10 Chilling Haunted Sites in Illinois
Illinois is not without its fair share of haunting tales and ghost stories. There are several places within the state that locals avoid for fear of the ghosts and restless spirits that guard them and harass visitors. The Prairie State has long been home to many stories of unexplained hauntings, and restless spirits.
Steeped in history, legends, and ghost stories that will keep the most skeptical in awe, these are some of the state’s spookiest destinations.
Midlothian — Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery
One of the most famously haunted spots in Illinois is Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery located in the woods outside Chicago. This abandoned cemetery is known for sightings of phantom monks, ghost apparitions, and even floating orbs. These oddities draw visitors from across the country. Even with the paranormal reports from visitors, its eerie atmosphere only puts it on the must-visit list for ghost enthusiasts.
Joliet Rialto Square Theatre
The Rialto Square Theatre is often referred to as one of the most beautiful theaters in America and has a haunting reputation. Employees and visitors have experienced strange occurrences like eerie whispers, unexplainable sounds, and ghost sightings. With its ghostly tales and opulent setting, the theater makes for an unforgettable experience for those who dare venture into its walls.
Bartonville
Peoria State Hospital is now a hotspot for ghost hunters. Once a psychiatric hospital, it has a tragic past and an even more haunted “Cemetery Hill,” where a weeping nurse can still be heard wailing. Some believe that the spirits of the patients still wander the grounds of the hospital.
Manteno (Manteno State Hospital)
Outbreaks, experimental treatments, and mysterious deaths fuel the dark history of this former mental institution. The hospital is said to have been abandoned for decades and eventually inhabited by the spirits of past patients who suffered here. Those brave enough to visit have reported disembodied voices, cold spots, and shadowy figures.
The McPike Mansion, Alton
The McPike Mansion in Alton is a well-known haunted house in Illinois. Built in the late 19th century and has been known for paranormal activity including ghosts dressed from a different time to chilling noises and floating orbs. Some rooms especially make visitors feel a heavy, almost oppressive presence, which only enhances the mansion’s reputation for being spine-tingling.
Rose Hotel, Elizabethtown
The Rose Hotel is a rumored haunted historic hotel overlooking the Ohio River. Common reports include footsteps in empty hallways, whispering voices, and lights turning on and off by themselves. Sleeping in one of its vintage rooms can make you feel like you’ve stepped back into another, ghostly time.
Old Slave House (Crenshaw House)
The Crenshaw House, also called the Old Slave House, has a dark history that ties back to the Underground Railroad. There is a rumored haunting in the house’s attic, where people were once imprisoned. The enslaved attic victims are said to have become restless spirits. Visitors have written that they felt sad beyond measure, and witnessed strange shadows in the attic.
Congress Plaza Hotel, Chicago
The Congress Plaza Hotel has become a paranormal landmark with tales of apparitions, strange sounds, and objects moving unaided. This hotel has a history of mobsters, political scandals, and more mysterious disappearances than you could imagine. It’s one of Chicago’s most haunted locations.
Cahokia Mounds, Collinsville
Cahokia Mounds is an archaeological site with a millennia-long history steeped in mystery. Late at night, some visitors have reported seeing figures in Native American attire or hearing drumbeats echoing into the night. Cahokia Mounds is a great location for lovers of the paranormal due to its ancient origins and unexplained phenomena.
Woodstock Opera House, Woodstock
This beautiful Opera house has a few resident ghosts. The most famous spirit here is ‘Elvira,’ a woman rumored to haunt the balcony, and responsible for the entertaining yet chilling stories tied to this historic opera house. Theatergoers and staff report flickering lights, phantom footsteps, and cold spots.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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Even if you’ve been on a safari in the past, an African photo safari is something you want to experience or at the very list add to the top of your bucket list.
But first, what is a photo safari? The phrase “photo safari” is not a common sentence structure but its meaning can be deduced easily. An African photo safari in general context means going on an adventure with the sole purpose of taking high-quality pictures.
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