Tis the season to get your jollies! But if that means getting the fa-la-la-la-las scared out of you, there is no better place to celebrate the Horror-Days than at 13th Floor Haunted House Chicago in Schiller Park, IL. Just a hop, a skip and a jump down River Road south of the Donald E. Stephens Center in Rosemont (the entertainment capital of the Northwest side) it is fairly easy to find. I think the big lighted 13th Floor sign just might have given that away *wink*. However, parking is a pain in the bum (NOT 13th Floor’s fault as they don’t have control over this, FYI) 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.
This year’s theme was Krampus: The Fright Before Christmas and there were a few Krampuses (or is it Krampii?) roaming around the haunt. We even got to meet a Goblin-like creature who actually turned out to be a very good fiend of Team Gregula.
As we walked 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 fun, with zombified creatures of the frozen variety lurking to scare all the warmth left in us! The exterior entrance was festively scary which pleased Da Count and me. I kinda miss the old inside waiting area of the Melrose Park location because the spooky foresty path with snow falling from the ceiling was so cool. But even on a smaller level, 13th Floor made it scary with an intimidatingly decrepit facade all lit up for the season. Creepy Christmas trees with putrid presents and corpses adorned with tinsel completed the setting.
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 to pop up unexpectedly. However, some of the swamp effects were not working that night which made it easier to spot the actors but we were having too much fun to care.
After 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. Fang you Bryan and staff for having us once again!
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