its 1,700 acres. The school building is not in use and it is unclear if access is allowed to the floor where she had died. The first 2 floors where the family lived were decorated lavishly but the upper floor has witnessed many horror stories. A teacher who had hung herself after witnessing a kid falling down the stairs on a tricycle is extremely haunting. It stands as one of the most haunted places in Illinois. Once called the Illinois Asylum for the Incurably Insane, little remains of the massive Peoria State Hospital. Once you are able to stop your hands from shaking, if you have a true ghost story thats happened to you while in Illinois we would love to hear it. Read more 0 From Al Capone to H.H. Any time of the year would be good to visit the Dug Hill Road to experience a nightmare-inducing incident on this haunted road in Illinois. The best time to drive or take a walk on 7th Avenue Dead End would be in the evening or at night as there are greater chances of spotting paranormal activity at night. Civil War section, the cemeterys most notorious haunted spot. If you are courageous enough to be pranked by a ghost, then Aux Sable Cemetery is the best haunted Illinois location. This abandoned cemetery is considered one of the most haunted places in the Chicagoland area. Springfield is the sight of his grave at the Oak Ridge Cemetery where visitors have spotted him walking near his very own tombstone a night. Night guards have walked by the statue to find it missing only to see it back in its place again by morning. Manteno State Mental Hospital in Manteno: The hospital, which opened in 1930, was said to be one of the most cutting-edge mental health facilities of its time until a typhoid outbreak in 1939 killed 47 patients. Orbs of light or figures might get captured in photos despite them not being in the shot. Find out what else this ghost gets up to at the, Woodstock Opera House, 121 W Van Buren St, Woodstock, IL 60098, USA, This southern Illinois town sits at the confluence of the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers, but suffered from much flooding and is now nothing more than a ghost town. Squealing of tricycle tires, yelling and screaming voices. This 801-acre park is chockfull of gorgeous trees, some of them over a century old. They got things right by founding the town at a great location, right at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. Sound of footsteps and figure Marys ghost may appear if you pay a visit. Illinois College, founded in 1829, is rumored to have several haunted buildings. Among them is Old Book, a gravedigger known for crying under an elm tree each time someone died. People have reported seeing the chair fold down during a performance. Please Let Us know. Lawrence Ave, west of N East River Rd, Chicago, IL 60656, United States. Right in the middle of Amish Country lies a tiny hamlet called Chesterville. Address: Ricketts Ave. and U.S. 24, Bartonville, Illinois 61607. Address: Lebanon Road, Collinsville, IL 62234. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Famous for the ghost of a wailing woman killed on the railroad tracks, the 7th Avenue Dead End is truly a haunted road in Illinois in every sense. Haunted Places in Illinois. 1. Chesterville Witchs Grave, Arcola, Illinois, 4. Location Hinton, Williamsburg Hill, IL 62571, United States. 600 W Martin St, Abingdon, IL 61410, United States. She ran away, throwing herself off the cliff into the craggy rocks below. Thats what this Illinois haunted attraction is famous for. A bar across the street from the cemetery, Chet's Melody Lounge, has purportedly seen its fair share of shaken-up drivers who claimed to encounter the legendary ghost, and it's a favorite spot for those hoping to catch a glimpse of her. Robinson Woods-South Address: W Lawrence Ave, Chicago, IL 60706, United States Website: Robinson Woods-South Opening hours: 7am - 7pm (daily) 2. Get more stories delivered right to your email. Peoria State Hospital, Bartonville, Illinois, 11. This Illinois haunted location was turned into a factory and has the story of a schoolgirl named Mary associated with it. Bachelors Grove Cemetery is situated in Midlothian, Illinois, within an oak forest, and it is one of the most haunted cemeteries in the area. Get to know us better on our about us page. If you are in for a haunted adventure, you might want to consider visiting the cemetery to learn about the history of this place and the people who are buried there. Its believed that both Laura and Charles haunt the home. So this week we're investigating one of them: the alleged haunting of Munger Road, which . After raping and killing her, the janitor cut her body into pieces and stuffed them into different lockers. Several terrifying stories have come up in the past few decades. Brown Rd, Minooka, IL 60447, United States. One visitor even heard whispering voices in his room (evidently, the same room where the former owner was found dead in the '60s). But perhaps the creepiest apparition is the Farmer. Couple the drowning of a local farmer with a dumping ground for the mobs latest hits and you have a hunchbacked spirit that slithers out from this very pond. There are 53 rooms in the hotel, all equipped with marble-tiled bathrooms and superior carpeted floors. The family-owned and operated Honey Hill Orchard is located in Waterman. 