All the haunts fit to print

Brian Morowceynski/Chronicle An orc-like creature in the "Statesville Haunted Prison," at Siegel’s Cottonwood Farm in Crest Hill, Ill.

By Randy J. Klodz
Staff Writer

It’s not too late to join in on the Halloween madness—but you better hurry, Halloween’s on Thursday, and that doesn’t leave much time to check out some local happenings.

What makes this holiday, which is designed for children to dress up in crazy costumes and go door to door asking for free candy, special? Trick-or-treating is mostly for children, but college students can still partake in all that is spooky.

Haunted houses and other creepy attractions entice throngs of college students. The Chronicle took to the streets to experience three of the most talked-about local attractions to see which ones live up to the hype and which ones should be avoided.

Dream Reapers Haunted House
Dream Reapers stands up to all the hype. The wait may be long, but the line gathers under the white awning of the restored Melrose Crossing Shopping Center—so if it’s raining, visitors will stay dry, but might still freeze. A good sign for those looking to be scared out of their minds: Horrific creatures—a strait-jacketed bald guy, a shaggy beast with a metal box on his head and even a chainsaw-handed Evil Dead-esqe freak, all lurk while patrons remain in line.

The outdoor line leads into a heated indoor waiting room with goblins painted on the walls that come to life with streaming black lights. A movie screen plays horror films, and even the ticket window has a haunting surprise.

Upon entrance, your small group—three to five people usually— will be led to a dark room. Once inside you’ll be told the creatures in the house (they are everywhere) won’t touch you if you don’t touch them. This warning is enough to creep out even the least timid visitors. Groups are split up and led through different doors, where they are greeted by a hooded guide. He points to a door across the room and visitors find themselves trapped a revolving maze.

Each themed room has a surprise. There’s a butcher’s room, an operation room, a "Crocodile Hunter"-like rainforest room, and enough bloody gore to turn stomachs. The bloodiest room has a smeared mirror with a bloody toilet reminiscent of Vincent D’Onofrio’s suicide scene in Full Metal Jacket. Toward the end of the maze is a tube bridge with spinning walls.

Flickering black lights that cast moving images off the white-splattered black walls make you feel like you’re at a haunted rave and makes for an eerie trek through what seems to be an innocent room.

The Dream Reapers ends with dark characters creating sparks by striking nearby fencing with a metal beam while Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson songs blast from the loudspeaker. The lighting in the clown room may also give those that feared clowns as a child—or still fear them—nightmares.

But at least the price isn’t haunting, it’s the best $10 you can spend in the Chicago area.

Overall: Expect to wait at least two hours (it’s worth it), use the restroom at the nearby Burger King and dress warm. And be afraid, very afraid. For more information, visit www.dreamreapers.com.

Dream Reapers Haunted House is located in the Melrose Crossing Shopping Center, 1985 N. Mannheim Road, in Melrose Park, Ill. Admission is $10. Parking is free. Remaining dates and hours: Oct. 28-Nov. 2, Sun.-Thurs. 7-10 p.m., Fri. & Sat. 7-11 p.m.

Dungeon of Doom
Dungeon of Doom is located within the currently Lake County Fairgrounds (abandoned because it’s fall). The setting itself adds to the creepiness of this attraction. Empty pens that would house goats and pigs in the summer are now dark and barren.

The Dungeon of Doom is located in a large warehouse that has an indoor waiting area with strobe lights, corn stalks, a flopping noosed man and a movie screen.

Executioners instruct patrons to "say goodbye to Jimmy' as they are greeted with a mortifying execution that looks so real it may make hairs on the back of your neck stand up. The element of surprise adds fear to every room.

Bookcases are dropped, ceilings fall and voices echo throughout the house. A room where a costumed prisoner appears behind bars and then suddenly is two feet away will amaze and frighten even David Copperfield’s greatest skeptics.

What’s unique about this attraction is the ending, which is called "Buried Dead or Alive." Here’s a hint: Think about a Chuck E. Cheese favorite attraction, and pay attention when they say—"remove all hats and glasses." Consider yourself warned.

Overall: If you can make the trek to Grayslake, do it. Porta-Potties are available. Wear comfortable shoes—creatures may chase you throughout the themed rooms. For more, visit www.dungeonofdoom.com.

Dungeon of Doom is located at Lake Country Fairgrounds, Route 120 at Route 45, in Grayslake, Ill. Admission is $10. Parking is free. Remaining dates and hours: Oct. 28-Nov. 2, Mon.-Thurs. 7-10 p.m., Fri. & Sat. 7-whenever, and Sun. 7-10 p.m.

Reaper’s Realm Haunted Mansion
Reaper’s Realm is more of a bore than a scare and it doesn’t come close to reaching the hype. The "mansion" may be larger than both aforementioned attractions, but most of its space is empty. And visitors spend more time waiting in line inside the house, than actually being scared. This place is more like a boring museum tour than an actual haunted house.

At first, the house seems promising: The long line moves relatively fast, there’s a beer garden, and there’s a carnival atmosphere, complete with a giant slide and a Flip-a-Chick game. Once inside, each group is guided through one of three doors—which seems frightening until the group is reunited 10 seconds later.

The only thing unique about Reaper’s Realm are the white foam-walled cave that one must crawl through, (the "slide of death") and the steep price of $15.

Overall: The long line may move fast, but that’s a disadvantage—you might run into a cluster of 30 or so people while maneuvering through the house, which diminishes the scare factor. If you’re willing to spend $15, take a drive to Dream Reapers or Dungeon of Doom and give the friendly ticket booth operator a $5 tip. For more information, visit www.reapersrealm.com.

Reaper’s Realm Haunted Mansion is located at 626 177th St. in Hammond, Ind. Admission is $15 for the mansion. Parking is $1. Remaining dates and hours: Oct. 28-30, 7-10 p.m.; Oct. 31, 7 p.m.-midnight.