Some of the staff refuse to go into the older wing of the hotel at night. People have reported seeing the chair fold down during a performance. In Golconda, theres Dixon Springs State Park. Holy Name Cathedral Things to do Talks and lectures Rush & Division The 1926 hit that took down Al Capone rival Hymie Weiss. He was only one of the many African Americans who found themselves shackled in Crenshaws attic, outfitted as a dungeon of horrors. Where can I go apple picking in Illinois? Old Joliet Prison, Joliet: The fictional home of Jake and Elwood Blues also housed notorious killers like John Wayne Gacy, who spent time there before being sent to Stateville, mass murderer Richard Speck and infamous "crime of the century" murderers Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb. Holmes murder castle. We're a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates program. Ashmore Estates located in Ashmore, Illinois, is a historical building built in 1916. So this week we're investigating one of them: the alleged haunting of Munger Road, which . People have reported seeing the statue of Inez move on its own. They always have a creepy legend attached to them. Beulahs decomposed ghost that has caused people to fall sick on a single sighting. 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. 1. There, tourists claim to have seen blood suddenly appear in rivulets down the walls and hear chains rattling amidst the haunting cacophony of the dying, moaning for salvation from their prison. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. After some restoration, the prison on Collins Street opened in 2018 for tours. Follow Google Maps. Here are 11 spots across the state that are reputed to be haunted including some places ranked among the most haunted in America. Greenwood Cemetery is among the most haunted places in Illinois, and possibly the entire country. Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet: Built as a vaudeville theater in 1926, the Rialto is rumored to be the site of multiple ghostly hauntings, including a long-dead actress, a young boy and a couple who allegedly jumped to their deaths from the theater's balcony. : 2 Built in 1916, this historic building was used as an almhouse until 1959. Warfield purchased the supposedly haunted 140-year-old home in 1988 and claims the ghosts who inhabit it scared his first wife so badly that she left him. The Lincoln Theatre is considered one of the most haunted sites in Decatur. Here is an overview of more interesting southern Illinois cities. Ghost of a young female who pulls pranks on visitors. Holmes Murder Castle, Chicago, Illinois, 6. Right in the middle of Amish Country lies a tiny hamlet called Chesterville. There is a really good chance that this post contains affiliate links. The truth behind their assumptions was more horrifying than they could imagine. According to the story, Mary would hitch a ride, then ask to be let out of the car near the cemetery where she would simply vanish. The saddest story, though, is that of Esmerelda. 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. ILLINOIS It's that time of year again time for hayrack rides, pumpkin patches, corn mazes and, of course, haunted houses. While it's OK to visit the cemetery during the day, police are always on the lookout for nighttime trespassers unless you're part of an authorized ghost tour. Beecher Hall, according to campus talk, was formerly a medical building and the top floor was a space for storing cadavers. Thank you! 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. 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. Illinois College, founded in 1829, is rumored to have several haunted buildings. This cemetery is open to the public so anyone is free to take a tour if they are brave enough. 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. 2001 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614, United States. 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 An attic consisting of 12 tiny rooms and a hallway with whipping posts meant to punish the slaves. Here is an overview of more central Illinois attractions. Be sure to share your haunted experiences in the comments section. 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. For an overview of more quaint towns in Illinois, click here. Late-night travelers report feeling uneasy, hearing strange noises, and experiencing a sudden drop in temperature as they pass over the paranormal site. 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. You may not want to live in the good ol Land of Lincoln anymore once youve learned about these nine real haunted places in Illinois. Flashlights dying out without no reason, flickering of the lights, and a strong smell of lilac in the attic (a perfume Sarah wore). Speaking of haunted . When she failed, she laid all of her children out on the bed, poured oil over their bodies, and lit the match that sealed her fate. Looking for some REAL scares? One of the most haunted areas of the cemetery is a confederate grave memorial that commemorates a crew of soldiers who all died from Yellow Fever on a train passing through the area. The Phantom lady wearing different stages of clothing and sometimes nothing while roaming the cornfields where earlier there was an ancient cemetery. This 2,630-acre park has 13 miles of trails to explore and quite a few waterfalls to see. In the years that followed, the hospital, designed for 3,600 patients, became overcrowded and understaffed. An argument ensued between the lovers and she stormed out hoping to find a ride home. 