Most Haunted Places in Illinois

Mineral Springs Hotel

Alton, Illinois

Several spirits are said to live at this historic hotel, now open for haunted tours. Among the ghosts are The Jasmine Lady, identified by the whiff of her floral perfume; George, who may have been drowned in the hotel swimming pool around the 1920s; The Drunken Ghost, the artist responsible for the...

Greenwood Cemetery

Decatur, Illinois

This large and very actively haunted cemetery is known for the ghostly weeping Greenwood Bride, and it's also home to many Confederate soldiers' spirits. The soldiers were prisoners in the Civil War, and died of yellow fever only to be cast into unmarked graves. The soldiers have been known to...

Bachelor's Grove Cemetery

Midlothian, Illinois

Beginning in the 1970s, visitors here have seen orbs, apparitions, phantom vehicles, and even a floating, shrinking, and vanishing phantom farmhouse. A mysterious black dog and figures in monks' robes also have been seen. Investigations by ghost researchers have turned up ghostly images and...

Ashmore Estates

Ashmore, Illinois

Reportedly a former almshouse, this building was purchased for use as a haunted attraction. It was reportedly haunted by many ghosts, including Elva SKinner, a woman who died in a fire in the former almshouse. The house has been featured in several books and TV shows including Ghost Hunters and...

Congress Plaza Hotel

Chicago, Illinois

This is one of those hotels that is so old and has so much history floating around it that there are practically as many ghost stories as there are room. The Al Capone one (where people claim to see him waking the halls) however is one that is certainly not accurate, he never stayed there and he...

Emack and Bolio's

Peoria, Illinois

This ice cream parlour is haunted by former owner Jim Schwab, who died after falling headfirst down a flight of stairs. Staff have reported disembodied footsteps descending the staircase, while others have encountered a male apparition on the upper floor. (Submitted by Callum...

Resurrection Mary

Justice, Illinois

Resurrection Mary, according to popular local legend, was a pretty young girl who was killed in a hit-and-run accident while walking along Archer Avenue. She had just left the Oh Henry Ballroom after a fight with her boyfriend. The driver left Mary to die. Her grief-stricken parents buried her in...

Massock Mausoleum

Spring Valley, Illinois

The Massock Mausoleum stands in a small graveyard called the Lithuanian Liberty Cemetery, and it's the stuff of legends. Locals tell of a Hatchet Man, a scary ghost who guards the cemetery, and the mausoleum door is said to remain warm and has been sealed closed since the 1960s when vandals stole a...

Schweppe Mansion

Lake Forest, Illinois

Schweppe Mansion was built in 1917 as a gift from Mr. and Mrs. John G. Shedd to their daughter Laura as a wedding present for her and her new husband, Charles Schweppe. Tragedy struck in 1941--Charles was found dead in his bedroom after he shot himself. A note on his dresser said, “I’ve been...

Papa Vito's Restaurant

Belleville, Illinois

The current restaurant is housed in a historic residence dating back to the mid nineteenth-century. The building is rumoured to be haunted by four entities, including a ghostly stagecoach driver known as 'Charlie', a mother and her young child, and a ghostly headmistress who used to teach at a...

Willow Creek Farm

Shannon, Illinois

Willow Creek Farm was once the property of William Boardman and his wife Mary, who arrived in New York from England in 1835. Homes for his daughters and their families also were built on the property. It is said to be haunted by former residents and Native Americans; witnesses have seen apparitions...

Aux Sable Cemetery

Morris, Illinois

Aux Sable Cemetery is believed to be haunted by the ghost of a mischievous young girl who has been known to play pranks, such as lowering electrical car windows when the key is not even in the ignition. The site is also said to be a portal from a ghostly dimension....

Lincoln College

Lincoln, Illinois

Lincoln College is rumored to have ghosts in the 1866 University Hall, where a face appears in the bell tower and white misty forms appear in the windows. The ghosts, whose footsteps also are heard from time to time, are believed to be a boy and girl who passed away in the late 1800s. Also, in Olin...

