Spirits on Sproat reopens tonight

The date has finally arrived: Spirits on Sproat launches its 2023 Halloween season tonight and we hope to see you there! For our kickoff weekend, we'll be open from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. tonight and tomorrow, and then 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday night.

We've got lots of new and exciting surprises in store for visitors this year, so make plans to come out soon (remember that we get bigger crowds as October progresses) and get an early dose of that Halloween spirit.

For our full 2023 schedule, and driving directions to our yard haunt, click here.

Midnight Terror Haunted House creates customized scare experiences in 2023

At a time when other commercial haunted attractions are cutting jobs and turning to mass-produced props to save money, Midnight Terror Haunted House in Oak Lawn is relying on a tried-and-true approach to satisfying its customers: Hiring more staff and putting greater personalization into its scare tactics.

In fact, Chicagoland’s favorite Halloween destination will feature over 100 costumed actors in 2023, breaking last year’s record. Plus, there will be plenty more new custom animatronics, props, masks, and costumes—all unique and created on-site by a talented squad of artists whose sole task year-round is to invent and perfect the numerous creatures and characters that populate Midnight Terror.

Haunt creator/owner Justin Cerniuk says all of these distinctive elements will combine to make this the best scare season yet for Midnight Terror.

“We’ve added more actors than ever before and specially trained them to terrify our visitors more effectively. We’re also allowing our performers greater flexibility in how and where they scare, empowering them to modify and creatively enhance their characters as they see fit so that our patrons get a more memorable fright experience,” he says. “Every new admission through Midnight Terror will be distinctive from your last visit. That’s because our actors are mixing things up this year—often rotating roles, stalking different areas, and using fresh voices, sounds, and movements. They’re working more collaboratively in teams, too.”

Cerniuk takes pride in emphasizing his haunt’s human talents, which is what brings the crowds back for more and has built Midnight Terror’s stellar reputation across Chicagoland since it opened in 2014.

“We’ve had very little turnover since last year. Most of the same actors from 2022 are back, eager and excited to scare again, and now there’s a wait list among applicants. Over 100 new people have competed this year for around 20 added positions we’ve now filled,” he adds. “The buzz around this site is intense.”

Your paid admission provides access to two uniquely themed but interconnected, maze-like haunted houses under one roof – Black Oak Grove, and the Factory of Malum. Every year, Midnight Terror’s intricate mythology and personalities expand: In 2023, the malignant overlord Malum and the wraithlike Willow encounter The Founders, an insidious subculture that covertly controls the forces of evil in this dark domain from which you must escape.

Visitors appreciate covered outdoor and indoor waiting as well as entertainment provided by a DJ and stilt walkers, photo opportunities before entering and departing, free Midnight Terror merch given away randomly on select nights, and online ticket discounts.

For example, you’ll only pay half price for general admission during opening weekend (September 29 and 30 and October 1) if you use promo code PRESS50. You can get details on other promotions and discounts by signing up for the haunt’s official email list, Nightmare Fuel, at MidnightTerror.com.

Ranked as one of the best haunted houses in Chicagoland by TimeOut, a top 10 haunted attraction by USA Today, a top 10 haunt by ScareFactor.com, and one of the 10 scariest haunted houses in America by ScaryOverload.com, Midnight Terror has been featured numerous times on Fox 32 and comes highly recommended by Thrillist, NBC, the Chicago Tribune, Patch.com, Haunted House Chicago, Illinois Haunted Houses, and others.

Midnight Terror Haunted House is located at 5520 W. 111th St., Oak Lawn, Ill., 60453, just east of the intersection of Central Avenue and 111th Street. General admission per person starts at $30 online and $35 at the onsite ticket booth; Fast Pass admission per person, which places you in a line that’s three times faster than the general admission line, is $50. Or you can purchase immediate access ($65 per person), which guarantees instant entry into the haunt.

Midnight Terror is wheelchair accessible and open, rain or shine, from:
7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays: Sept. 29 and 30, and Oct. 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, and 28
7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays and select weekdays: Oct. 1, 8, 15, 19, 22, 26, 29, 30, and 31

But the season doesn’t end there: Brave a nightmare circus on November 3 and 4 (7 p.m. to 10 p.m., admission from $30), when Midnight Terror transitions to a Clown Takeover swarming with sinister red-nosed psychos. And experience Christmas Fear on December 15, 16, and 17 (7 p.m. to 10 p.m., admission from $30), an increasingly popular foray into Yuletide terror, complete with killer snowmen, savage Santas, and eerie elves.

Visitors can park for no charge on-site or take a free shuttle to Midnight Terror; the shuttle departs from 9525 Tulley Ave., Oak Lawn, regularly during hours of operation (on Oct. 6-8, 13-15, 20-22, 27-29, and 31).

For more information, check out MidnightTerror.com or email info@midnightterror.com.

SOS distress message: Spirits on Sproat and its monster minions return starting Sept. 29

It's that time of year again--time to start getting excited about your favorite Halloween house returning from the dead. Mark your calendars, because Spirits on Sproat in Oak Lawn opens this season on Friday, September 29!