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. While the exact story is unknown, there are several theories on why this site sees so much paranormal activity. The story of a St. Charles High School freshman girl being raped by a janitor while she was practicing the flute in the schools band room got circulated. If you are someone who wished ghost hunting was an actual job (because youd actually be pretty great at it) these 13 true hauntings in Illinois are exactly what you need to send your hair on end and your teeth chattering. This home once housed terminally ill children and, as you can imagine, is said to be haunted. We take your privacy seriously and will never sell your data to anyone. This 19th-century town of Williamsburg became a ghost town after the railroad was built to the east of the town and all residents moved to live closer to it. A lot of the attractions offer guided tours as well, so if you are interested in history and are looking for a unique experience, a haunted tour is really a great option. For those daring enough to venture into these woods, theres a whole world of ghastly spirits waiting for you. 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. 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. This place is now one of the most haunted cemeteries in the US. Address: 611 W. 63rd St., Chicago, IL 60621. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! Just dont flub up a line or you may hear her sighing from her number 113 seat. Unfortunately, that was not the case. Vintage cars are known to mysteriously appear. TOURS OFFERED: * Walking Tour (Spring-Fall) $27 * Bus Tours (Fall Only) $46 DINNER TOURS: * Ghosts of the River Road (All Year Around) $52 TOURS DEPART: Among them, according to legend, is a woman who was accused of witchcraft around 1900. Many instances of murders, accidents, and lynching have happened on the road which makes it the most terrifying route in Illinois. Location. Haunted Farm: 3. While there is some disagreement about who exactly it is roaming these grounds, a dozen different spirits have made themselves known to visitors, including Native Americans, the original owners, servants, and escaped slaves. Meeting/banquet facilities The arrival of free slaves caused racial tensions to grow during the early 1900s and with Jim Crow, massive unemployment, incidents of lynching, and police brutality, the town eventually became a haunted Illinois location by the 70s. The McPike Mansion of Alton, Illinois is one of the most haunted locations in all of the United States. Congress Plaza Hotel is a 124-year-old historic, grand hotel located in the City of Chicago. Besides being the only operating mineral spring in the state, its also home to some paranormal activity. Rumors of deaths due to malpractice continue to plague the hospital, even after it closed in 1985 and was converted into a veterans home. Local historians note that pirates hiding in the coves would attack frontiers navigating the area, stealing their cargo and lives. Established in 1856, the town of Sterling was an industrial hub that became famous for its hardware manufacturing. Grab some apple cider donuts to bring home or head to the Cider Cellar Caf to grab a bite. Graceland Cemetery. Here is a list of more southern Illinois tourism attractions. Categories: Real Haunted Houses Ashmore Estates Ashmore, IL Views: 4,034 Photos: 2 Rating: 5 / 5 Exp. Before the accident she was dancing at Willowbrook Ballroom with her boyfriend. Kennedy Hill Road, IL, United States. This 24,500-square foot mansion, named Mayflower Place, was an extravagant wedding present for Laura Shedd and her new husband, Charles Schweppe. DeSoto House Hotel in Galena: Another haunted hotel, this one boasted famous guests including Abraham Lincoln, Stephen A. Douglas and William Jennings Bryan. She ran away, throwing herself off the cliff into the craggy rocks below. Though the Land of Lincoln was supposed to be a free state, this was the home of a slave owner who took his operations beyond their legal extensions and kept people chained up in his attic. You'll laugh as much as you scream as he guides you through his ever-changing life's work." Illinois College was founded in 1829 and is believed to have several haunted buildings on campus. Its no wonder that the post office and grassy knoll where his pet project once stood is alight with paranormal activity. Robinson Woods, located in Chicago, was once owned by Alexander Robinson. Free shipping for many products! Since this wooded area is situated along the Des Plaines River, you can also see lots of deer, resting birds, beavers and butterflies. 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. This Illinois haunted location was turned into a factory and has the story of a schoolgirl named Mary associated with it. Midnight during October or on Halloween Day would be the best time to experience spooky vibes on this route. Perhaps most haunting are the outlines of human figures that appear only in photos. 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. Excalibur/The Castle - Chicago, IL Often referred to as Excalibur, the building definitely looks like it's haunted just from the outside alone. Once a vaudeville and silent movie house in the 1920s, Lincoln Theatre is now believed to be home to several ghosts. The Old Slave House Museum, 4325 Crenshaw Ln, Equality, IL 62934, United States. Location Hinton, Williamsburg Hill, IL 62571, United States. Nothing says fall more than heading out to the orchard. An Illinois transplant who grew up and went to school in Indiana for 22 years, Elizabeth holds a BFA in creative writing and has enjoyed traveling across the country and parts of Europe. A weeping woman who is searching for her children who had gone missing. "Other mysterious stories include servants of the building, a cook in the kitchen and a strange death of a woman in the bathtub.". Most Alton Hauntings Tours are 3-hours in length, unless noted otherwise. There have been reports from guests who heard her cries and had their bed linens disturbed even though no one else has had access to the room. A tragedy also happened at the prison way back in 1915 when the warden's wife beloved by prisoners and known as the "Angel of Joliet" was murdered there, prompting inmates to riot and demand her suspected killer be turned over to them. It's famous as the rumored site of the "White Lady" or "Madonna of Bachelor's Grove," who, according to legend, was buried next to her child and whose apparition can sometimes be seen holding a baby in her arms. Come one, come all to this section of Woodlawn Cemetery that was once the site of a 1918 circus-train wreck. A decade later, in 1869, a basement boiler exploded. 