These 8 Ghastly Places In Illinois Will Give You The Heebie Jeebies
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Elizabeth Crozier
Author
This is the perfect time of year to tour some of Illinois’ scariest and most haunted spots. These eight creepy places all figure in horrific events that took place right here in the Land of Lincoln. These are the stories they didn’t teach you in history class.
From graveyards to asylums, this list is full of nightmares that may make it hard to sleep at night. Proceed with caution…
A bizarre tale for a bizarre gravestone. It is rumored that this is a witch grave from the 1880s, and the evidence for it is pretty good. It is believed that the woman who rests here was hanged and then buried alive when she would not die. Her orb-like headstone lists an impossible date of death, which is believed to have been done to prevent her spirit from returning. But did it work? Click here to learn more about this unique stone and the eerie reports related to this cemetery.
Originally built in the 1880s, this gorgeous opera house has been rebuilt time and again due to fires. More tragic though is the story behind the ghost who haunts this place. Named "Elvira" by locals, she was an actress who was passed up for a big role in an upcoming ballet. Upon hearing the news, the woman threw herself from the highest tower, and now her depressed ghost haunts the grounds. Learn more about what goes on at this opera house here.
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Located in Woodlawn Cemetery is another unique gravestone that represents a horrific event. In 1918, a circus train was pulling through town on its way to Indiana when it had to stop to make a small repair. While this was happening, the train was struck by another, and it caused a fire. About 80 people and many animals were killed and placed in this mass grave. Learn more about it and the odd phenomenon that now take place in this graveyard here.
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While the Chain O'Lakes are typically known for their beauty and vacation potential, you'll be creeped out to know that it is also the site of a UFO sighting. In 1973, several reports came into the police station. People reported seeing orange globes in the sky over Grass Lake, and eventually worse. This eerie tale is not for the faint of heart. Learn more about it here.
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Steer clear of this little-known haunted alley in Chicago. Also known as Couch Place, it is located near the Oriental Theatre, which used to be the Iroquois Theatre. Opened in 1903, this theatre was hyped up as one of the best. On opening night, tragedy struck when a fire enveloped the building and there were not enough places for people to escape. Many jumped from the building into the alley, creating a pile of bodies. Learn more about this gruesome moment in history here.
There are several creepy places along this road that may give you nightmares. The first is Bloods Point Bridge where the main ghost who haunts this road committed her crime. It is believed that her name is Beuluh and that she hanged her children and herself from the bridge. The reports of a half-decomposed ghost wondering the road and nearby cemetery are scary enough. Learn what else goes on along this road here.
Unlike most of the other creepy places listed, this one is not the actual site of the ghastly events that lead to the eerie outcome. It is believed that about 4,200 soldiers are buried here, many of them unknown, and of course they haunt the land. Most of the soldiers were not killed in combat, though. It is believed they were prisoners who suffered torture and harsh conditions. Get more details about the hauntings that take place at this gravesite here.
This place is classically creepy. What began as charitable housing became an asylum after it was unfit for living due to infestations and poor ventilation. The asylum housed the mentally ill from 1959 until 1987 and has since been featured on ghost hunting TV shows. Click here to learn more about the voices, chills, and other strange happenings reported at this estate.
For more like this, check out the nine places in Illinois where you’re guaranteed to spot a ghost.
What other creepy places in Illinois freak you out? Share your thoughts with us below in the comments.
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