Hartford Castle

Hartford, Illinois

Hartford Castle was a speakeasy during the Prohibition, but was originally a home called Lakeview, built by French immigrant Benjamin Biszant in 1897. The castlelike home was the scene of a tragedy when Biszant's English wife passed away in the early 1900s. It is her ghost that was suspected to...

The Ably House

Scales Mound, Illinois

There were allegedly some murders that took place in this old home, and it is said that the spirits of the dead still remain within its...

American Flight 191 Crash Site

Des Plaines, Illinois

On May 25, 1979, Flight 191 lost some parts of its engine as it was taking off and flipped on the runway. It exploded into a huge fireball, killing all the crew and passengers aboard and 2 people on the ground. Shortly after, folks reported white lights moving around in the crash site. Folks who...

The Old Slave House - Crenshaw Mansion

Junction, Illinois

Note: This house is no longer a tourist attraction; tours are not operated here now as they have been in the past. Trespassers have been known to be arrested. This residence was once a place where slaves were bred illegally. The attic was made over with stalls to house the slaves. It was also part...

Moon Point Cemetery - Moon Creek Cemetery

Streator, Illinois

Moon Point Cemetery, aka Moon's Point Cemetery or Moon Creek Cemetery, is older than the Civil War and legendary with those who like to tell ghost stories. It was thought to have begun as a family cemetery for early settlers Jacob Moon and his family. The cemetery's most-talked-about ghost is...

Amboy Pharmacy

Amboy, Illinois

This old-fashioned pharmacy is haunted by at least seven spirits, according to a visiting psychic. Dating back to the early 1860's, the main haunting here is by a former pharmacy owner who was displeased by recent renovations. Known as 'Steve', he has been known to knock objects off shelves, and...

Original Springs Mineral Spa and Hotel

Okawville, Illinois

This historic hotel is said to have a great many haunts in residence. Included are a man named Meier, who died in an explosion in the 1880s, and J.W. Schreiner, an owner during the 1890s. At least 7 other spirits of folks who have perished during this hotel's long history are said to reside here....

Sheraton Gateway Suites

Rosemont, Illinois

There have been several suicides committed by jumping from this 11-story hotel, and a few drug overdose deaths. Perhaps this is the reason guests have seen apparitions in their rooms and have experienced very odd things. One guest came out of the shower to find her clothes strewn about the room....

Lincoln Square Theatre

Decatur, Illinois

This historic 1916 theater building was built atop the fire-ravaged Priest Hotel that once stood here. It is said that the ghosts of the fire victims still linger in the theater. Red, a former theater worker, is a friendly ghost here. Witnesses have heard his whispers, seen his shadowy form, and...

Desoto House Hotel

Galena, Illinois

The 1855 DeSoto House Hotel boasts such esteemed former guests as Abraham Lincoln and William Jennings Bryan. It was also the presidential campaign headquarters for Ulysses S. Grant, among others. Although the identity of the ghosts here is unknown, many folks have reported phantom cigar smoke,...

McPike Mansion

Alton, Illinois

This 1869 mansion is the site of many strange happenings. It has been seen on the TV show Scariest Places on Earth. Apparitions have been seen in the hallways, and children's laughter has been...

Otto's Place

Galena, Illinois

This quaint restaurant is haunted by Otto Sallman, the namesake of the establishment. A former tenant and café owner, his apparition has been seen walking the railroad tracks adjacent to the building. The current owners believe he is a welcoming spirit, who simply intends to greet customers to...

Three Mile House

Edwardsville, Illinois

At this site once stood an inn that was haunted by ghosts of various children and adults, including slaves. The old inn may once have been a stop on the Underground Railroad. It is said that during 1970s renovations, underground tunnels and a skeleton were found. Phenomena that then began include...

Holmes Death Castle Location

Chicago, Illinois

A post office now stands on the former site of the Holmes Death Castle, or Murder Castle, built by serial killer H.H. Holmes. He built the hotel to lure in 1893 Chicago World's Fair visitors, then tortured and murdered his guests, including women and children. In this area, witnesses say phantom...

Clark Street Bridge

Chicago, Illinois

The Eastland Disaster occurred nearby in 1915, in which an overloaded passenger steamer Eastland capsized while still tied to the dock, killing over 800 people. It is said that their moans and cries can still be heard around the Clark Street...

