2016 Season Primer
Happy September, Haunt Fans!
Here we are, another fall season upon us! It’s hard to believe that we are almost through the month already where
the weather should be turning cooler, but that hasn’t happened just yet! But, with the month of September comes many things: school being back into full swing, football is back, and hockey season is just around the corner.
As we open the doors, dust away the cobwebs (or in most of our cases, add a few more here and there), we start to shake the zombies and creatures of the dark and awaken them from their long off season slumber. All of this can only mean one thing; the mayhem is close at hand in that ever so wonderful month we like to call October.
One of the biggest questions we get asked throughout the season is what is the scariest house we’ve been to? The true way to answer that, is what defines being scary to you? Every person has a fear deep within them. Whether it’s of the dark, spiders, snakes, or clowns, the list goes on and on. Fear inhabits us all differently. Getting the opportunity to walk through all the different attractions throughout the season is what makes our job one of the best. We get to experience all these different fears first hand and see how others react to them. Fear is within all of us, you just have to find it.
We are expecting this to be one of the most talked about seasons as far as haunted attractions and know that the bar for entertainment is going to be set very high. Here’s just a little preview of what to expect for the 2016 Season:
New Kids on the Block
This season, we have a few newcomers opening their doors for their first taste of blood & screams (oops…we mean thrills & chills!).
First and the most talked about for 2016 is Hells Gate Haunted House, which will be taking up residence in Lockport, IL. Brought to you by Zombie Army Productions, it has been two years in the making and built from the ground up. Hidden deep within the woods appears a beautiful multi-level mansion filled with secret passages, a giant slide, ghastly secrets, and much, much more! This attraction is bound to hit the ground running and we expect a debut like none other!
Another newcomer for the 2016 season is The SicKHouse, located in Mokena, IL. Stated to be home to some of the most deranged individuals in the world, no other state institution could handle these sick demented individuals. Now opening their doors to the public, who will be able to make it through? Brought to you by two veteran creative haunting masterminds, we expect this attraction to soar in its first season.
We welcome these new attractions to the haunt family and wish them all the best in their first season!
The Cake
After traveling over 2,300 miles last season, let’s give another round of applause to all of our award winners for 2015, as chosen by the Haunted House Chicago Review Team.
Best Haunted Attraction of 2015: Statesville Haunted Prison & City of the Dead in Crest Hill, IL
Best New Haunted Attraction of 2015: The Slaughter Haunted House in West Dundee, IL
Jim Warfield Acting Award Recipients: Alyssa Raymond as “Smiley” from Lake Hills Haunted House in St. John, IN and Ian Ryan as “Killy Billy” from C2H2: The Terror Within in Westmont, IL
Movers & Shakers
Each year, some haunts move around to find the best “home” that they feel will best fit their attraction. For 2016, Fables Studios presents “Fables Fright Nights”, will be taking up residence at Santa’s Village aZOOsment park in East Dundee, IL. Offering 3 haunted houses, multiple scare zones, rides and many other things that go bump in the night! This will definitely be a hauntingly good evening for all!
Also making a big jump is that of Psychosis Haunted House, who is leaving their home in Elgin, IL and heading north to Antioch, IL. We look forward to seeing what their new home brings them this season! We expect some pretty intense mazes from the Maze Master himself!
Lastly, “Midnight Terror” in Oak Lawn, IL has moved to its much bigger location and permanent year-round home! We’ve already seen what they can do at their previous location, we can’t wait to see what having a permanent year-round location will do! We are looking forward to seeing what this young creative mind comes up with for this year!
A Final Farewell
Last year, after 16 years of a beloved attraction, Mazon Dungeon of Terror in Mazon, IL closed its doors for good. We wish the owners all the best in their future endeavors and know that you will be greatly missed.
This year, Rob Zombie’s Great American Nightmare in Villa Park, IL will not be returning to the Odeum Expo Center. As well as The Slaughter Haunted House in West Dundee, IL will not open for the 2016 season.
We are also sad to report that Milwaukee’s longest running haunted attraction of 25 years, Mars Haunted House located on Historic Mitchell Street has closed their doors for good. We wish the staff and owners all the best!
Carry HHC in Your Pocket
For those of you that want to take Haunted House Chicago everywhere with you this haunt season, make sure you download our mobile APP! The HauntedHouseChicago.com app will allow you to quickly find haunted and Halloween attractions near you, get directions to them, rate & review them and more! Currently, it’s available in the iOS Apple Store (Search: Haunt Chicago). Hurry and download the APP today!
