2013 Season Preview

Tis the season, Haunt Fans!

Usually, we write about how the weather is cooling down. That hasn't happened yet, but Football is back, schools are open, and the calendar is flipped to September, so it must be time to prepare ourselves for the mayhem ahead! As we shake the zombies and creatures of the dark to awaken them from slumber, here's a few notes to wet your appetite for the haunting season that awaits us. As always, we expect the level of haunted entertainment to be raised higher than it has ever been!

Here's just a little preview of what to expect for the 2013 Season:

Friday the 13th
This year, we are blessed with the holiest of haunted holidays, Friday the 13th! Although it occurs in September, there are plenty of places that will be open to summon your inner-Voorhees:

Basement of the Dead in Aurora, IL
Fables Studios Interactive Haunted Attraction in Morton Grove, IL
FEAR City Haunted House in Morton Grove, IL
Niles Haunted House Scream Park in Niles, MI
Raven's Grin Inn in Mount Carroll, IL
Zombie Safari Hayride (An Extreme Paintball Adventure) in Tinley Park, IL

New Kids On The Block
This season, we have quite a few newcomers opening their doors for their first taste of blood and screams (oops...we mean, thrills and chills!). First, and most talked about is CarnEvil haunted attraction. Located at the Sears Centre Area in Hoffman Estates, IL, it will be debuting five attractions and delivering quite a night of fright. Brought to you by some of the minds behind former haunted attraction Dream Reapers, this attraction is bound to hit the ground running. Expect a debut like none other!

Other new attractions include: Dark Harvest Hayride in Plainfield, IL (brought to you by the minds that bring you Dark Summit Haunted House in Summit, IL), Terror @ 212 in Oconomowoc, WI (created by the minds that brought you Haunted High), Monsters of Mayhem located at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Grayslake, IL, and Pearce's Haunted Barn and Haunted Hayride in Walworth, WI.

The Cake
Let's give another round of applause to all of our award winners for 2012, as chosen by the Haunted House Chicago Review Team.

Best Haunted Attraction of 2012: Statesville Haunted Prison and City of the Dead in Crest Hill, IL
Best New Haunted Attraction of 2012: Abandoned Haunted House Complex in Mt. Pleasant, WI
Jim Warfield Acting Award Recipient: Stevie Calabrese as "Auntie Mom" from Realm of Terror Horror Experience in Round Lake Beach, IL.

Happy Anniversary
Congratulations to the following attractions celebrating anniversaries of fear in 2013:

Lombard Jaycees in Lombard, IL - 43 Years
Niles Haunted House Scream Park in Niles, MI - 40 Years
Wisconsin Feargrounds in Waukesha, WI - 10 Years
The Dark Side Haunted Adventure in Ixonia, WI - 10 Years

A Final Farewell
Last year, we had to say goodbye to some wonderful attractions. One of them being the long-time running HHC Top 13 attraction, Dream Reapers in Melrose Park, IL. After 13 wonderful years, they turned off the lights for the last time. We wish all the owners and staff who made that attraction so well known all the best in their future endeavors.

Also, Haunted High School in Oconomowoc, WI, had the last student graduate and let school out forever after 4 wonderful years.

This year, we are sad to report that Haunted Mansion and Asylum 13 in Bolingbrook, IL, and the Brookfield Jaycees in Brookfield, IL, have closed their doors and will not open in 2013.

2013 will mark "The Final Countdown" for a beloved attraction in Stoughton, WI. The Haunted Barn has been a wonderful family attraction that will stretch the limits one last time before they close for good.

Movers and Shakers
Each year, a few attractions move around to find the best "home" that they feel will fit their attraction. For 2013, one of the big moves was for Eleventh Hour. Their new location in Melrose Park, IL, will feature a massive 30,000 square foot indoor layout, with scenes that will reach 20 feet!

Another big mover is Fables Studios, who will be taking up residence with Fear City in Morton Grove, IL, this year. They will be offering their own individual price for each attraction, as well as a combination ticket. Expect big things from both of these houses this season!

Spook Hollow and MC Manor in Marquette Heights, IL, will be opening up for a third weekend, as well as opening a new attraction called "MC Nightmare."

Back From The Dead
For all of those that were missing their favorite attractions, have no fear, because two are coming back from the dead and are ready to scare you to death!

The Fear Haunted House will return for 2013 and take up residence once again at Navy Pier in Chicago, IL. They will be offering an aggressive adult-themed haunted house at night and a low-scare, family-friendly attraction during the day.

