Halloween may be the day we dedicate to horror, but the spooks and spirits of Illinois are anything but seasonal. Illinois hosts hundreds of haunted historical sites. As scary as these destinations are, the terrifying tales that accompany them are really the stuff of nightmares. Here are four spine-tingling ghost stories still spooking the Prairie State today.

But be warned. Some of these tales take place in locations that you can still visit and make great destinations for scare-seekers. Others are abandoned, burned, forbidden, or a combination of the three. So, make sure to do your homework before setting off on a spirit quest, and don’t say we didn’t try to warn you.

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The four brief, historical horrors recounted here only account for a sliver of the spirits haunting Illinois and barely scratch the surface of the state’s ghostly lore and legends. Feel free to use them for your own ghost-storytelling purposes next time you’re around the campfire or just looking to freak out a friend.

What are your favorite anecdotes about unnerving and unexplained events in Illinois? Is there one place we should check out for the chills (or avoid at all costs)? We love hearing your ghost stories and seeing your photos. Get in touch!

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