Anderson Cemetery - Cemetery X

Taylorville, Illinois

According to tales told about this cemetery, there is a secret passage that opens up at night, when trees part and a path appears to an ancient graveyard. It's said to be protected by a phantom wolf who chases trespassers. (The cemetery is not to be confused with another Anderson Cemetery near...

Crenshaw House

Junction, Illinois

This place is closed to the public. It is owned by the state of Illinois and there are numerous No Trespassing signs. You are cautioned not to attempt to visit this place. Crenshaw house was a major player in kidnapping freed and escaped slaves and returning them to slavery in the south. ...

Peoria State Hospital

Bartonville, Illinois

This abandoned mental hospital, now in the planning stages for restoration, is said to be haunted by Manuel A. Bookbinder, or Old Book. Old Book was a patient who worked with the burial crew at the hospital until his own...

Karcher Hotel

Waukegan, Illinois

We went to this beautiful hotel under the permission of the owner. It was built in the 1920s and in the 80s there was a fire that killed and injured many. The most haunted places are the basement, and the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th floors. Along with the studio next store (connected to the building)...

Peoria Public Library

Peoria, Illinois

Peoria Public Library, according to local lore, was built upon cursed ground. So the story goes, Mrs. Andrew Gray lived in a house here around 1830. Family and financial hardships led to a foreclosure on her home, and Mrs. Gray cursed the property and all of its future owners. Her curse is said to...

Illinois College

Jacksonville, Illinois

Illinois College, founded in 1829, is rumored to have several haunted buildings. Among them are Sturtevant Hall and Beecher Hall, where folks have reported apparitions, footsteps, and other noises. Beecher Hall, according to campus talk, was formerly a medical building and the top floor was a space...

Willowbrook Ballroom

Willow Springs, Illinois

The 1921 Willowbrook Ballroom, formerly called the Oh Henry Ballroom, is a dance venue and banquet facility and is believed to be the last place famed Chicago hitchhiker ghost Resurrection Mary danced before she died. Her ghost is said to appear here and sometimes dance with ballroom...

Krome Family Cemetery

Collinsville, Illinois

A small family cemetery is now hidden amongst the trees just off Old Keebler Road. It is all that remains of the Krome family mansion, which burned down long ago and was for decades considered to be haunted by the locals. Some enterprising explorers found leg shackles in the concrete walls of the...

Southern Illinois University

Carbondale, Illinois

Southern Illinois University is reputed to have many haunted buildings; among them are Wheeler Hall, Faner Hall, Anthony Hall, Shryock Auditorium, and Mae Smith Residence Hall. One of the most famous ghosts here is Henry, who haunts the 1918 Shryock Auditorium. Henry, aka former university...

Showmen's Rest

Forest Park, Illinois

Showmen's Rest is a section of Woodlawn Cemetery where remains from a 1918 circus-train wreck were buried in a mass grave. Between 60 and 110 employees were killed when another train conductor fell asleep, causing his train to strike the circus train. Many of the victims' names were not known, so...

Frank Leavy - Firehouse No. 107

Chicago, Illinois

According to legend, in 1924 Fireman Frank Leavy had a premonition of his death as he rested with his palm against a windowpane. Sure enough, that very day a wall collapsed during a call, and killed him. His palm print remained on the glass, and no cleanser or glass expert could remove it. It...

Congress Theater

Chicago, Illinois

Congress Theater is said to be haunted by many entities. Witnesses have seen an apparition of a woman and shadow figures and they've heard disembodied footsteps and strange...

206 N. Broadway

Joliet, Illinois

Built in 1882, the Victorian house at 206 N. Broadway St. was originally a private residence, but was a school and a boardinghouse for women until the 1970s when it again became a private home. It is said to be haunted by the ghost of a 19-year-old who was shot and killed at 2:30 a.m. during a...

Morton College

Cicero, Illinois

The spirit of Emily, a young girl who was murdered, lingers around this school. The murder took place on nearby Laramie Bridge before the school was built. Security guards have seen Emily on the rooftops at night, and theatergoers have heard her in the theater, especially during violent plays that...

