Who Knew Illinois Had This Many Spooky Places?

Illinois is known for its haunted houses and Halloween extravaganzas: the kinds of places that draw lines out the door and attract visitors from all over the country. But beyond these creepy crowd favorites are a number of lesser-known spooky spots, all with backstories both historical and paranormal—like the “devil baby” that haunts a former Chicago settlement house or the witchy tomb that draws in fans of the occult from far and wide. The Prairie State is home to all manner of legendary urban myths and strange characters whose life stories sound too far-fetched to be true, until you realize they just might be … With spooky season underway, there’s no time like the present to explore Illinois’s many odd and eerie destinations. In fact, many of the state’s most unsettling sites are only a short drive from each other. So this autumn, as the days grow shorter and the leaves change colors, gather the whole family for a one-of-a-kind roadtrip: a journey into untold histories, mysterious deaths, and centuries-old superstitions. From haunted headstones to witchcraft to cursed estates, this Illinois itinerary is jam packed with scary spots best experienced in the crisp fall air, just aft…

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