Saturday, November 2, 2019

Wrapping up a monster season

Thanks to everyone who came out and visited Spirits on Sproat this year. We battled cold temps, snow, rain and wind, but we managed to remain open every date of our 2019 calendar.

Enjoy the offseason and the upcoming holidays, but make your plans to return to our haunt next fall. Michael Myers will be waiting for you!

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Plan your Spirits on Sproat final visit around the weather

The weather forecast is calling for a lot of rain, snow, and cold temperatures between Wednesday and Thursday. We hope that won't keep you from visiting our haunt over its final 4 days. The good news is that Spirits on Sproat will remain open as scheduled Oct. 29 through Nov. 1, no matter the weather.

If you have concerns about not being able to visit on a night of inclement weather, try coming out Tuesday night (tonight) and/or Friday night (our last open night), when the forecast calls for dry conditions.

Hope to see you one last time at Spirits on Sproat this season!

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Spirits on Sproat 2019 official video

Carl Batzel getting a congratulatory handshake from Michael Myers
Check out the official Spirits on Sproat 2019 video below, shot, edited and uploaded by visitor/fan Carl Batzel, who won this year's SOS Facebook Video Award!

And make your plans to come out and visit Spirits on Sproat before Halloween season is over; remember, we're open every night through Nov. 1 (7-10 p.m. Oct. 27-30, 7-11 p.m. Oct. 31 and Nov. 1).

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Reminder: Post your Spirits on Sproat video before Sunday

Last call: If you want to win 2 Midnight Terror Haunted House tickets, you'll need to post to our Facebook page any video you took of your 2019 visit to Midnight Terror by Saturday night, Oct. 26.

The winner will be chosen and contacted by Oct. 27. Full details on what you need to do can be found here.

Friday, October 18, 2019

Spirits on Sproat now open every night through Nov. 1

Beginning tonight, Spirits on Sproat will be open every night through November 1. That adds up to 14 nights of Halloween fun left!

Here are our hours for the remainder of our schedule:
  • Oct. 18, 19, 25, 26, and 31, and Nov 1 (Friday, Saturdays and Halloween): 7-11 p.m.
  • Oct. 20, 21, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, and 30 (Sundays and weeknights): 7-10 p.m.
  • Reminder: Yes, this year we ARE open Friday, Nov. 1 (7-11 p.m.) for a one-time-only encore date.

Meet Samara

Some girls are born TV stars. Others are just simply born out of the TV--literally. That pretty much sizes up Samara, the antidote to our short-attention-span viewing society. Don't touch that dial; stick around to learn more about this small screen scream queen:
  • Famous for: Emerging from a TV screen in “The Ring”; being the fastest-eliminated contestant on “The Bachelor”
  • Pet peeve: Hearing dumb bystanders say “wow—I don’t even need 3-D glasses anymore!”
  • Sick of hearing her mom say: “If you sit too close to the people, you’ll ruin your eyesight.”

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Meet Fluffy the Crate Monster

What's better than a Jack-in-the-box? How about a monster-in-the-box with daggers for teeth and deadly claws waiting to pull you into his cozy little wooden confines? Introducing Fluffy, the unforgettable apelike werewolf-thing from the movie "Creepshow." Here's what we know about this nightmarish beast:

  • Aliases: the Creepshow critter, beast in a box, the hateful freight
  • Favorite song: Pop Goes the Weasel
  • Dirty little secret: Suffers from severe claustrophobia
  • Little-known fact: He qualifies for Amazon Prime 2-day shipping

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Enter the Spirits on Sproat 2019 Facebook video contest and win Midnight Terror tickets

Here's another great reason to visit Spirits on Sproat: you can win two VIP admission tickets to Midnight Terror Haunted House in Oak Lawn--a $70 value and a great opportunity to experience Chicagoland's best commercial haunted attraction without having to wait in a long line!

Here's what you need to do:
  1. Take video during your 2019 visit to Spirits on Sproat. 
  2. Post it to our Facebook page (at fb.com/spiritsonsproat) by October 26. (We'd also love for you to share photos taken during your visit, so post those, too.) 
  3. Like us on Facebook.
  4. Share your posted video on your own Facebook timeline. Make sure the post is public.
We'll judge the best video and award the winner the two tickets. The winner can pick up from Michael Myers himself (the one walking around at Spirits on Sproat) between October 27 and Halloween night.

