Visiting water playgrounds are usually fun but what happens when you visit an abandoned water playground? Well you can find out when you visit the one and only Scream Scene Haunted House, which is a family favorite for the Gregulas. Just ask our baby vamp Junior! Located at the Abandoned Skokie Water Playground, Scream Scene is a gravely grand place to scare up a ghoul time.
Conveniently located by Oakton and Skokie Blvd, the haunt location is very easy to find. Their SCREAM SCENE color changing sign with gigantic flashing led letters is easily visible from the street. Tons of kids enjoy taking selfies in front of it.
As we pulled into the parking lot, we noticed that a good sized crowd started gathering at opening time. It wasn’t really lines around the block, but there were plenty of folks ready for Friday night scares. Loads of teenagers were hanging out and watching them get startled by a creature wearing a Jason mask who kept sliding on the ground with sparks flying from his knees was pretty cool.
By the time we got to the entrance the crowds had largely dissipated so we got in quickly. We had the Speed Passes so it wouldn’t have been a long wait anyway. Team Gregula highly recommends the Speed Pass option, at $23 it’s a bargain compared to a lot of other haunts. The waiting area is outside and we got lucky because it was a nice evening. Usually it’s either cold or rainy or both, so a big YaY for that!
We lined up and made small talk with the staff while we waited to go inside. When it was our turn, we were hex-cited to go through the door for a scary good time. And it was definitely scary! We navigated our way along the darkened hallways to a fun rotating blacklight tunnel that felt like we’re about to get turned upside down. We also visited a crazy hotel with an even wackier laundry room, with an annoying worker who kept demanding we smell their towels. We also went thru their famous striped wall circus maze, which seemed a lot shorter this year maybe because we’ve done it so many times? Or was there more scenes to look at? There was also a hospital with demented doctors and their patients wanting OUR bodies! Not a fan of the inflatable walls (which we affectionately refer to as Satan’s Anus) but it can be a squishy good time if you like that sort of thing.
Scream Scene Haunted House definitely upped their game with the scares this year. There were lots of unexpected twists and turns, really good animatronics and the actors were fang-tastic with the in your face frights. It was a hex-cellent time, and highly recommended for adults and teens (small children not so much). Junior especially had fun, he even made a friend!
**FOUR FANGS UP**
Scream Scene Haunted House is located at the Abandoned Skokie Water Playground, 4701 Oakton St. Skokie, IL 60067
Open October 10 – November 8, 2025.
Sunday 7:00PM – 9:00PM
Friday – Saturday 7:00PM – 10:00PM
October 25 & November 1 7:00PM – 11:00PM
“Lights On” 10/26 3:00PM – 5:00PM
Tickets are:
$14 – General Admission
$23 – Speed Pass
$3 – “Lights On” Haunted House
Click HERE for more information and to purchase tickets.
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