Stages, Screens, and Screams
Have any energy left? Need something to do on those off-nights? Ok, once you stop laughing, here’s some fun ways to try and enhance your Halloween season:
MOVIES It wouldn’t be the scaring season without a dash of horror flickering on the big screen. Here’s what we have to look forward to this season. The most talked about movie coming to the big screen is “Blair Witch”, which hit theaters September 16th. Ending the month of September is “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” which opens its doors to the oddities within on September 30th. For those that are able to take a night off in October, here’s what’s hitting theaters. “The Girl on the Train” makes its way on October 7th. “Ouija: Origin of Evil” comes out October 21st. The next installment in the Robert Langdon series is that of “Inferno”, which makes its way to the big screen on October 28th.
MUSIC Expect the music scene to be busy these next 3 months. Starting things off for the season, look for Green Day to play at the Aragon 9/21. The man himself, Alice Cooper plays the Genesee Theatre on 9/22. Heading down to Central Illinois, Korn and Breaking Benjamin team up for a night at the Peoria Civic Center on 9/28. On 10/5, Megadeath will play the Sears Center, as well as Drake taking over the United Center. Featuring a two-night show, Kanye West plays the Allstate Arena 10/7 & 10/8. Hopping into Bottom Lounge is The Devil Wears Prada & Memphis May Fire. Sum 41 gets things hopping at the HOB on 10/21. 3 jam packed shows at The Rave include that of Breaking Benjamin on 10/23, Mushroomhead on 10/27 and Sleeping with Sirens on 11/5. Blue Oyster Cult plays the Horseshoe Casino on 11/11. Ending things off is Five Finger Death Punch & Shinedown playing the Peoria Civic Center on 11/19.
TV Starting off the premiere lineup is that of “American Horror Story”. It starts its highly anticipated 6th chapter starting on Wednesday, September 14th on FX, with the theme being kept very quiet, this is said to be the most interesting chapter we’ve seen yet! Next up is that of “Lucifer” on Monday, September 19th on FOX. Followed by the horror/comedy “Scream Queens” debuting its second season on FOX on Tuesday, September 20th. A new horror show to the scene coming to FOX is “The Exorcist”, which debuts on Friday, September 23rd. “Once Upon a Time” returns on Sunday, September 25th to ABC. “Sleepy Hollow” is changing things up a bit this year and will return for its 4th season on FOX in early 2017. Of course, we all look forward to the “13 Nights of Halloween” each season, which will premiere on Freeform on October 19th. Last but not least, the final season of “The Vampire Diaries” begins Friday, October 21st on The CW.
DVD For those that might need a relaxing night at home, when you aren’t busy working. Here are some great movies & TV series making their way to DVD. “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – Out of the Darkness” steps into stores on September 20th. “Warcraft” and “The Shallows” both will be released September 27th. From the producers of the Walking Dead comes “Satanic” which hits stores October 4th, as well as “X-Men: Apocalypse”. The next installment from The Purge series, “The Purge: Election Year” also debuts October 4th. The highly talked about remake of the year, “Ghostbusters” blasts into stores on October 11th. “Alice Through the Looking Glass” comes out October 18th. The daredevil movie “Nerve” debuts October 25th.
PARTY While everyone has to attend at least one Halloween shindig, Madison’s infamous, “Freakfest” will be hosted on Saturday, October 29th.
HAWKS The Chicago Blackhawks host their season opener against the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday, October 12th.
(Although we intend for all dates and locations to be accurate, please check/research before setting off on your journey.)
New Faces to the Review Team
This year, we are happy to announce the addition of some new part-time reviewers. While they may not be able to join us throughout the entire season, we are excited to welcome them to the team! We have no doubt that there will be a ton of great scares to get out of them if you have the pleasure of meeting them!
Opening Weekend is Here
For some attractions, Friday (9/17) marked the official start of the 2016 season. The following attractions are open this weekend:
13th Floor Chicago in Melrose Park, IL
House of Torment Chicago in Morton Grove, IL
Niles Haunted House Scream Park in Niles, MI
Regardless of where you scream at, keep checking Haunted House Chicago all season long for everything to make your holiday season the best yet!
Reviews begin on Saturday, September 24th! To follow the Review Team on the road this season, follow us on social media!
Twitter: www.twitter.com/HauntedHouseChi
Facebook: www.facebook.com/HauntedHouseChicagoReviewTeam
Instagram: www.instagram.com/HauntedHouseChicago
Snapchat: HHCReviewTeam
We look forward to seeing you out on the road throughout the month! From all of our staff, have a frightful and safe Halloween Season!
-The Haunted House Chicago Review Team