A few tips on taking and submitting videos:
  • We prefer horizontal video over vertical video (it fills up and looks better on the screen)
  • We especially love footage of our live scarers (like Michael Myers and Jason) creeping up and scaring people.
  • Please aim for a reasonable video length; not too short (at least 30 seconds) or too long (not longer than 3 minutes) please.
  • Do not post video recorded in past years. Only post fresh video recorded between Oct. 1 and Oct. 26, 2019, please.
  • We will contact the chosen winner privately via Facebook on October 27-28, 2019, to arrange pickup of the tickets. Prepare to show a valid ID when you pick up the tickets.
Good luck, and happy Halloween season!

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Meet Slimer

He's been called the green ghost. But everyone else knows him as Slimer, the hungry ectoplasmic entity from "Ghostbusters." Here's the breakdown on this boo buddy:

  • Secret shame: Was the first entity successfully captured by the Ghostbusters 
  • Suffers from: Nocturnal ectoplasm emissions
  • Sick of his mother telling him: Clean that plate, young man
  • Pet peeve: Being called a giant snot rocket

Friday, October 11, 2019

Meet Babyface

No, it's not the famous R&B singer. It's the chubby-cheeked homicidal maniac from the "Happy Death Day" movies, and he (or is it she?) is dying to give you the late birthday gift you've been dying for--your very own slit throat! Want to learn more about this very human monster? Read on...
  • Also known as: Gerber baby food’s new mascot
  • Little-known fact: Can fling a soiled diaper with deadly accuracy
  • Turn-ons: Spankings, baby talk, and public breastfeeding 
  • Secret shame: Can buy a Bowie knife at Walmart but gets carded at every liquor store

Thursday, October 10, 2019

Meet Sam

They say big things come in small packages. That's certainly true of Sam, the wee wonder who enjoys suckers (and making suckers out of anyone who breaks the rules of Halloween). A quick look at the confidential file on this little monster reveals some interesting facts:
  • Known as: Samhain, the tiny terror featured in the film “Trick ’r Treat”
  • Claim to fame: Devours Halloween candy in record time despite wearing a bag on his head
  • Often mistaken for: An escaped convict midget (it must be the orange jumpsuit)
  • Weapon of choice: A needle and thread, which comes in handy when his head splits open

Tuesday, October 8, 2019

Meet Shelob

Do creepy crawlies give you the heebie-jeebies? Then stay away from our front lawn, where this astounding arachnid has camped out for October and refuses to leave--no matter how many exterminators we call out. Eager to learn more about Shelob? Here are some fast facts on this bug biggie:

  • Known as: the giant spider from “Return of the King”
  • Favorite book: “Charlotte’s Web”
  • Claim to fame: Never loses a staring contest
  • Secret wish: To eat Frodo for breakfast, Spider-Man for lunch, and The Fly for dinner
  • Nickname: Spin doctor, Octomom

Sunday, October 6, 2019

Spirits on Sproat named among best Chicagoland yard haunts by Patch

Patch.com just published its 2019 guide to Chicagoland's best yard haunts. Per usual, Spirits on Sproat has made the cut.

Check out the full list by clicking here.

Friday, October 4, 2019

Spirits on Sproat returns from the dead tonight!

Your favorite Halloween house comes alive tonight, from 7-11 p.m. Make plans to visit Spirits on Sproat tonight or any night we're open in October.

To view our 2019 schedule (which has been slightly updated), click here. Hope to scream you soon!

Monday, September 9, 2019

Oak Lawn’s Midnight Terror Haunted House ranked a top 10 haunted attraction by USA Today

The accolades continue to pour in for Midnight Terror Haunted House in Oak Lawn, which opens for its sixth season on September 27. It was recently voted a top 10 haunted attraction in the entire country by readers of USA Today, earning a coveted spot in the newspaper’s “10Best Readers’ Choice 2019” list. Ranking #8 on that list also earns Midnight Terror the distinction of being the fan favorite top haunted attraction in Illinois.

Midnight Terror (5520 W. 111th St.) was first nominated by USA Today editors and haunt experts, landing it on an initial list of 20 haunted attractions published in the summer. The newspaper then invited visitors to vote online for their favorite; strong support from fans helped the Oak Lawn haunt quickly climb up the ranks before polling closed in late August.

“Being recognized as one of the top 10 in the nation in USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice 2019 poll is only the beginning,” says Midnight Terror creator/co-owner Justin Cerniuk. “Our goal is to continue on as a group of friends creating absurdity, having fun, and letting the reviews speak for themselves. Supporters appreciate all the effort we put into our haunt to scare them out of their wits, and we are so grateful for this honor they’ve helped bestow upon us.”

