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Halloween is around the corner, so it’s time to get into the spirit by visiting “haunted” places during spooky season.
Luckily, Chicagoans don’t have to travel far.
That’s according to Conde Nast Traveler, which shared the 32 most haunted places in America, encouraging a “coast-to-coast tour of the most haunted places in the U.S., where lingering spirits roam through the halls of hotels, abandoned insane asylums, Broadway theaters, and even a city zoo.” Conde Nast Traveler also notes — for those who are easily spooked — that the haunted gems also include culture, history and more to offer something for everyone.
So, where can you find the most haunted place in Illinois?
Lincoln Park Zoo, located in Chicago. Here’s what Conde Nast Traveler says about it:
“Lions, and tigers, and... ghosts? As it turns out, one of Chicago's most popular attractions is also one of its most haunted, with much more than just chimpanzees roaming the grounds. From the 1840s to '50s, the heart of Lincoln Park served as the city cemetery, housing some 35,000 bodies. The cemetery was eventually moved due to its proximity to the city's water supply, and most of the bodies—but not all of them—were moved along with it. If you've ever seen a horror movie, you know that messing with burial grounds is the easiest way to get haunted, and the Lincoln Park Zoo is no exception. As if walking above several thousand corpses isn't creepy enough, famed parapsychologist Ursula Bielski once called the area (in its current state) 'without a doubt the most active site I’ve investigated'; and people have reported seeing ghosts there since it opened in 150 years ago. We are sad to report, however, that no animal ghosts have been spotted as of yet.”
Interested in that “coast-to-coast tour,” or just curious about other spooky attractions in the U.S.? Find the rest of the list here.