Trail of Screams in Rockford, IL will once again be deep in the woods in 2013, bringing the most crazed and horrified monsters to life like never before. Taking fear to a whole new terrifying level!

Stages, Screens, and Screams
Have any energy left? Need something to do on those off-nights? Ok, once you stop laughing, here's some fun ways to try and enhance your Halloween season:

MOVIES The Big Screen receives the 3rd chapter of the "Riddick" series on Friday, September 6th. Just in time for Friday the 13th, the second chapter of "Insidious" tears into your local stadium-seated-center. Heading into the great month of October, Danny Trejo and a cast of thousands slices back with, "Machete Kills," due out on the 11th. "Where the Devil Hides" may be a sleeper hit, also releasing on the 11th. Rounding the month out, the remake of the 1976 classic, "Carrie," pours out on the 18th. DVD Rob Zombie's long-awaited, "Lords of Salem" hits shelves on September 3rd. John LaFlamboy, Mike Bradecich, and the Zombie Army Productions crew have their awarding-winning movie, "The Mole Man of Belmont Avenue," available everywhere beginning September 10th. The next chapter in the "Chucky" series cuts into stores on the 24th. Our only noteworthy release in October is "The Purge," which releases on the 8th. SPECIAL "Metallica: Through the Never" releases on September 27th. The Jackass team releases their new movie, "Bad Grandpa" on October 25th. TV "Sleepy Hollow" debuts on Fox on September 16th. "Once Upon a Time" returns on September 29th. "American Horror Story" has a 3rd chapter: Coven, which begins October 9th. "Once Upon a Time in Wonderland" debuts on the 10th. The 4th season of the "Walking Dead" revives on October 13th. Our final debut? "Dracula" on NBC, beginning October 25th. STAGE "Wicked: The Musical" comes home to the Oriental Theatre beginning on Devil's Night (October 30th) through December 21st. MUSIC Tons to report! Kicking us off on Friday, September 13th, we have Riot Fest hitting the streets for the whole weekend. Nocturna and DJ Scary Lady Sarah spin into Metro on the 21st. Rounding out September, Hatebreed checks into the Orpheum in Madison on the 30th. Kicking October off, Gwar plays the Rave in Milwaukee on the 3rd. Five Finger Death Punch kicks down the Rave door on the 5th. Bringing back some classic, Hinder and Candlebox stop at the House of Blues on the 6th. The legendary Marky Ramone's new band, Blitzkrieg joins Andrew WK at the Metro on the 8th. In the mood to dance? The Hounds of Hell Tour with Wolfgang Gartner and Tommy Trash play the Concord Music Hall on the 11th. Kaskade steps onto Navy Pier on the 12th. Tech N9ne hits the Rave stage on the 14th. Going down? Sick Puppies says they will be at the House of Blues on the 16th. Rounding out the month, the Rave has the Flatbrush Zombies on the 17th and Twiztid on the 29th. Some after Halloween fun? The Rave won't let you down! The Devil Wears Prada sashays in on November 10th and Lamb of God is ready for the Thanksgiving slaughter on the 19th. PARTY While everyone has to attend at least one Halloween shindig, Madison's infamous, "Freakfest" will be hosted Saturday, October 26th. HAWKS The Blackhawks host their season opener and banner raising on Tuesday, October 1st.

(Although we intend for all dates and locations to be accurate, please check/research before setting off on your journey.)

Groupon Deals
Check out these great Haunted Attraction Groupon deals, while they last!
Realm of Terror in Round Lake Beach, IL
Asylum Xperiment in Villa Park, IL
Basement of the Dead in Aurora, IL
Screams in the Park in Rosemont, IL
Fun Time Square in Alsip, IL
Amhurst Asylum in Valparaiso, IN
Evil Intentions in Elgin, IL
Heaps Haunted Corn Maze in Minooka, IL

Living Social Deals
Check out these great Haunted Attraction Living Social deals, while they last!
Massacre Haunted House in Naperville, IL
Asylum Xperiment in Villa Park, IL
Eleventh Hour Haunted House in Melrose Park, IL
Psychosis Haunted House in Elgin, IL

Regardless of where you scream at, keep checking Haunted House Chicago all season long for everything to make your holiday season the best yet!

Reviews begin on Friday, October 4, 2013! To follow the Review Team on the road this season, follow us on Twitter and Facebook!

www.twitter.com/HauntedHouseChi
www.facebook.com/HauntedHouseChicagoReviewTeam
www.instagram.com/HauntedHouseChicago

From all of our staff, have a frightful and safe Halloween Season!