In 2018, Midnight Terror rated as the top “Must-See Haunt” in the entire state of Illinois by TheScareFactor.com, based on votes by fans, and was declared the number one haunted house in all of Illinois by Fox 32 Chicago. In past years, it has been highly recommended and ranked by Thrillist, NBC, the Chicago Tribune, Patch.com, Haunted House Chicago, Illinois Haunted Houses, and others.
A big reason Cerniuk and company get so much love—and repeat business—from admirers is their extreme attention to detail and unwavering commitment to create fresh frights for visitors every year.

Unlike many other commercial Halloween attractions, the Midnight Terror crew reinvent their haunt annually: moving walls, completely reconfiguring spaces, and adding new layers of realism to their macabre maze of 60-plus rooms spread out over some 26,000 square feet.

“Our haunt has never been this immersive. This season, we’ve added countless new fine touches, well-timed scares, ultra-detailed props, and strategically positioned light and sound effects,” adds Cerniuk. “Every room’s impeccable detail envelops you into this world we’ve created. We’ve packed so many new surprises into this space to guarantee that visitors will get an unforgettably terrifying sensory experience.”

They can also claim a great value, courtesy of several 2019 promotions:
  • Half-price tickets ($12.50 off the $25 general admission with promo code news13) on opening weekend (Sept. 27-29) only when purchased online at midnightterror.com.
  • $5 off for students with a school ID every Thursday or Sunday.
  • $5 off when you bring in any other haunted house ticket stub.
  • Free upgrade to VIP tickets on Sundays for active-duty military and veterans with a valid ID.
  • Free trick-or-treating for kids 12 and younger (who are accompanied by an adult) on October 27 from noon to 3 p.m.; this annual tradition is appreciated by area families, whose children are given candy and a fun “lights-on” tour of the haunt by actors appearing in friendly mode.
  • Send in the clowns on Nov. 1 and 2 – The haunt is entirely populated by evil circus denizens for one “Clown Takeover” night, with a limited supply of half-price tickets now available (only $12.50 when purchased online).
  • Santa scares you silly on Dec. 13-15. Those are the dates when Midnight Terror morphs into “Christmas Fear,” with a limited supply of half-price tickets now available (only $12.50 when purchased online).
This year, Midnight Terror also plans to partner with charitable organizations such as Chicago Youth Programs and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Cerniuk will donate stacks of Midnight Terror admission tickets to each of these charities, which can be used for fundraising efforts.

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 is $24.99; VIP admission per person, which provides faster entry without having to wait in the general admission line, is $34.99. Discounted tickets ($2 off) can be purchased online; regular price tickets can be purchased onsite at the box office.

The attraction is wheelchair accessible and open, rain or shine (waiting area is outdoor/indoor), from: 7-11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays (Sept. 27 and 28 and Oct. 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26, and Nov. 1 and 2); and from 7-10 p.m. on Sept. 29 and Oct. 6, 13, 17, 20, 24, 27, 30 and 31. Visitors can park for free at the Oak Lawn Metra station parking garage (located at 9525 Tulley Ave.) and take a complimentary round-trip shuttle – with costumed characters aboard to entertain passengers – to the Midnight Terror site. 

For more information, visit midnightterror.com or email midnightterror.info@gmail.com.

Monday, August 26, 2019

Spirits on Sproat reopens Oct. 4 -- check out the 2019 schedule

Halloween is only 65 days away! Dying to learn what dates and times Spirits on Sproat will be open in 2019? Our schedule has just been posted. We'll be open a record 20 evenings this year, including Nov. 1!

Check out all the details, including information on what's new and improved for 2019, by clicking here.

Sunday, February 10, 2019

Spirits on Sproat has a new website address

To make things easier for you to remember (and type), your favorite neighborhood home haunt has changed its website URL. Formerly, we were "welovehalloween.blogspot.com." While we still absolutely love Halloween, we weren't in love with that lengthy web address.

So starting today, our site is officially spiritsonsproat.com. It made sense to us, and hope it does to you, too.

You can still access our website using either web address.

That's all we have to report. Our monsters are still in winter hibernation and won't be showing their faces for another seven-and-a-half months. But at least this little bit of news whets the appetite for Halloween fun to come later in 2019!