2nd February so you can partake in the festivities of the town. Golf course (within 3 km). Ghost lights that appear on the southern edge of the cemetery are said to be of the spirits of lost souls searching for where their bodies are now buried. Follow Google Maps. Those who dare to spend the night say that they feel as if they are constantly being watched by an unseen presence that follows them as they walk the halls. Hear about more weird stuff that has happened at, Ridge Cemetery, Tower Hill, IL 62571, USA, Also known as Hickory Hill, this home is one of the most diabolical and now most haunted places in Illinois. Since Alton is one of the most haunted places in Chicago, Illinois, its best to take a tour of the mansion during pre-Halloween days in October when the city hosts ghost hunting events. You're in luck -Illinois has a rich haunted history, and there's lots of houses across the state that are truly haunted by spirits who haven't quite left the living world yet. The Red Lion Pub is home to countless ghosts that have been sighted on multiple occasions over the decades. Witness the mysterious beauty of a phantom woman who has been on the Kennedy Hill Road for decades. Robinson Woods, located in Chicago, was once owned by Alexander Robinson. As the site of several Native American burial mounds, this sylvan gathering place of spirits seems to haunt all five of the senses with reminders of the tribes who rest there. Read more 0 Be sure to share your haunted experiences in the comments section. Another famous haunting takes place at beautiful Glessner House Museum (1800 S Prairie Ave), where a white entity reportedly wanders the house, creating cold spots as it goes. Once the dream home of the illegal slave trader and breeder couple John Crenshaw and Sinia Taylor and their five children, the Hickory Hill mansion is definitely on the list of the most haunted places in Illinois. Guests of the hotel have reported seeing her apparition wandering the Gold Coast Room, the Palm Court and the tenth floor ever since. In the name of science, these patients found themselves under the care of doctors who cared little for human decency. Address: 611 W. 63rd St., Chicago, IL 60621. People have reported seeing a ghost child running up and down the stairs and a prankster ghost that likes to mess with the projection booth. Address: 102 Diversatech Dr, Manteno, IL 60950. She is buried in Resurrection Cemetery and those who have seen her have reported an apparition of a woman in a white dress and dancing shoes. Follow Google Maps. Special Directions: Located in South Park (Click for Fullscreen Map)About This Attraction: Haunt Types: There are a lot of ghost sightings that have been reported by visitors, including a lady carrying an infant dressed in white who only appears during the full moon, and a two-headed ghost who is always sighted near the slough. Next up on the most haunted places in Illinois is Lebanon Road that is home to seven bridges collectively referred to as "The Seven Gates of Hell." These bridges are said to be entrances to the underworld, with vicious hellhounds, jowls oozing with rabid fury, guarding each one. Visitors adamantly claim that the tactics do little to stop the woman from prowling the cemetery at night, waiting for the day when she can finally take revenge on those whose ancestors sentenced her to an early and gruesome death. Showmens Rest, located in Forest Park within the Woodlawn Cemetery in Illinois, might just be one of the scariest haunted places on the list. Its believed that the Tinker familys ghosts also haunt this little mansion. Subscribe to our newsletter for inspiring travel guides and articles from around the world! The Red Lion. Ghost Hunts in Illinois Ashmore Estates Overnight Ghost Hunt, Ashmore, IL $ 89.00 - $ 109.00 If you're looking to take your thrill-seeking levels higher than a local Chicago haunted house or haunted attraction, then spending the night in one of Chicago's most haunted hotels is a must. For an overview of more boutique hotels in Illinois, click here. Do you think these are the scariest places in Illinois? Follow Google Maps. Recent paranormal investigations detected that unusual activities like horrifying screams and unexplained ghost lights still emanate from the cemetery. A female apparition may be seen sobbing and asking visitors if theyve seen her baby. Learn more about the history of the strange patch of land at, It is rumored that you might come across a dead body on the ground along this swatch of road, one of the most haunted places in Illinois. Categories: Real Haunted Houses Ashmore Estates Ashmore, IL Views: 4,034 Photos: 2 Rating: 5 / 5 Exp. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. H.H. Her father, who didnt want Esmerelda to marry, locked her away in her room. Youll also find a 165-foot-tall red oak tree, the tallest in the state. Read about nine of the most haunted places in Illinois. Kennedy Hill Road, IL, United States. Locals claim that late-night explorers will hear the girls sobbing echo through the trees and see a misty presence appear in the inky night. Love Illinois? With as many as 12,000 bodies supposedly still under the zoo, theres enough thrill and terror for a paranormal investigator at this site. The location of this hotel is also really good since attractions such as the Art Institute of Chicago and Buckingham Fountain are within a short walking distance away. Faint flute sound coming from the empty band room during day and night time. For an overview of more quaint towns in Illinois, click here. The past and current owners have all claimed to experience orbs, footsteps, strange mists, objects that move on their own, and chilling voices cut through the stale air of the dilapidated building. The McPike Mansion has been called one of the scariest structures in the United States and it definitely ranks as the most haunted house in Illinois. She was the daughter of an iron mill supervisor who fell in love with a riverboat pilot. In 1979, American Airlines Flight 191 bound for Los Angeles left the Chicago airport where it crashed into an old abandoned hangar killing all 258 passengers. Whether you're looking for some real scares this Halloween Season, or you're simply fascinated by Illinois's haunted history, you'll want to check out Illinois Haunted Houses's database of real haunted houses across Illinois that are filled with thrills, chills, and scares year round! Shoe Factory Rd, Hoffman Estates, IL, United States. A decade later, in 1869, a basement boiler exploded. Follow Google Maps. Apparently, the road is guarded by Hell Hounds. Today, guests of the hotel can enjoy the lavish Victorian-style rooms while enjoying stories of the spirits who seemingly never checked out. Originally from the quaint beach town of Fenwick Island, Delaware, Stephanie has called Chicago home for nearly a decade. Though the mansion is one of the most haunted places in Illinois, visitors are no more allowed inside as the structure has become unsafe and requires urgent repairs. Well. If you visit the site you may hear screams and moans resonating from the crash site. A female apparition may be seen sobbing and asking visitors if they've seen her baby. Some of the popular IL haunted houses have been Aurora Basement of the Dead, Oak Lawn Midnight Terror, Downs Haunted House, Montgomerty Massacre Haunted House, Statesville Haunted Prison, Lockport HellsGate, Hells Gate, Chicago 13th Floor Haunted House, Morton Grove House of Torment Haunted House in Chicago, Elgin Evil Intentions, Rantoul This plot of land is a burial ground for circus performers who used to work for the Showmens League of America. Besides being the only operating mineral spring in the state, its also home to some paranormal activity. After protecting several Americans and helping them escape from the Fort Dearborn Massacre during the War of 1812, Potawatomi chief Chee-chee-pin-quay, also known as Alexander Robinson, received 1,600 acres of land now known as the Robinson Woods. Upon their return, the remaining two suffered the same fate. Family, Hearts Grow, Community Supports Mom: Good News, Illinois, New Limits On Toxic Forever Chemicals Coming: What It Means In IL, Thundersnow, Heavy Snow Possible For Some In IL, 1-4 Inches For Others, Boeing Worker Claims $754.6M Powerball Jackpot, Barrier-Breaking Black Army Officer Finally Awarded Medal Of Honor, FL Blogging Bill Says Political Writers Should Register With State, The Poop On Free-Range Cats And Your Lawn And Garden [Block Talk], 7 Good News Stories: Sense Of Belonging; Secrets To 70-Year Marriage, Mom Slain, Toddler Left In Car For Hours | Illinois PatchPM, Eat Local: Illinois Farmers Market Guide 2022. The unidentified markers for where the bodies were buried dont have actual names but endearing pet names such as Baldy. Of course this area of the cemetery is now home to over 750 graves for magicians, circus owners and stunt pilots alike. In the cemetery lies the Massock Mausoleum, which is a final resting place for two brothers who died back in 1920. Today only twelve of the 63 original buildings on the campus remain standing, including Pollack Hospital, which once served as a tuberculosis ward. All rights reserved. What are the most well-known parks in Illinois? While there are many ghost stories surrounding Graceland Cemetery, one of the most famous is the sculpture of Inez Clarke, a child who died at the age of 6 during the 1880s. Midnight during October or on Halloween Day would be the best time to experience