Haunted Attractions in Lake County
By: Stephanie Stang 09/23/2025
When autumn arrives, a chill descends upon Lake County that has nothing to do with the weather. As the days shorten and shadows lengthen, our region transforms into a hub of haunted happenings, from professional scream parks to legendary local haunts whispered about for generations. Whether you're a thrill-seeker in search of movie-level scares or a history buff hoping to connect with the past, Lake County is the ultimate destination for all things spooky. Grab your courage and get ready to explore the darkest corners of our community with this guide to haunted attractions and supernatural stories.
For fans of Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts, the chance to walk through a magical woodland and come face-to-face with fantastical creatures is coming to Lake County. Harry Potter™: A Forbidden Forest Experience, a licensed event by Warner Bros., opens Oct. 2 at YMCA Camp Duncan, offering an immersive outdoor adventure designed to bring the wizarding world to life. Its Chicago-area stop promises to transport guests into a spellbinding forest, complete with interactive moments, stunning lighting and cinematic sound effects that echo the magic of the films. Visitors follow a woodland trail where iconic scenes from the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts franchises are illuminated for the first time in a live, walk-through format. Along the path, they can encounter a Hippogriff, unicorns, Nifflers and other magical creatures, bringing the storylines of the movies into a real-world environment. Wands are encouraged as attendees can cast spells, practice charms and even conjure a Patronus. All characters and elements are licensed by Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., with publishing rights © J.K. Rowling.
Harry Potter™: A Forbidden Forest Experience, YMCA Camp Duncan, 32405 N. US Highway 12, Ingleside.
One of Illinois' most notorious Halloween attractions, Realm of Terror Haunted House, is known for its theatrical and immersive approach. This year's theme, "Rotten Origin," tells the chilling tale of a desperate farmer who unearths a cursed book and a harvest that feeds on souls. The haunt prides itself on its professional set designs, custom soundscapes and movie-level realism. With a new theme each year, visitors are never sure what terrifying experience awaits them.
Realm of Terror Haunted House, 421 W. Rollins Rd., Round Lake Beach.
When the sun dips behind the trees and fog rolls across the midway, the park becomes something else entirely—a haunted labyrinth where demons, ghouls and movie monsters lurk around every corner. Fright Fest, presented by SNICKERS®, has returned to Gurnee with its signature blend of theme park fun and full-throttle horror. Billed as one of the region’s top Halloween attractions, the annual event transforms the 300-acre park into a nightmarish landscape brimming with haunted mazes, scare zones and sinister live shows.
The horror begins in the Scare Zones, immersive environments where costumed performers roam free, startling guests as they wander through fog-filled alleys and cursed forests. Among them:
- Forbidden Forest presented by SNICKERS®
- Head Bangerz
- Henchmen Alley
- Lost Souls
- Oddities: Circus of Maddness
- Underworld
- Los Muertos
For those who crave even more terror, Fright Fest offers a collection of pay-to-panic Haunted Mazes requiring an additional ticket. Guests can step into:
- (NEW) The Conjuring Universe
- SAW: Legacy of Terror
- Texas Chainsaw Massacre
- Big Top Terror: Forgotten Carnival 3D presented by M&M's®
- The Estate at Wretched Meadows presented by SKITTLES®
And for adrenaline junkies, there’s a chance to ride the park’s famous coasters—like the new record-breaking dive coaster Wrath of Rakshasa—under the cover of night, when every drop feels a little more dangerous.
Fright Fest isn’t only about scares. The park also offers live entertainment ranging from creepy cabaret shows to punk-style drumming performances. Guests may stumble upon the Procession of Nightmares in Hometown Square or catch the Pumpkin King summoning his legion of the undead in Carousel Plaza.
But be warned: after 6 p.m., Fright Fest is not recommended for children under 13. Costumed creatures roam freely, and the atmosphere becomes decidedly more sinister.
Six Flags Great America, 1 Great America Pkwy., Gurnee.
Get ready for a full day of paranormal investigation with American Ghost Walks! This seven-hour excursion takes you to some of Lake County's most haunted locations, from the historic St. Mary's Cemetery to the eerie Mineola Hotel. Led by veteran paranormal researchers, you'll explore legendary sites and even stop for lunch at a haunted establishment. Grab your camera and ghost-hunting tools for this deep dive into the unexplained.
American Ghost Walks, call 833.446.7813 or click here for reservations.
Richardson Adventure Farm will transform into a chilling playground of fear this fall with the debut of American Nightmare Scream Park, opening Oct. 2. Billed as Chicagoland’s only haunted corn maze scream park, the attraction sprawls across 12 acres and features five themed haunted experiences, two bars and a midway packed with eerie entertainment. Guests will brave a 25-minute walk through towering rows of corn as the farm promises to bring their darkest nightmares to life. Organizers caution that due to the intensity and graphic nature, the scream park is not recommended for children under 13.