Benedictine University

Lisle, Illinois

This university has more than its share of haunts, including a little boy ghost in a blue t-shirt and shorts who wanders around campus, and disappears. Reports say Benedictine Hall was closed because it was so haunted. Its 4th floor was said to be haunted by a clergyman, and in the art wing, some...

St. Rita of Cascia

Chicago, Illinois

This site is known for a harrowing experience said to have happened on All Souls Day (November 2) in the 1960s. Reports say a small gathering of parishioners witnessed the organ begin to play by itself as 6 robed monks, 3 in red and 3 in white, advanced toward the churchgoers. When they tried to...

Blood’s Point Cemetery

Belvidere, Illinois

Blood’s Point Cemetery, named after the area's first white settle, Arthur Blood, is said to be a hot spot for the eerie, such as orbs, a vanishing barn, phantom vehicles and a ghost dog that sports glowing red eyes. To add to the spookiness, the nearby railroad bridge was said to be the setting...

Country House

Clarendon Hills, Illinois

The haunting here, which has been profiled on many TV shows and newspaper articles, is a young woman who appeared to have committed suicide by running her car into a tree. Her ghostly figure has been seen walking through the dining room, beckoning customers from an upstairs window and even blocking...

The Irish Legend

Willow Springs, Illinois

Formerly a speakeasy, this 1915 building was a popular hangout for gang members, including Al Capone. The place has a very violent history, and is haunted by several spirits. These include a bartender who was allegedly pushed down a flight of stairs by a gangster who took a dislike to him, and a...

McKendree University

Lebanon, Illinois

This college has seen its share of tragedy, and the spiritual activity reported here can attest to that. On the main campus, it is said that a distraught student once hung himself in the bell tower, and his ghost has been seen on the upper floors. In the Alumni House, an elderly woman was killed...

First Unitarian Church

Alton, Illinois

Founded in 1836, the First Unitarian Church's original structure here was built on the site of the St. Matthew's Catholic Church, which had burned down. Both churches were stations on the Underground Railroad. But that church also burned down in 1905, a the church that now stands here is said to be...

Robinson Woods

Chicago, Illinois

The hauntings here can not only be seen and heard, but also smelled. Folks say they have seen shadows, red or white orbs, and an ectoplasm mist that has been caught on camera. Strange sounds and scents of violet and lavender have been witnessed as well; reports say the activity seems to come from...

George Stickney House

Woodstock, Illinois

Because of George Stickney's belief in spiritualism, he designed his house with no 90-degree angles inside so that no spirits would be caught in the corners. The Stickneys had 10 children, but only 3 lived to adulthood, and they are said to have regularly conducted seances on the 2nd floor to speak...

Riverview Mansion Hotel

Golconda, Illinois

Now known as The Levee Lounge & Historic Riverview Mansion, the hotel is haunted by Miss Lucy Morse, wife of a former county bank president. Since the 1920's, her friendly spirit has been encountered on several occasions by guests and staff. (Submitted by Callum...

208 State Street - The Lincoln Lofts

Alton, Illinois

Abraham Lincoln once stayed at a hotel located in this 1836 apartment building, which is rumoured to be haunted. The ghost a young girl in a white dress has been seen playing with a ball on the main staircase, and visitors claim to have heard faint laughter and the rustling of fabric. The...

City Tavern

Kankakee, Illinois

Employees and diners at this popular restaurant and bar have reportedly encountered a male spirit. Known as 'David', patrons have had their hair pulled and have been pushed around by unseen hands. (Submitted by Callum...

St. James Cemetery - Monks Castle

Lemont, Illinois

Ghosts here include several robed monks who patrol the grounds, chanting in Latin, and a phantom horse and carriage presumed to date back to 1897. A wildly dancing woman in white has also been...

Milton Schoolhouse

Alton, Illinois

The historic Milton School, built in 1904, operated until 1986 and then stood abandoned until the early 1990s when it re-opened as a decorative glass factory. It's believed to be haunted by a schoolgirl nicknamed Mary who was raped and murdered at the school when she stayed late to work on a...