spooky vibes on this route. Accommodates: 10, Parking Julia birthed seven children over the next nine years four girls and three boys. An attic consisting of 12 tiny rooms and a hallway with whipping posts meant to punish the slaves. No one really knows what the building used to house so there are a lot of myths spreading around. If you want to experience a nightmare-inducing ordeal with lots of ghoulish vibes, this is the road that you need to travel. Hotel Baker is another historic hotel located in St Charles, about 56 kilometers (35 miles) from the City of Chicago. Residents of the mobile home near the site claimed to have heard knocking on the doors and windows hours after the crash but no one was there. Address: Timber Ridge Road, Cambridge, Illinois 61238, Timber Ridge Road seems unsuspecting enough, at least until motorists catch the fluttering of a white gown in their periphery as they angle their way through the so-called Death Curve.. Many ancient legends and folklores are associated with these haunted woods in Illinois. The graveyard, at the highest point of the 810 feet mountain, has however remained. Address: 100 W Main St, St. Charles, IL 60174, United States. There are no records about this burial site and when it began. There are also opportunities for boating and fishing. Ashmore Estates located in Ashmore, Illinois, is a historical building built in 1916. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. It sounds like the ghost that haunts the Woodstock Opera House might just have the best seat in town. Here are the 10 most haunted places in Illinois you need to visitif you dare. Greenwood Cemetery in Decatur is one of the most haunted sites in the entire country. Restaurant Historians believe that the rumors of the ghost began when townspeople would hear the cries of these prisoners, mistaking them for the laments of tortured souls from beyond the grave. Graceland Cemetery. While some original buildings have been demolished, the veterans home still operates on a portion of the grounds, which are also home to a golf course and a residential treatment center for youths. A strange and cold feeling while passing over the graffiti-covered Acid Bridge that connects to the East Kirsch Road. Bloods Point Rd, Flora Township, IL, United States. The Drake Hotel in Chicago: While the Congress Hotel is known as one of the most haunted hotels in America, the Drake is allegedly haunted by the "Woman in Red," who fell to her death from the hotel roof on New Year's Eve shortly after it opened in 1920. Built on a cemetery with 35,000 buried dead, the Lincoln Park Zoo is a congregation of spirits from the 1840s and 1850s which makes it a major destination on the list of haunted locations in Illinois. Rooms in the hotel have high ceilings, huge bathrooms and are decorated with grand, classic looking furniture. Neighbors found her horrifically burnt after she crawled out of the informal funeral pyre and died later that day. This cemetery is so old that there are grave makers here that date back to before it was dedicated as a graveyard. An argument ensued between the lovers and she stormed out hoping to find a ride home. Once a vaudeville and silent movie house in the 1920s, Lincoln Theatre is now believed to be home to several ghosts. One such spook is Peg Leg Johnny, an associate of Al Capone who found himself on the wrong side of a lead bullet. One of the best ways to hear the ghost stories and learn a bit of history is on a spooky tour with the Galena experts. Henry, aka former university President Henry William Shryock, died . While fall might be the most timely season to listen to these spooky tales, most of these local tours are offered year-round. In a revengeful attack, they killed the Marshal in cold blood. Of all the roads in Illinois, the Bloods Point Road is the most active when it comes to paranormal activity. Address: W Lawrence Ave, Chicago, IL 60706, United States. The saddest story, though, is that of Esmerelda. Alongside these notoriously dangerous men, violent histories of war, massacres, cold cases, lost love, and slave kidnappings form the backdrop for a terrifying tapestry of terror right in the heartland of America. Follow Google Maps. The place was even made popular by SciFi Channels Ghost Hunters. 2011-2023 IllinoisHauntedHouses.com. It stands as one of the most haunted places in Illinois. Many times the spring-loaded seat has been seen folded down during a performance. Perhaps most haunting are the outlines of human figures that appear only in photos. The Marshal had arrested them a few days back but released them soon after the peace treaty was signed. You can hear screams and cries in the Public Mausoleum. Located at 5520 W 111th Street in Oak Lawn, featuring two terrifying haunted houses with over 60+ rooms and 100+ actors directly from your worst nightmares. Electric windows of your car might automatically roll down and the doors might get unlocked automatically.