Some places are known for their history and some historical places are known for being haunted. Many have wondered, is Joliet Prison Haunted? The Old Joliet Prison is an abandoned prison with a notorious history and residents who never seemed to have left long after they were gone. Considered one of the most haunted places in the world, the Old Joliet Prison is a spooky, haunted abandoned prison in Illinois. If you’re brave enough, let’s explore the history of this frightening place together.

In 1858, the Illinois State Penitentiary, as it was called then, first opened in what would later become the City of Joliet.
Old Joliet Prison/Facebook
This prison in Joliet started with just 53 prisoners who were put to work constructing additional prison buildings. By 1878, over 2,000 inmates lived at the prison and it was filled over capacity.
Old Joliet Prison/Facebook
Over time, conditions became rather unsanitary and even dangerous, and calls to close the prison were eventually made. However, it continued to house inmates until 2002 when it was finally abandoned.
Old Joliet Prison/Facebook

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During its tenure, the prison housed some notorious offenders including John Wayne Gacy, James Earl Ray, Baby Face Nelson, and Richard Speck. Executions were also performed onsite.
Old Joliet Prison/Facebook
With its lengthy history, notorious residents, executions, onsite cemetery, and violence over the years, it may come as no surprise that this prison, now known as the Old Joliet Prison, is one of the most haunted places in the world.
Is Joliet Prison Haunted?
Old Joliet Prison/Facebook
Among the paranormal activity experienced here over time is a singing ghost on the property. Maybe when you visit, you'll encounter this fascinating spirit.
Old Joliet Prison/Facebook
The best way to experience the haunting at the Old Joliet Prison is to take a tour. Of course, there is the Self-Guided Tour on which you can take yourself around the property and read interpretive signs along the way.
Is Joliet Prison Haunted?
Old Joliet Prison/Facebook
But if you would rather be in a group setting and led by a tour guide, take the Haunting History, Guard, or Photography Tour of the incredibly spooky, haunted Old Joliet Prison.

Want an in-depth history of this haunted prison in Illinois? Watch this YouTube video by IT’S HISTORY telling you more information about Old Joliet Prison.

Have you ever been to this haunted abandoned prison in Illinois? Have you ever wondered, “is Joliet Prison haunted”? What are some of your favorite abandoned or haunted places around the state? Let us know in the comments and feel free to join our Abandoned States of America Facebook group.

If you would like to visit several haunted places in one trip, visit Alton, one of the most haunted places in Illinois. Also, if you wanna experience this haunted prison for yourself, check out this incredible tour of Old Joliet that we recommend.

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The Creepiest Places In Illinois

William Suphan | January 28, 2023

What are the most haunted places in Illinois?

The most haunted places in Illinois include:

  • McPike Mansion. This mansion is on the National Register of Historic Places and is said to be haunted by former residents.
  • Woodstock Opera House. Reports say that the ghost of an actress who committed suicide after being turned down for a role sits in seats and drops props.
  • Dug Hill Road. People report seeing a dead body but when they try to move it, their hand goes right through. 
  • The Old Slave House. This place is said to be haunted by slaves who were kept here illegally in a free state.

 

Discover more about the most haunted places in Illinois. 

What are the creepiest places in Illinois?

The creepiest places in Illinois include:

  • Showmen’s Rest. This is a grave with a carved stone elephant where members of a circus who were killed in a freak train accident are buried.
  • The Alley of Death. Couch Place is an alley in Chicago where people jumped to their deaths to escape a 1903 fire at the old Iroquois Theatre.
  • Bloods Point Road. It is said that a woman named Beulah hung her children and herself from a bridge on this road.
  • Ashmore Estates. This was an asylum from 1959 until 1987 and people report hearing voices and feeling chills among other sensations here.

 

Find out more about the creepiest places in Illinois. 

What are the most abandoned places in Illinois?

The most abandoned places in Illinois include:

  • Old Shawneetown. While almost 300 people still live here, the vast majority of buildings are abandoned due to a severe flood in 1937.
  • Iron Furnace. Located in the Shawnee Forest, this was once an iron smelting furnace that ran from 1939 to 1883.
  • Damen Silos. These old silos were built in 1906 and were abandoned in 1977. It has secret tunnels that locals like to (illegally) explore.
  • Savanna Army Depot. This building was a military storehouse for the Rock Island Arsenal and is now mostly a nature preserve.

 

Learn more about the most abandoned places in Illinois. 

What are some haunted cemeteries in Illinois?

If you’re searching for haunted cemeteries in Illinois, then we’ve got you covered. Here are the most haunted cemeteries in Illinois that will give you nightmares. 

 

Be sure to read our previous article to learn more about these haunted cemeteries in Illinois. 

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