Alton Cemetery

Alton, Illinois

Alton Cemetery is said to be haunted by several ghosts. One is a 9-year-old named Lucy Haskell, seen in the vicinity of the Hayner/Haskell monument. Another is a spectral woman in black near the Grandview mausoleum, and a third is minister and publisher Elijah P. Lovejoy. An abolitionist, Lovejoy...

Ridge Cemetery

Tower Hill, Illinois

Ridge Cemetery at Williamsburg Hill is said to be visited by apparitions, eerie lights and a disappearing old man. Phantom crowds and horses also have been seen and heard around the area. Rumors of sinister cult activity surround this place as well, and one report tells of a 3-year-old girl who...

Abandoned Train Bridge

Spring Valley, Illinois

Shadow figures have been seen on and around the abandoned bridge that goes over the train tracks in DePue, Il. The sounds of screams, train whistles, and a train stopping have been heard in the location when the train that runs the track is nowhere near the village. Many people have reported...

Firehouse on North Walker Ave

Chicago, Illinois

According to reports, a ghost who is thankful to the firefighters patrols the firehouse, protecting it. Witnesses say they have heard footsteps and seen the firepole covers being opened and closed when everyone is asleep. The firehouse doors also have been known to open themselves almost instantly...

Cigars and Stripes

Berwyn, Illinois

This bar and lounge is believed to be haunted by a number of spirits. Screams and footsteps are heard in the building when there's no one around. Objects move around by themselves, and at least five people have seen a shadowy apparition moving around the building. (Submitted by Callum...

Manteno State Hospital

Manteno, Illinois

The 1930s Manteno State Hospital suffered a typhoid fever epidemic in 1939, and more than 50 patients and staff members died. The hospital eventually was renamed the Manteno Mental Health Center; it ceased operations in 1985 and the complex became business rentals, a bank, part of the Illinois...

John Wayne Gacy House Location

Chicago, Illinois

1970s serial killer John Wayne Gacy hid the remains of at least 29 different people in and around his home at 8213 W. Summerdale Avenue. The house was demolished in 1979, but locals were mystified by the fact that the lot remained mostly barren for years thereafter - not even grass or weeds would...

Pemberton Hall - Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois

The ghost of Mary Hawkins, a former dorm mother, is said to be the head haunt...

Ramsey Cemetery

Effingham, Illinois

Ramsey Cemetery, established in 1851 with the burial of namesake Alexander Ramsey, is also known as Casbar Cemetery and is a nighttime teen hangout. Besides the graves, rock shelters and sandstone caves are nearby, covered with carvings from its many visitors. A young man committed suicide inside a...

St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church

Cicero, Illinois

This is the home of Our Lady of Cicero, a weeping Virgin Mary icon panel. In 1994, during Holy Week, the painting began weeping oil. It was examined by eight orthodox bishops; all determined the tears to be genuine. The Virgin Mary still continues to...

Ruebel Hotel

Grafton, Illinois

When this 1884 hotel opened, rooms cost $1 a day. Although they cost a bit more now, they may come with a friendly haunt: A little girl named Abigail is said to reside here. Her apparition has been seen in the upstairs hallway, and reports say she has talked with many of the hotel's guests and...

Lindenwood University - Lindenwood Auditorium

Belleville, Illinois

Lindenwood Auditorium at Lindenwood University, built in 1924, is said to be haunted by a teacher who passed away before the play she was producing made it to the stage. According to witnesses, the friendly ghost likes to move the props...

St Turibius Church

Chicago, Illinois

At this old Roman Catholic church, the ghost of a priest named Father Joe Lechert lingers. It is said that after a church reorganization he was let go, and as a result, he died of a broken heart. Parishioners and altar boys say they have seen his ghostly figure and smelled his cigarette...

Hotel Baker

St. Charles, Illinois

At this splendid historic hotel, originally built in 1928, an apparent suicide is often given as the reason for some strange phenomena. Moaning sounds come from the sixth floor storage area, which used to be used as housing for employees. Folks say in the 1970s, a hotel chambermaid who was left at...

Allerton Mansion

Monticello, Illinois

The Robert Allerton Park, with its 1900 Georgian Revival mansion and incredible gardens, are both open to the public. Here visitors may see some ghostly goings-on in the form of a Lady in White, believed to be a guest at the mansion long ago. It is said that she is pictured in some old photos of...