In 2023, we'll be open (weather permitting) for 21 dates and adding many new creatures and features designed to give you nightmares, as well as all the old favorites we've put on display since 2004. And, as is true every year, we're still home to the most terrifying live Michael Myers you've ever encountered (rest assured he won't scare little ones or seniors). Our increasingly popular front and back yard haunt showcases nearly 120 characters—most being custom-made replicas of your favorite scary movie creatures and horror icons—plus several originals and numerous animatronics. Enjoy humorous museum-like signage describing each character, creepy horror movie music mixed with sound effects, live scarers, two fun "find the monster" scavenger hunt games, front window music-and-lights show, and more. 

Check out Spirits on Sproat, which was named to the Horror Tourers Hall of Fame and featured twice on Svengoolie's TV program!

For our full schedule and further details, visit www.spiritsonsproat.com/p/spirits-on-sproat-schedule-directions.html. See you in just a few short weeks!

The curtain falls on another season at Spirits on Sproat

We've come to the end of another great October at your favorite Halloween house. Thanks to all who visited, donated, and were good sports while Michael Myers and Jason Vorhees went into scary mode. Spirits on Sproat will be open tonight for our finale one hour earlier than normal: from 6 p.m. until 11 p.m. We'll return next year with more thrills, chills, frightful characters, and festive fun.

Meantime, enjoy our freshly minted 2022 official Spirits on Sproat video, entirely featuring snippets of video footage posted by you, our loyal fans. Happy Halloween!

Meet Grinz

When life is tough, they say you have to grin and bear it. But Grinz the ghoul from Spirits on Sproat bares big pearly whites to show that he can face life's drawbacks with a smile. Here's the lowdown on Grinz:

• Famous for: His big smile, white face and blank eyes
• Personal heroes: The Joker, Pazuzu, Rudy Giuliani
• Weapon of choice: Laughter
• Motto: Kill ’em with kindness (and a knife helps, too)
• Favorite song: Shiny Happy People by R.E.M.

Meet Broom Helga

Which witch is on most people's wish lists of horrible hag they'd least like to meet at Hogwarts or otherwise? Why, it's Broom Helga, of course.

Her "double double toil and trouble" routine can be tiresome at times, but no one else bakes up a better batch of poisoned apples or gingerbread cookies than this grand old dame of doom.

Betcha' didn't know these fun facts about Broom Helga:

• Nickname: Miss October
• Weapon of choice: Toadstools, eye of Newt Gingrich
• Dirty little secret: Prefers battery-operated broomsticks
• Favorite performer: Stevie Nicks
• Favorite movie: Every Witch Way But Loose

Meet Stitches

"Quit clowing around" is what you'd probably say after spending two minutes with Stitches, a 9-foot-tall barrel of laughs at Spirits on Sproat who doesn't know when to stop delivering punchlines. Want to know what makes Stitches tick? Read on!

• Also known as: The purple people eater
• Secret shame: Flunked out of fashion school because he wouldn’t stop pairing polka dots with stripes
• How he dropped 432 pounds: Sticking to the cannibal diet
• Famous for: Playing the Catskills every winter and opening for Carrot Top

Spirits on Sproat now open every night thru Halloween

Your favorite Halloween house is now open every night this week through Oct. 31. Our hours on Oct. 24-27 and Oct. 30 will be 7-10 p.m., and we'll be open 7-11 p.m. on Oct. 28, 29, and 31. 

The forecast calls for fun frights and better-than-average temperatures (although Tuesday night will be a wet one), so come on out and end October in spooky style by visiting Spirits on Sproat one last time this month!

Meet Bigfoot

Sasquatch looms large in our imagination--and in our backyard, where you can spot him in a dark corner if you're keen-eyed. Ponder these frightful facts about this legendary giant:

• Famous for: Casting a large shadow, never being captured, tussling with the Six Million Dollar Man
• Often mistaken for: Harry Henderson, Chewbacca, a man in a cheap gorilla suit
• Favorite newspaper: The National Enquirer
• Why he’s popular with the ladies: You know what they say about guys with big feet

Last call for Spirits on Sproat videos

Want to win 2 Fast Pass tickets to Midnight Terror Haunted House in Oak Lawn (a $100 value)? We need you to post video of your 2022 visit to Spirits on Sproat by Oct. 27 (Thursday) to our Facebook page or to your favorite social media platform using the hashtag #spiritsonsproat.  Also, when you post a contest video, please email us a notice that you've done so at cineversegroup@gmail.com so that we can more easily find your video. 

We're especially looking for videos of Michael Myers or Jason Vorhees scaring or stalking visitors. Hurry! You've only got 4 days left and we need more contestants in our 2022 video contest! 

The winner will be chosen and notified on Oct. 28 and must use the tickets by Oct. 31.

Meet The Creep

Mom always said reading comic books would rot your brain. Take one look at the Creep, and you'll know she was right! Curious what makes this Creep so creepy? Chew on the following:

• Famous for: Being the host of Creepshow
• Prefers: Homicidal poetic justice, books with lots of colorful pictures
• Can’t stand: That pesky Cryptkeeper, flossing, parents who throw out your comic books
• Suffers from: Involuntary laughter, heavy breathing, rigor mortis