In the Midwest, ghost hunting is one of the best adventures you can take, especially in the fall. Since most Illinoisans don’t live near bustling cities with everything to do, we find pleasure in more simple and accessible activities like hiking through graveyards and visiting haunted houses.
Ghosts lurk around every corner in Illinois – if you know where to look. Keep scrolling for the nine best spots to spot a spirit, and click the corresponding links for more information – if you’re not too scared.
- Amelia’s Galena Ghost Tours
Facebook/Amelia’s Galena Tours This ghost hunting adventure takes guests past the oldest cemetery in Galena. Along the way, patrons learn about strange occurrences at other paranormal hotspots around town where ghosts have been seen before. We’ve got all the details you need about this popular, daily tour. Click here if you dare.
- Greenwood Cemetery
Facebook/Greenwood Cemetery, Decatur, Illinois Located in Decatur, this graveyard is host to many different active zones, but the main one to watch out for is the Civil War Memorial. There is a mass grave nearby where Confederate prisoners who died from Yellow Fever were buried. Find out what types of encounters locals have reported. Click here if you dare.
- Woodstock Opera House
Facebook/Woodstock Opera House Situated in downtown Woodstock, this opera house is from the 1880s and is one of the most haunted places in Illinois. The ghost here even has her own seat in the theatre, but there’s more to “Elvira’s” story than meets the eye. Click here if you dare.
- Fort Sheridan
Flickr/Teemu008 Spanning Lake Forest, Highland Park, and Highwood, this fort is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been around since the late 1880s. It has been the site of executions and other military activity and is haunted by a lady who died in the tower from climbing too many steps, as well as many more ghosts. Click here if you dare.
- The Road House
Flickr/The U.S. National Archives Visit this haunted restaurant in Oregon for one of the best ghost hunting experiences around. It is set in a building from the 1800s but did not become a diner until 1919. It is believed to be haunted by a woman whose murder was never solved - but we’ve got the whole story. Click here if you dare.
- Showman’s Rest at Woodlawn Cemetery
Wikimedia Commons/6th Happiness Nestled in Forest Park, a Chicago suburb, the paranormal activity at this graveyard arose from a tragic event that resulted in a mass of unmarked graves. It’s supposed to be all fun and games when the carnival comes to town. Find out what terrible horror struck the members of this traveling circus instead. Click here if you dare.
- The Civil War Orphan’s Home
Wikimedia Commons/John Alltop This children’s home opened in 1865 and was a huge success in its day. The place shut down in 1979 and is now an abandoned building rumored to be haunted. Learn more about why locals avoid this place in Normal. Click here if you dare.
- Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery
Wikimedia Commons/Redwoodperch Located at the edge of the Rubio Woods Forest Preserve in Midlothian, this isolated graveyard is vulnerable to vandalism. It is an ideal spot for ghost hunting as there have been countless paranormal sightings reported by locals and travelers, and we’ve got all the stories. Click here if you dare.
- The Airtight Bridge
Wikipedia/Nyttend Found on the National Register of Historic Places, this haunted Illinois landmark is a Pratt through truss bridge. Locals report feeling a creepy stillness when they cross the bridge. Scarier yet, you’ll cringe to learn what was discovered below its steel frame. Click here if you dare.
For more creepy places to go ghost hunting, check out these nine haunted cemeteries in Illinois.
Facebook/Amelia’s Galena Tours
This ghost hunting adventure takes guests past the oldest cemetery in Galena. Along the way, patrons learn about strange occurrences at other paranormal hotspots around town where ghosts have been seen before. We’ve got all the details you need about this popular, daily tour. Click here if you dare.
Facebook/Greenwood Cemetery, Decatur, Illinois
Located in Decatur, this graveyard is host to many different active zones, but the main one to watch out for is the Civil War Memorial. There is a mass grave nearby where Confederate prisoners who died from Yellow Fever were buried. Find out what types of encounters locals have reported. Click here if you dare.
Facebook/Woodstock Opera House
Situated in downtown Woodstock, this opera house is from the 1880s and is one of the most haunted places in Illinois. The ghost here even has her own seat in the theatre, but there’s more to “Elvira’s” story than meets the eye. Click here if you dare.
Flickr/Teemu008
Spanning Lake Forest, Highland Park, and Highwood, this fort is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been around since the late 1880s. It has been the site of executions and other military activity and is haunted by a lady who died in the tower from climbing too many steps, as well as many more ghosts. Click here if you dare.
Flickr/The U.S. National Archives
Visit this haunted restaurant in Oregon for one of the best ghost hunting experiences around. It is set in a building from the 1800s but did not become a diner until 1919. It is believed to be haunted by a woman whose murder was never solved - but we’ve got the whole story. Click here if you dare.
Wikimedia Commons/6th Happiness
Nestled in Forest Park, a Chicago suburb, the paranormal activity at this graveyard arose from a tragic event that resulted in a mass of unmarked graves. It’s supposed to be all fun and games when the carnival comes to town. Find out what terrible horror struck the members of this traveling circus instead. Click here if you dare.
Wikimedia Commons/John Alltop
This children’s home opened in 1865 and was a huge success in its day. The place shut down in 1979 and is now an abandoned building rumored to be haunted. Learn more about why locals avoid this place in Normal. Click here if you dare.
Wikimedia Commons/Redwoodperch
Located at the edge of the Rubio Woods Forest Preserve in Midlothian, this isolated graveyard is vulnerable to vandalism. It is an ideal spot for ghost hunting as there have been countless paranormal sightings reported by locals and travelers, and we’ve got all the stories. Click here if you dare.
Wikipedia/Nyttend
Found on the National Register of Historic Places, this haunted Illinois landmark is a Pratt through truss bridge. Locals report feeling a creepy stillness when they cross the bridge. Scarier yet, you’ll cringe to learn what was discovered below its steel frame. Click here if you dare.
Which of these haunted places have you visited? Share your experiences and ghostly shots with us!
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