Lewis and Clark Community College

Godfrey, Illinois

This school's library is reportedly haunted by the ghost of a person who committed suicide by hanging. It's also reported that teachers who have passed away linger here in spirit form, especially walking the hallways in the main...

Cuba Road

Long Grove, Illinois

Along Cuba Road, a phantom black car is said to appear near a cemetery or an old house before vanishing away. Trouble is, that house burned down years ago. Also along the road appears a ghost woman carrying a lantern, who flags down motorists and then disappears when they stop for her. An...

Ax-Man's House - Ax-Man's Bridge

Crete, Illinois

Legends told by locals say that in the 1970s, a man killed his wife, kids, and two policeman with an ax before hanging their bodies from meat hooks in his shed. When the police found out, he ran from them. The police gave pursuit and shot him in the woods near the small bridge. Now, the house is...

Holy Family Church

Chicago, Illinois

At this old church, one of the few structures that survived the Chicago Fire, parishioners have reported seeing a white...

Woodstock Opera House

Woodstock, Illinois

Interestingly enough, reports say that during any performence here, a certain seat in the balcony (DD113) is always left empty for a resident ghost named Elvira. Her spring-loaded chair has been seen folded down when she is attending a performance. She is said to be very beautiful with long blonde...

Violin Annie - Elmwood Cemetery

Centralia, Illinois

Local legend says that Harriet Anne Marshall (Annie) was an accomplished violinist, and the daughter of a wealthy doctor. She became ill and died of diptheria, and at her grave her parents placed a statue of her playing the violin. It is said that cemetery visitors can hear the violin at night,...

Old Rush Copley Memorial

Aurora, Illinois

The Old Rush Copley Hospital was build in 1888 and shutdown in 1996. Paranormal researchers and people that have broken in this hospital have heard footsteps,unexplained voices and even apparitions. In one encounter, a group of teens have seen a doll that might have belong to a young child...

Roff House - The Watseka Wonder

Watseka, Illinois

The Roff House was one of the two houses in which the Watseka Wonder took place. The Watseka Wonder was a spiritual possession said to have happened in the late 19th century to an epileptic girl named Lurancy Vennum, who was 14 at the time. One of the spirits who possessed her for 15 weeks was the...

The Grand Rose Hotel

Elizabethtown, Illinois

At this 1812 establishment with a view of the Ohio River, former owner Sarah Rose is said to linger beyond the grave. Her apparition has been seen walking in the second-floor hallways as well as climbing the stairs. Folks also have reported hearing a disembodied female voice and finding that...

Inn At 835

Springfield, Illinois

This inn was originally built in 1909 as a private home. As to the identity of the haunt who resides here, very little is known. Guests have witnessed apparitions and heard voices coming from rooms that are vacant, and the elevator runs by itself. Also, some people here have seen books moving on...

Flapper Ghost of Waldheim Cemetery

Forest Park, Illinois

The Flapper Ghost is a brunette beauty with a bob and 1920s clothing. She has been seen since the 1930s. Her identity remains a mystery, but throughout history she has been seen in the evenings at dance halls and asked for a ride home. She would direct them to Waldheim Cemetery, saying she lived in...

SMC Cartage Company - St. Valentine's Day Massacre

Chicago, Illinois

The site of the St. Valentine's Day Massacre in 1929, the factory building that stood here was a red brick structure. Inside, seven men were gunned down execution style by Al Capone's men. The building was turned into a 1920s-themed club in 1972. Folks said seven shadowy figures would appear amid...

The Givens Castle - Beverly Castle Academy

Chicago, Illinois

The 1886 limestone-towered castle built by real estate promoter and novelist Robert G. Givens is said to be haunted by his Irish wife, who passed away before she could come to America to live in her castle. Witnesses say her apparition has been seen walking up the hill to the castle...

White Cemetery

Barrington, Illinois

Among the phenomena associated with this spot are glowing orbs and mist, a disappearing house and black car, and the sounds of someone walking through leaves. It is said that photographs taken of this cemetery always fail; the photos do not develop or the camera will be...

