Basement of the Dead Haunted House 2022

Basement of the Dead & Shattered 3D Nightmare
42 W New York Street
Aurora, IL 60506
https://basementofthedead.com/
Visited on: Saturday, October 8, 2022

Vital Signs:
Opened: 2003 originally, new owners took over in 2010
Number of seasons-to-date: 19 (12 with new ownership)
Number of attractions: 2
Size: 12,000 square feet
Number of actors: 70
Parking: Free, on-site (public)
Fun Fact: This attraction is ACTUALLY in the basement of a 100-year-old building in the middle of downtown Aurora

Basement of the Dead Haunted House has been taking up residence in downtown Aurora, Illinois since 2003. Consistently being a part of our Haunted House Chicago Top 13 and taking the title of Best Haunted Attraction of the Year in 2008 and 2016, this attraction continues to add numerous praises to its name.

If you’ve never been to the Basement of the Dead, this attraction is set within a real basement inside a building that is 100+ years old. There isn’t any fake smells or cobwebs here, it truly is creepy and dark! For those who may have a fear of the dark, be warned when you enter! This element of fear is one thing we have definitely come to love about this attraction. For many haunted attractions we visit, perfect lighting is important to each scene and sets the tone for each scare, but for the Basement, they use this darkness as their best friend. Hiding every scare perfectly, you never know who or what is lurking around that next corner.

Another major element here is the queue line. This is not just your average line, it’s a party and experience all on its own! Here, you are fully immersed in endless entertainment, from the DJ spinning mixes, the line actors throwing out free giveaways, the crowd, and of course all the dancing. The atmosphere here is electric and will make anyone standing in line put a little boogie in their step.

As the doors to the Basement opened and the darkness awaited us, our noses were filled with the musty smell from inside, and our journey began. Once inside we notice an unusual feeling under our feet. From the ceiling to the floors, and not forgetting the walls, the use of texture is everywhere. With floors shifting and squishing underneath our feet we venture on. The variety of scenes patrons go through truly take you out of your comfort zone. With tight spaces, turns, and foreshadowing of upcoming scenes, no space is left safe.

Making our way through some of our favorite scenes, the doll room, the zombie containment area, and the hospital. Each actor we encountered was relentless with their attacks. From the time we entered the room, till the last person of our group was out and into the next room, the show never stopped!

Another one of our favorite rooms and new for 2022 was the sea room. Making you feel as if you are under the sea in your very own sunken ship, prepare to face your fears and come face to face with the giant kraken. The elements here really help you feel as if you truly are below the depth.

Once escaping from the Basement, their second attraction, Shattered 3D, has patrons experience a nightmare that will put anyone out of their comfort zone. If you have a fear of clowns, hold on to your friends and family, as you’re fully immersed into all thing’s clown. Filled with explosive colors of 3D art on the walls, we set off to find our way through the madness.

One of favorite rooms was the tilted room with 2 very energetic clowns banging their way through the glass. As we weaved our way, they were precise with their attacks on our group and made us feel as if we were going to remain theirs forever!

Monsters of Note: Split, Simbu Darkfang, Panic

The Bottom Line: Another wonderful show that continues to raise the bar by combining a setting that simply can’t be replicated, a team of actors and builders that somehow draw the worst fears that you can imagine, a very healthy dose of fun, and an exciting atmosphere outside! This is truly a great all-in-one Halloween experience!

But, don’t just take our word for it, check out media from our visit: