Scariest Haunted Houses To Visit This Halloween Season In Chicagoland, Elsewhere

ILLINOIS — Now that October is here and Halloween is approaching, it's time to start visiting the Chicagoland's spookiest and scariest haunted houses. But where are they? Where are the best places near Chicago to get scared?

Patch has assembled the following lineup for some of the most popular locations to visit this Halloween season. Maybe this year is the perfect opportunity to visit a new place, somewhere you haven't tried before.

The Old Joliet Haunted Prison: Presented by Thirteenth Floor, Located at 401 Woodruff Road, Joliet, Free parking is available on site. Follow the parking signs on Woodruff Road for directions. Warning: Event may be too intense for children 12 and younger. According to its website, "Ticket pricing is dynamic and will vary based on the day and time attending and will increase the closer it gets to the event date."

Blood Moon Manor: 310 South Broadway, Forest City. "We have three terrifying trails, you begin your journey in "Paranoia" - the twists and turns will overload our senses...move through to our newest section, the BioLab, can you escape without being infected? Escape the "Forest of the Damned" and fight to save your soul?"According to its website, Blood Moon Manor is open the last weekend in September, Every Friday and Saturday in October, and the first weekend of November. Ticket Booth Hours: 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

5 Points Haunted House: Located at 241 W Roosevelt Road in West Chicago. "The creators of the Lehman Manor home haunt have gone to the next level and opened up the 5 Points Haunted house in a 100-year old barn once known for it's amazing live music club and restaurant on historic Rt 38." According to its website, "Today, the barn has been transformed into the 5 Points Haunted House, where visitors can experience the atmosphere for themselves. The haunted house incorporates elements from the barn's long and varied history - from its early days as a farm to its time as the lively Synergy bar. While the full truth of its past may never be known, one thing is certain: the old barn at 5 Points continues to captivate and unsettle all who dare to enter its doors."

Hayride of Horror, Curse of the Bayou: Dellwood Park, Lockport. "Are you one of the brave souls to seek out the underground of Dellwood Park? We dare you to attempt the Curse of the Bayou. This top-rated haunted attraction has been hidden in the Canyons below the Hayride of Horror. The veil between the living and the dead has been lifted, and a powerful Voodoo Priestess has been called forth from her home in the swamps. She commands a legion of fiendish monsters to assist her so that she may stay in this realm, wreaking havoc. Do you carry the still beating heart she yearns for? You must navigate the treacherous maze to escape, or risk being her next victim. The Curse of the Bayou is not recommended for young children, parental guidance suggested. This is a walking attraction with an uneven trail, tight corners, and low ceilings. Strobe lighting, fog and loud noises will be utilized." For more information, visit the website.

Hellsgate Haunted House, Lockport: "Hidden deep in the woods, HellsGate is a multi-level mansion filled with secret passages, giant slides, ghastly secrets, undead abominations, really nervous groundskeepers and a darkness that the gate can no longer contain! This is not just a haunted house, it’s an adventure! Since you were a kid, you've heard about the haunted house with the giant slide, the one hidden out in the woods, the one where you can win your money back, but you were never able to find it... until now! It’s HellsGate Haunted House in Lockport." According to its website, since HellsGate is a mansion hidden in the woods, all of our guests during the Halloween Season must park at 301 W. 2nd Street, Lockport. After parking, guests will then take a 5 minute shuttle bus from the parking lot to the drop off point on the HellsGate grounds.

Camp Tuckabatchee's Haunted Camp, Ottawa: "Come out for a Night of Fright to Camp Tuckabatchee's Haunted Camp!! See if you can make it thru our haunted maze filled the scariest ghouls this side of Sleepy Hallow!! If you make it thru the winding, twisting turns and dead ends of the maze you will encounter creepy, spooky, and scary cabins you must walk thru to ultimately get to our pitch black dark maze!! In there you must feel your way thru but watch out! You never know what manner of creature is hiding in plain site in the dark!!. Those who survive will enter our lodge with a roaring fire and the finest treats and awesome Haunted Camp merch there could be!" For more information, visit the website for Camp Tuckabatchee.

Basement of the Dead Haunted House, downtown Aurora: "Rumor has it that the clown took refuge down in the darkest depths of an old building at 42 W. New York St. The locals call the building the Basement of the Dead. The story goes on to say that Shattered spent his time in exile praying to demons and learning to spread his evil across dimensions. His vivid nightmares are now becoming part of his resurrected circus. The rumor also says that all the souls he took that night followed him down there. They are keeping the smashing clown company. Now, the circus tent is reopened! Can you hear the pipe organ in the distance? Shattered the smashing clown is longing to make you scream again. The show must go on! Come see SHATTERED Circus, The World’s Best 3D Nightmare.” For more information, visit the website for Basement of The Dead.

Soul Takers Acres, Warsaw, Indiana: "The Native Americans had a name for him, 'Wanetaqua..' This meant taker of life. The early settlers who came to the lakes region soon became all too aware of his thirst for new souls as he added them to his diet. Each fall when the Autumn moon came full the "Soul Taker" would rise up from the bowels of the earth and stalk unsuspecting victims and return them to his netherworld kingdom deep below the lakes of Northern Indiana. Now he is back and he is looking for new victims to claim. The Soul Taker will fill you with FEAR - AND drink you DRY!!!!Be here every Friday and Saturday night in October when Indiana's favorite haunted house returns for its' eleventh big season! Enjoy ten big nights of terror as the Soultaker once more returns to wreak his revenge on the Lake City. Did we frighten you last year? Then God help you this year!! This years' haunt features more twists, more turns, and more darkness than ever." For more information, visit the website for Soul Takers Acres.

Undead Acres, at Santa Fe Nursery and Landscapping, 3450 W. Crete Monee Road, Monee.

"Join us on a zombie hunting safari, wielding your trusty paintball gun against the legions of undead. WILL YOU SURVIVE??? Zombie Paintball Ride through our Zombie Infested Nursery in our specially designed paintball trailers with mounted paintball guns. Shoot live zombies!! But don't worry, they don't shoot back. Haunted Evergreen MazeWalk through our Haunted Evergreen Maze and test your sense of direction. Over 500 evergreens to find your way through before your terrified by any of our resident hauntings." For more information, visit the website for Undead Acres.

Disturbia Haunted House, next to Hooters and Olive Garden by the Yorktown Mall, 1213 Butterfield Road, Downers Grove.

"The legendary Disturbia Haunted House has been resurrected from the depths of Hell! Come relive your darkest nightmares and experience all new evils. Only in Downers Grove and presented by Basement of the Dead. "Located in Downers Grove, IL, Disturbia Haunted House is the premier destination for those seeking an adrenaline-pumping scare. Our expertly designed attraction features an array of rooms and scenarios, each designed to push your limits and leave you gasping for air. With state-of-the-art special effects, stunning set designs, and expertly trained actors, every fear-inducing moment is guaranteed to be a one-of-a-kind experience." For more, visit the Disturbia Haunted House website here.