Trails of Terror

My experience here was similar to the first reviewer’s: I live 10 minutes away, and had been trying to decide if another trek out to the far suburbs (complete with exorbitant prices and lines) was worth it this Halloween. Trails of Terror seemed too cheap and close for it to be a great time, so I’d previously resisted it, and didn’t get my hopes up. If it’s put on by the Park District, how great could it be, right?
Well, I now know where I’m spending my Halloweens. My friend and I went at about 8:30 on Halloween night, found free parking immediately, got on the shuttle immediately, got tickets immediately, and were let in immediately. I don’t know if it was because it was a little later in the evening, or because it was a Sunday this year, but while there was still a fair amount of people around, we had no trouble getting in right away.
They also allowed our «group» to be only the two of us, which made it even better. (There were times when I missed the energy brought on by a bigger group with screaming girls, etc, but the quietness of our experience between rooms/​houses was hard to beat, in terms of creepiness.)
I think Trails of Terror’s greatest asset is its length — the thing seems to go on forever, which makes its low price ($ 10) even harder to believe. You leave one house, walk through the woods for a while, get to the next house, walk through more woods, etc. It’s really a great environment for spookiness. I don’t scare super easily, and I jumped/​yelled plenty of times. This probably isn’t the place to take your more fearful (or claustrophobic) friends, but for those into Halloween scares, it’s a lot of fun.
North siders: skip the suburbs and stay in the city for Trails of Terror!

This is a family tradition in the past for I don’t know how many years! We must come out every year, rain or shine will not keep us away, no matter how cold or warm. Last year we waited Halloween night for nearly 2 hrs! Well, it was a Saturday night, what did I expect?
It’s a pretty decent haunting though for $ 10 when all the other places charge over $ 20 and up to $ 50 and are hardly much longer or scarier than this place. Going through the woods is creepy in itself and although it’s gotten a bit high tech than previous years, we still thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
I enjoyed going there last night but because of all the strobe lights, I am thinking we’ll have to end the family tradition since my sister is epileptic and I wouldn’t want her to go through so much flashing lights, I mean, it seemed to be going on for a long time and in several areas rather than just once. We’ll see… but, if you’re looking for a nice night for the season, check it out. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

My husband works for the Park District so last night was the employee night to enjoy Trails of Terror before it opens to the public on Friday, October 22.
My review is: I really liked it & I’m not just saying that because my husband helped built it. You go through the forest, through different types of scary rooms, scary people running around everywhere. My 10 & 11 year old nieces were frighten to death!!! It was worth the one-​way 27 mile drive from our home in traffic.
It is located at Peterson Park, 5801 N. Pulaski Rd. Chicago

For my photo set from this place (2008 installment), go here:
Now, my review: I have just been for the third year in a row (2009). Even drizzly weather couldn’t stop the frights. Downtown or lakefront dwellers have to trek out to the west side but worth it. The setting is unique and given that it is put on by the city (I think), it’s pretty scary in some points. Not blood curdling innovative like SAW, but there are some frights. Good staging and costumes throughout, and you go through the haunted forest, barns (old facilities of the park district I guess) and other structures including a whirly-​tunnel (you know like in a fun-​house where the walls spin around like you are in a big drum).
In the previous two years there was a major evil-​clown presence. This year (2009) it was a mix — half insane asylum (a bunch of creepy girls who looked like «The Grudge» girl) and half «haunted seaside village.» Various spooks poking out as you walk in the forest which totally adds to the experience — it’s not like you are in a cramped urban building where you pretty much know something will happen in each room.
The whole thing lasts about 20 minutes, I think, and they send you through in small groups (10 or 12) so once you get in, it never feels crowded. I think the first year we waited in line for almost an hour, so if you are going at peak times and in good weather, good luck with that — take a book or some hootch or something. This year even in the drizzly rain it was about 45 minutes (and they changed where the line forms this year so you can’t see it when you arrive — they learned from Disney and hid it!)
Age appropriateness: I’d say brave 10 or 12 year olds should be fine with an adult (though we had some grown-​ups who were in a panic at some of the jump-​out ghouls.)
To date this was my favorite Chicago Haunted House experience, and since the city canceled the Haunted Sanitarium this year, it’s the only one we’ve done so far. (Why can’t we get anything like the NIGHTMARE haunted house in New York, held in an abandoned old school building? Now that was freaking intense! Staged with professional actors and set designers who know what they are doing. Every room like SAW meets the worst of Edgar Allen Poe!)

I wanted to do something different this Halloween. Instead of going to the suburbs for my haunted house fix, I searched for local haunts within the city. I wanted to see how the city haunted houses measured up to the big budget suburban ones. I found Trails of Terror at Peterson Park, which is literally a five-​minute drive from my house. Saved money on gas — check!
This was my first time going to the Trails of Terror, which has been around for 10 years. I’m kicking myself for not going here sooner, because this haunted house & trail was TERROR-​IFIC (yeah, I’m corny like that!).
I didn’t know what to expect, because there isn’t much information on Trails of Terror online. No reviews, just a few vague summaries. So I didn’t get my hopes up too much. Parking was within North Park Village and they provided shuttles to Peterson Park (but we preferred to walk). We got in line and tickets were only $ 8. Great ticket price — check!
The haunted trail started off with an impressive display of animatronics. Then we were split up, entered a corn maze, then ended up at the first haunted house. They did a great job with the strobe lights and fog. The women behind us got so spooked after this, they decided to leave. Hehe, pwned!
In between each unique haunted house (five total) were haunted trails outside. I loved the spooky sound effects and the hidden actors jumping out at you. At the next haunted house, we had to squeeze ourselves in between two air-​filled «walls». Very claustrophobic and FUN. There was also a room that had dead bodies hanging from the ceiling. and of course an actor was right around the corner just in time to scare you.
My favorite part of this haunt was the Evil Clown haunted house. They had a tunnel that induced dizziness and threw us out of balance. That led to a strobe-​lit room that looked like it was getting smaller as we approached the exit. And the evil clown was just downright frightening.
Overall, we had a fabulous time and we’ll definitely be back next year. I was kind of surprised at the high production value, since I didn’t expect much from an $ 8 haunt. Kudos to the great actors who had everyone — adults, teenagers, and kids — screaming for their mommas. I didn’t include everything in my review, so keep Trails of Terror in mind next Halloween when you’re looking for a great haunted house in the city.