2nd February so you can partake in the festivities of the town. 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. His suicide note read, Ive been awake all night. Founded in 1803, Alton is a historical town whose main attraction is the McPike Mansion. This feeling is powerful on the 12th floor, where the siblings suffered their terrifying death. How Greenwood Cemetery even started is a complete mystery. This plot of land is a burial ground for circus performers who used to work for the Showmens League of America. 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. 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. It is rumored that one of the girls was able to channel the other and live like her for an entire year. Even if it's not haunted, Raven's Grin has some pretty ominous warnings for visitors. Any tour of the most haunted places in Chicago worth going on includes a stop at the Red Lion Pub in Lincoln Park. 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. One of the most fascinating and scary ghost stories in Illinois, the Kennedy Hill Road is inhibited by the ghost of a young woman who roams in the cornfields along the road with just black underwear cladding her bottom and a scarf on her neck. The Marshal had arrested them a few days back but released them soon after the peace treaty was signed. There are 53 rooms in the hotel, all equipped with marble-tiled bathrooms and superior carpeted floors. Charity Haunts: 15. feet in size, and has over 60 rooms and 100 actors ready to scare the living soul out of you. Reported sightings also included soldiers in torn uniforms walking around the yard as well as a figure of a bride walking around. 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. Henry, aka former university President Henry William Shryock, died . Check out these other top haunted places: Dont forget to subscribe to myYouTube Channeland follow me onInstagram. Read about nine of the most haunted places in Illinois. Cairo, Illinois 62914, United States. A female apparition may be seen sobbing and asking visitors if they've seen her baby. Dr. George Zeller wrote in his book Befriending the Bereft that on the day of Old Books funeral, hundreds of spectators witnessed a full-body apparition of the man standing under the Crying Tree.. 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. Bloods Point Rd, Flora Township, IL, United States. Thats what this Illinois haunted attraction is famous for. But do you know that there are also places with a fair bit of history? (View on Map) There are many legends about ghosts in Graceland Cemetery, but the statue of Inez Clarke, who was only six years old when she died in the 1880s, is among the most well-known. One visitor even heard whispering voices in his room (evidently, the same room where the former owner was found dead in the '60s). Its believed that about seven spirits haunt Bachelors Grove. From Al Capone to H.H. Haunted Barns: 6. Follow Google Maps. 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. Manteno State Mental Hospital in Manteno: claims the ghosts who inhabit it scared his first wife so badly, Tormented Spirits Are Haunting Old Joliet Prison: Ferak Column, 4 Famous Ghost Stories From The Most Haunted Hotel In Illinois. Tucked away in the cornfields of Illinois is a quaint town in southern Illinois known as Okwaville. Here, there are more than 2,000 trees to pick from, with 25 varieties available like Golden Supreme and Rubymac. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Cornfield/Maze: 3. Originally from the quaint beach town of Fenwick Island, Delaware, Stephanie has called Chicago home for nearly a decade. The Legendary Dungeon of Doom Haunted House Medieval Torture Museum with Audio Guide and Ghost Hunting Experience Torment at Twelve Hundred The Haunting at Horse Creek Hayride of Horror Killdare Haunted City Disturbia Haunted House Siegel's Cottonwood Farm Pumpkin Fest & Sniper Paintball Ride Windy City Ghosts Reaper's Realm Soul Takers Acres Its still on the market today and could be yours for about $9.4 million. Check out some of these sites for yourself and experience the fright firsthand. But haunted stories aside, this hotel is really classic and beautiful. Witnesses have seen apparitions and heard slamming doors and footsteps, and someone unseen has been known to put out the fire in the fireplace. Looking for more? 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. Tragic struck this couple not long after when Laura Schweppe died from a heart attack in 1937. This was an obvious add to our most haunted places in Illinois list. Sturtevant Hall and Beecher Hall are two locations where people have reported footsteps, strange noises and apparitions. Poplar Groves Edwards Apple Orchard boasts 30 varieties of apples, such as Ginger Gold, Liberty, and Blondee, within its 100 acres. The family-owned and operated Honey Hill Orchard is located in Waterman. Did you ever play Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board during a childhood slumber party? Drury Inn & Suites in Creve Coeur. Those who have tried to move it find that their hand goes right through the corpse like it's a ghost.