These Are The Creepiest, Most Haunted Places In IL

ILLINOIS — Haunted houses around the neighborhood are great Halloween fun for impressionable children, but Illinoisans seeking an authentic scare might want to check out the Old Joliet Prison.

That’s according to Thrillist, a travel and entertainment media outlet that recently released its list of the 50 (one for each state) most haunted, scariest places in America.

A handful of other media outlets have also compiled a list of creepy, haunted places in Illinois, showing there’s no shortage of places to get the daylights scared out of you.

Of the Old Joliet Prison, the Thrillist editors said:

"This gothic, castle-like prison complex was once the (involuntary) home of notorious murderer clown John Wayne Gacy and serial killer Richard Speck. There were riots and slayings, executions and other maladies that made this place midwestern Oz between 1856 and 2002, when it closed and sat abandoned for nearly ... two decades."

The prison has since reopened for tours, including some focused on the paranormal aspects of the site, according to Thrillist, which noted "Blues Brothers" was filmed there.

Business Insider, however, has a different pick and says the Congress Plaza Hotel in Chicago is the most haunted spot in the state, explaining:

The Congress Plaza Hotel in Chicago, Illinois, almost has too many ghost stories to count. The hotel was built for the World's Fair in 1893, and there have been tales of paranormal activity ever since.

Serial killer H.H. Holmes reportedly lured his victims to the Congress, according to Business Insider, and the hotel is believed to have inspired the Stephen King short story "1408."

READ MORE

• 4 Famous Ghost Stories From The Most Haunted Hotel In Illinois
  
• Chicago Hotel Listed Among Most Haunted In America

But HGTV says the McPike Mansion in Alton is the creepiest place in Illinois, stating:

Perched over the town of Alton atop its highest point, Mount Lookout Park, historic McPike Mansion is a hotspot for paranormal investigators who claim to feel the presence of its original owners, Eleanor and Henry McPike, as well as other residents. Some even believe the haunts date back to before the house was built, with detections of Native American ghosts and a residue from a possible Underground Railroad stop.

Forbes concurred, naming the mansion the most haunted house in the state:

The McPike Mansion in Alton was once a symbol of grandeur. However, after its 1945 abandonment, it became an epicenter of the paranormal. It’s said that sightings of both Henry McPike and his wife linger, with faces peering from windows and restless souls haunting the grounds.

READ MORE

• Haunted Illinois: 11 Haunted Spots Across The State
  
• Local Haunts: Spooky Sites In Illinois You Can Visit