Tis the season for ho-ho-horror!!! Team Gregula always enjoys a good falalala scare at Cryptmas time, and there’s no better place to get one than at 13th Floor Haunted House Chicago in Schiller Park, IL. The location is pretty easy to get to as it’s about a mile down River Road south of the Donald E. Stephens Center (and other fun stuff) in Rosemont…very convenient for those who are looking for post-haunt entertainment hehe. However, parking is kind of difficult at the venue, there is valet and self parking available but it costs around $20 so if you’re looking for a free spot you might have to end up walking a bit. No fun if it’s freezing cold out!
The theme this year was Krampus: The Fright Before Christmas and they weren’t kidding as we saw many Krampuses (or is it Krampii?) roaming around the haunt. We even got greeted by a big scary one as we got out of our car!!!
Arriving to the outside entrance we passed by many vendors offering holiday treats and drinks to keep the shivers at bay…before getting more inside. Wait entertainment was plentiful as many zombified creatures of the frozen variety were lurking to scare any warmth left in us! The exterior entrance was both terrifying and festive at the same time, bringing joy into our dark hearts.
The inside waiting area, while unable to recreate the spooky foresty path of the Melrose Park location due to size limits, was still scary with an intimidating facade with DUNNING (a former mental institution in Chicago) in huge letters above the doors guarded by another Krampus above. Creepy Christmas trees with putrid presents underneath adorned the darkly festive room creating scary shadows all around.
The haunt itself was full of holiday fear with a wintry cemetery scene, merry medical shenanigans, horrifying hallways and a spooky church designed to put the fear of whatever deity you worship into your heart. Evil elves creeped about in the swamp scene popping up when we least expected it. But wait…there’s more! Upon exiting the haunt we entered a really cool gift shop with dark decorations that put the X in Xmas. Optional escape rooms were running for a small extra fee which is a really fun way to prolong the scares.
We really had a ghoul time at 13th Floor Haunted House’s Krampus themed event, love that Christmas can be cool and spooky instead of cheesy and bright. The actors were in their element and seemed to enjoy scaring the jingle bells out of all. I’m sure Santa would approve!
**FOUR FANGS UP**
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