American Nightmare Scream Park, 909 English Prairie Rd., Spring Grove.
Volo Museum is doubling down on frightful fun this fall with paranormal thrills and a cult-classic icon. Starting Sept. 6, visitors can climb aboard the museum’s Paranormal Train Tours, a 25-minute ride that weaves through the property’s haunted history, featuring chilling tales from the Grams family, staff and guests, backed by eerie evidence. Tours run Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 2, rain or shine, for just $3 with admission. Then on Nov. 1, the museum welcomes horror host Svengoolie for a fan-favorite meet and greet. From noon to 3 p.m., attendees can snap professional photos, get autographs and explore the museum with VIP or general admission packages. With space limited for both experiences, reservations are strongly encouraged.
Volo Museum, 27582 West Volo Village Rd., Volo.
Improv Playhouse is bringing spine-tingling nostalgia to the stage this Halloween with "Dracula: A Live Radio Play." Inspired by Orson Welles’ 1938 Mercury Radio Theatre production, the show reimagines Bram Stoker’s classic tale in the style of a vintage radio drama, complete with live sound effects and a cast that brings the Golden Age of storytelling to life. Performances run Oct. 31 at 8 p.m. and Nov. 1 at 7 p.m., promising audiences a hauntingly immersive experience “in living technicolor of the mind.”
Improv Playhouse, 735 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville.
History and hauntings converge as Ghost Wauk 2025: Tales of the Historic Genesee Theatre returns Oct. 23–26. The after-hours walking tour leads guests through the 1927 landmark, where decades of paranormal reports include ghostly figures, strange sounds and unsettling sightings. Lasting 60 to 70 minutes, the experience shares chilling legends such as the Ghost Puppy, the Girl with Brown Shoes and the Man in the Tall Hat, supported by eerie video evidence. Tickets are $25, with limited availability, and private group tours for 10 or more can be scheduled by appointment. Rated PG-13, the tour invites brave visitors to step inside Waukegan’s most storied stage.
Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan.
Living Spirits and Old Wives Tales
It is said that a black ghost car appears at night near a cemetery on the Lake County road. There is also a female spirit on the path who emerges carrying a lantern asking drivers for help, but she ultimately vanishes in an instance when they stop for aid. Gangsters also frequented the road during the Prohibition era.
Looking for a real-life horror story? Locals whisper about a tragic tale linked to the Des Plaines River Trail and a nearby bend in the road. Legend has it that an all-girls school once stood on the site of what is now Independence Grove. A horrific crime allegedly occurred there, with an intruder murdering several of the students. While the school is long gone, some say the front gate still remains as a haunting relic. Click here to learn more about this gruesome story.
Standing as a haunting relic of the Jazz Age, the former Mineola Hotel is a must-see for fans of local lore. Once a grand Chain O'Lakes resort and the largest wood-frame building in Illinois, it's now steeped in decades of stories about revelry and lingering spirits. The property is private and structurally unsafe, so visitors are advised to enjoy this historic haunt from a safe distance.
This Waukegan hotel was built in the 1920s. In the 1980s, a fire killed and injured many of its inhabitants. It is said the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and the basement levels are haunted by a cascade of voices. Orbs have also been caught on security footage.
Glowing orbs, a disappearing house, a glowing mist, a black car and voices of spirits have all been heard or seen at the Barrington cemetery. It is also said that photographs do not develop when taken at White Cemetery.
More Spooky Events
The list goes on with the haunted attractions in Lake County. Here are some of the spooky fests, events and other Halloween creeps happening around the area.
- Spooks & Spirits: Lake County Autumn Celeberation (Oct. 1-31) INFO»
- "Misery" at Citadel Theatre (Through Oct. 12) INFO»
- Jack-O-Lantern World in Lake Zurich (Through Nov. 1) INFO»
- Dungeon of Doom in Zion (Oct. 3-Nov. 6) INFO»
- Night of 1,000 Jack-O-Lanterns at Chicago Botanic Garden (Oct. 8-26) INFO»
- Ghost Stories at Volo Bog State Natural Area (Oct. 11) INFO»
- Ghost Tour in Downtown Antioch (Oct. 11) INFO»
- ZombieWauk in Waukegan (Oct. 18) INFO»
- Night Scare on Elm Street at Patty Turner Center (Oct. 24) INFO»
- Candle-Making Movie Night at Romney Brown Candle Co.: Halloween (Oct. 25) INFO»
- Halloween Hikes at Ryerson Woods (TBA)
For more spooks, spirits and haunted attractions in Lake County, continue here.
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