House of Blues

Chicago, Illinois

Reports say the site is haunted by the ghost of a little girl who died of an illness. Witnesses have seen and heard her, and in one instance she was found playing with a living boy's toys. She asked the boy to play with her, but when he screamed, she...

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois

Lingering spirits are many at this university! Bayliss Hall, room 1117, is haunted by a former occupant who delivered a baby in secret, threw it down the trash chute, then hung herself in the closet. Cries and moans can be heard in her room. In room 501, a severely depressed student also hung...

Water Tower

Chicago, Illinois

This 1869 limestone tower, one of the symbols of Old Chicago, was built for use in firefighting. It is said to be haunted by a man who died in the Chicago Fire of 1871. Instead of fleeing, the worker stayed to man the pumps, and it is said that when the fire got too close, he chose to hang himself...

Graceland Cemetery

Chicago, Illinois

The spirit of Inez Clark lingers in this old cemetery. She was almost 7 years old when she was fatally struck by lightning at a picnic. There is a life-size statue of her on her gravesite, enclosed in glass. It is said that on rainy nights the statue disappears, and the apparition of a little girl...

Lebanon Road - Seven Gates to Hell

Collinsville, Illinois

Lebanon Road is the stuff of legends to locals, who have nicknamed the place the Seven Gates to Hell. According to locals, those who drive through all seven bridges, going through the last one at midnight on the dot, will pass through to Hell. The area is said to be guarded by spectral hounds with...

Faust Hotel - Faust Landmark

Rockford, Illinois

This old hotel was reportedly remodeled into housing for seniors. The basement used to hold a bar and bowling alley, but it hasn't been used since the 1980s. An eerie presence can be felt here, as well as sudden temperature changes and an overwhelming urge to leave the area. The same presence is...

Grant Hospital - Lincoln Park Hospital

Chicago, Illinois

The old Grant Hospital became Lincoln Park Hospital, and then the building closed in 2008, reportedly as a result of the recession. Reports say cold spots, bad feelings, and moaning sounds have been heard and felt in the...

Patten House Restaurant

Geneva, Illinois

This historic restaurant dishes up fine southern cuisine, an exquisite range of liquor and a litany of ghost stories. The main spook reported here time and time again is that of a poltergeist that makes itself known on stormy nights. (Submitted by Callum...

Cheney Mansion

Jerseyville, Illinois

Numerous reports of ghosts include the apparition of Miss Dorothy, a former nursemaid who roams the hallways and the bedroom bearing her name. Reports of people hearing talking upstairs, like women holding a conversation. Sounds of dining room chairs moving, like somebody's pulling out the chairs...

Skyscraper Building - Loyola University

Chicago, Illinois

According to local legend, a Jesuit priest and a nun had an affair long ago. The nun became pregnant and asked the priest to run away with her, but he refused, and she hung herself on the 13th floor. When the priest found her body, he was so distressed that he jumped out the window. Although the...

The Red Lion Pub

Chicago, Illinois

Seven distinct ghosts are said to haunt the place, including a scruffy cowboy, a mentally challenged woman who wears too much lavender perfume, and two men who died in a fight. As well as seeing their apparitions, regulars at the pub have heard footsteps and voices, and objects crashing, among...

Arcada Theater

St. Charles, Illinois

Arcada Theatre, built in 1926 by millionaire and Chicago Tribune cartoonist Lester J. Norris, is haunted by disembodied voices that waft from the balcony throughout the rest of the building, a phantom odd odor, and unexplained cold...

Lawford Theatre

Havana, Illinois

Folks who have visited or worked at the Lawford Theatre have seen faces appear in photographs and have felt cold chills behind the curtains on opening...

Lincoln Theatre

Belleville, Illinois

Lincoln Theatre is believed to be haunted by a prankster ghost. An apparition of a ghostly child has run up and down the stairs, a woman has appeared in the balcony, and tricks are played in the projection booth. Reports say there are seven ghosts who call this theater...

Conover Square

Oregon, Illinois

Conover Square is a former piano factory, now a shopping mall. Built in the 1890's, it is now the home of many haunted happenings. A little girl's spirit giggles in the hallways & museum, loud crashes boom from the unoccupied third floor, and more than one female visitor has felt an unwelcome...