• Editor’s Note: If you’re one of those people who scares easily, don’t watch the above embedded video.

It might be worth noting that five of the Daily Herald’s “10 ways to scare yourself silly in the the suburbs” are right here in Kane County, IL.

That’s not to say that Kane County isn’t friendly and happy and sunshiny and all, just that we have our share of scariness when it comes to Halloween season. And the five places/events mentioned in the article have a nice, vampire-batlike geographic wingspan that ranges from Aurora to Elgin, so we can safely say we’ve got equal opportunity scariness going for us.

A lot of this stuff is going on this weekend, so without further ado, here’s the five scariest weekend activities going on right here, with info and images courtesy of each event’s website.

(1) Evil Intentions Ghost Tours — ELGIN

Ghost Hunt a Real Life “Haunted” Haunted Attraction on Sunday, Oct. 25, with Chicago’s Very Own Paranormal Ghost Hunter & Medium Chris Fleming. Seen on such TV shows as A&E’s Psychic Kids & BIO’s DEAD FAMOUS, SyFY’s Ghost Hunters and TRAVELS Paranormal Challenge & Ghost Adventures!

Investigate Elgin’s historical haunted Casket Company from top to bottom. Experience and partake in a real live ghost hunt through the most supernaturally active sections of the building. This location is known for people being touched, hearing voices, and seeing black shadows and ghostly manifestations.  This Haunted locaiton was recently investigated and featured on IPRA’s “Believe” webseries. Chris Fleming will show you and teach you how to communicate with the supernatural using your own sixth sense and todays latest paranormal technology.

Feel free to bring your own ghost hunting equipment (recorders, cameras, etc.)

• WATCH Ghost Hunt Teaser
• Watch IPRA’s episode on Evil Intentions

• Where: 900 Grace St., Elgin.
• When: Starts at 11 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25.
• Cost: Passes begin at $59.
• Website: ghostoutlet.ticketleap.com/evilintentionsghosthunt/

(2) Steel Beam’s Legend of GRIMrose Farm — ST. CHARLES

For Steel Beam Theatre’s fifth Halloween season, its popular and highly-rated 3D haunted house has been transformed into an entire evening of screams, thrills and chills! Come experience “GRIMrose Farm”

Meet the monsters at St. Charles Park District’s Primrose Farm at 5N726 Crane Road off of Randall Road, just a few miles north of Kane County Fairgrounds.

Ghouls and zombies lurk in the old barns and buildings, fields, eerie tree-lined pathways and even on board the haunted hay wagons that transport you through this 1860s farm. Stop to catch your breath, enjoy some refreshments by the bonfire and calm your nerves before meeting more of the farm’s lost souls.

Proceeds benefit Steel Beam Theatre, a 501 ( c) 3 not-for-profit.

Admission

• Ages 13 and up will be admitted.
  Under the age of 13 will be admitted with an adult.
• General Admission after 7PM is $22 per person
  • Group rates available, call Steel Beam Theatre at 630.587.8521
    or e-mail BoxOffice@steelbeamtheatre.com
• “Monster-Free” Admission from 5 PM – 6:30 PM is $16 per person
• Purchase tickets at the door or click here to buy tickets online.

GRIMrose Info

• Where: 5N726 Crane Road off of Randall Road
• When:

Oct 23 & 30 Friday	5 – 6:30 PM	7 – 10 PM
Oct 24 & 31 Saturday	5 – 6:30 PM	7 – 10 PM
Oct 25 Sunday	5 – 6:30 PM	7 – 9 PM

• Cost: See above.
• Website: www.grimrosefarm.com

 

(3) Fox River Trolley Museum’s Ghost Story Trains — SOUTH ELGIN

The experience will take approximately one hour, and the cost is $13.20 per person. All passengers, regardless of size or age must have a valid ticket.

Ghost Train Info

• Where: 365 S. La Fox St., South Elgin. Departure: Castlemuir Depot (South Elgin)
• When: Departures at 5, 6:15, and 7:30 p.m. Oct. 24
• Cost: Train fare is $13.20. Click Here to Make Your Reservations
• Website: foxtrolley.org

(4) Insanity Haunted House — ST. CHARLES

Do you have the courage to enter INSANITY HAUNTED HOUSE?

Come experience over 5,000 square feet of pure terror inside INSANITY haunted house.

Face your fear as you make your way through rooms full of torture, torment, and terrifying screams.

Come face to face with the types of creatures that nightmares are made of. Once you step foot inside Insanity you’ll be begging for more while screaming to get out.

Insanity Info

• Where: 3800 E. Main St. in St. Charles, IL, inside the Charlestowne Mall, right next to the Charlestowne 18 Movie Theatre.
• When: Oct. 23-24
• Cost: $15 per person $25 VIP (skip the line)
• Website: insanityhh.com

(5) Basement of the Dead — AURORA

In the late 1920s, Walker Laundry opened at 42 West New York St. and became Aurora’s largest laundry Company.

Around 1945 Imus Kilya was working there as maintenance engineer. His son, Al, came to work as his assistant in 1960.

Heat for the building and steam for the presses was supplied by a coal fired boiler installed when the building was built. Al and Imus continually complained that it needed to be replaced, but management wouldn’t spend the money.

In 1964 the boiler exploded maiming and scalding Al and Imus. They never returned to work and rumor was they had vowed to get even.

Under the streets and building were sewer lines and tunnels well known to Al and Imus. A year or so after the explosion people from the laundry started to disappear and body parts were found in the river near the drainage pipes. Al and Imus were suspected but never found. The laundry eventually closed and the basement was never used again. Businesses have come and gone but nobody stays. Basement Of The Dead is proof that Al & Imus still exist and have made this basement their home.

Basement of the Dead Info

• Where: 42 W. New York St., Aurora
• When: Open through Nov. 1. Check website for hours.
• Cost: $25 general admission
• Website: 42fear.com

Read More

• Daily Herald: 10 ways to scare yourself silly in the the suburbs