We Checked Out The 10 Most Terrifying Places In Illinois And They’re Horrifying
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Elizabeth Crozier
Author
Did you hear that? Is that someone there behind you? If you’re ready to spend the rest of your nights wide awake, visit one of these horrifying places in Illinois. Full of ghosts, ancient grounds, and all the things that go bump in the night, you don’t want to be caught out after dark at one of these 10 haunted places.
Shivers will run down your spine just reading about these horrifying locations. Scroll on with caution.
There are more people below ground in the Chicago suburb of Forest Park than there are above due to the plethora of cemeteries. This one in particular is haunted by souls who lost their lives in a circus train accident. The crew was heading to Indiana, and while stopped on the tracks, was hit by an oncoming train. A fire was ignited and 85 performers died, most of which could not be identified and were placed in a mass grave. You'll never guess what roams the grounds at night now.
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This somewhat abandoned town is virtually frozen in time from its height in the 1920s. Tucked into a curve of the Mississippi River, it is cut off from the rest of the state, and fell into crime and ruin. Nowadays, crumbling walls, hollowed-out buildings, and decaying homes are mostly what's left, but there are also a few characters who still linger in the town. Maybe you'll get to meet one when you visit.
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A landmark on the National Register of Historic Places, there are not many bridges like this steel one in Illinois. In 1980, a woman's severed body was found underneath, and no one ever caught or was able to figure out her killer. Nowadays, locals report an eerie feeling when crossing the bridge.
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During the war, a train carrying confederate prisoners found that many fell to Yellow Fever while in transit. While stopped in town, the bodies were placed in a mass grave near this memorial. It is believed the spirits of the soldiers roam the grounds at night trying to figure out where they are. This is not the only haunted story tied to this graveyard though.
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Also found on the National Register of Historic Places, this ancient mansion was built in 1869 and is now one of the most horrifying places in the Midwest. It is reportedly haunted by two ghosts, one a former owner and the other a servent. Activity includes lights flickering or just dying out, the smell of the perfume the servent wore in the attic, and figures, orbs, and mist in photos taken at the property.
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This refuge opened in 1865 to house children of veterans. The boarding school closed in 1979 and was partly repurposed and partly abandoned. It is believed to be haunted by the ghosts of the orphans who passed away there. Unfortunately, it is illegal to go on the grounds, but you can view it from afar.
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Take the path to this abandoned graveyard near Rubio Woods Forest Preserve. You'll sneak through a hole in the fence to see this cemetery. It has been used for burials since 1844 though the last burial was in 1989. Reports of paranormal activity began as early as 1960 though.
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This is one of Illinois' most horrifying places and it is also on the National Register of Historic Places. It was the site of military actions and many executions, and there is also a cemetery on-site that sparks much activity. It is rumored that those who died at the fort now haunt its grounds.
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This castle constructed by H. H. Holmes, America's first serial killer, is actually a hotel that was built to lure visitors of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. Holmes would befriend and then leave his victims (which mostly consisted of pretty women but also included some men and children) in a cell to rot. He was also a scammer known for signing victims up for life insurance and then cashing in when they died.
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This statue was commissioned in 1909, and it used to be all the same color, but time (or something) wore the face pitch black. There have been reports of seeing the arms move, and locals say that if you look into the eyes of the statue, you'll see your own death. What's for sure is that this figure is disturbing even without the haunting tales.
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For more tales of terror, check out these 13 spine-tingling stories in Illinois said to be true.
Have you ever witnessed paranormal activity at one of these horrifying places? Share your adventures and photos with us!
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