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Halloween is just around the corner – and thrill seekers couldn’t be more excited. Below is a list of the ten must-visit haunted houses across Illinois that are not for the faint of heart. Be prepared for creepy, eerie and ghoulish experiences when visiting one of these haunted attractions this season!
- Bartonville - Aura Haunted HouseAura Haunted House has been operating for four decades providing its visitors with a chilling horror experience. The haunted house is part of the old Bartonville Hospital Complex and is claimed to be truly haunted.
- Bloomington - Mind Trap Haunted Attraction Mind Trap Haunted Attraction is celebrating 10 years of frights. The haunted house also has a rapid escape room and a zombie paint ball experience.
- Creal Springs - Hile Farms Haunting in Little Egypt Hile Farms Haunting in Little Egypt is an outdoor experience that includes a walkthrough the haunted woods and a tractor ride to the entrance of the trails. This will be their third year open.
- Effingham-Night Terrors of EffinghamNight Terrors of Effingham is central Illinois’ newest haunted attraction. This year they will present their main attraction Carn-evil along with other spooky sights.
- Lockport - Hells Gate Haunted House Hells Gate Haunted House is the No. 1 rated haunted house in the Chicagoland area. This season the cast from Statesville Prison will be featured alongside the house staff of Hells Gate for the ultimate experience.
- Montgomery - Massacre Haunted HouseMassacre Haunted House is the largest haunted house in Illinois. With over 35,000 sq. ft. of fear, it is one of the highest rated houses in Illinois and features dozens of areas for photo-ops and almost 100 actors.
- Orion - Torment at Twelve HundredTorment at Twelve Hundred has been a top rated haunted house in Illinois for multiple years. Celebrating 20 years of making nightmares, they are prepared to reach the depths of our minds.
- Rantoul - Necrosis Haunted House Necrosis Haunted House has been a top rated attraction since its opening in 2018. This year will be their best show yet with live actors, professional sound and more for their fifth season.
- Roodhouse - 217 Terror haunted house217 Terror Haunted House features four haunted houses in one location and an escape room. This season visit Molly’s Play House, the Vampires of the Nest and more.
- Round Lake Beach - Realm of Terror Haunted HouseRealm of Terror Haunted House is the No. 1 rated haunted house in Illinois. It has been featured in the Chicago Tribune, Daily Herald, the Huffington Post and more. It is the only haunted house in Illinois to have an onsite bar.
Happy haunting!
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For the seventh year in a row, Chicago has been named the Best Big City in the U.S. by Condé Nast Traveler Magazine. Since its establishment, Chicago has been an enchanting city that has created an undeniable presence not only in Illinois and in the U.S., but across the globe. Chicago is a leader in higher education, business markets, architecture, history and culture.
The recognition was given to Chicago based on multiple surveys that recorded the responses of 520,000 readers of Condé Nast Traveler Magazine. The article attributes the win to Chicago’s impressive architecture, first-rate museums, food and brewing scene, as well as its 77 neighborhoods available to explore. Chicago has taken first place since 2017.
This past summer, Chicago reported record highs for hotel revenue following multiple events including sold out concerts and the first-of-its-kind NASCAR street race. Chicago continues to bring fresh experiences for locals and travelers across the world.
To find the best food, bars, art, and shows across the world, visit Chicago!
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The U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona recognized 20 Illinois schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2023. The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes elementary, middle, and high schools based on their overall academic excellence or the closure of achievement gaps amongst diverse groups of students demonstrating their ability for all students to achieve high levels of learning.
“The honorees for our 2023 National Blue Ribbon Schools Award have set a national example for what it means to Raise the Bar in education,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “The leaders, educators, and staff at our National Blue Ribbon Schools continually inspire me with their dedication to fostering academic excellence and building positive school cultures that support students of all backgrounds to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.”
The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program began 1982, under the second Secretary of Education, Terrel H. Bell, to highlight the best schools in the U.S. with the purpose of sharing the best practices among schools across the country. The program is supported through ongoing collaboration with the National Association of Elementary School Principals, the Association for Middle Level Education, and the National Association of Secondary School Principals.
“Here in Illinois, we know the importance of investing in education for our next generation of leaders,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Congratulations to the 20 exceptional institutions named as National Blue Ribbon Schools. As we continue our work to make Illinois the best state to raise a family, we commend the dedication of educators, administrators, parents, and students who made this achievement possible.”
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For those traveling on foot, Chicago is the fifth safest city to commute as a pedestrian according to a recent KURU Footwear study.
Walking safely is particularly key this time of year when warmer weather and longer days brings out more people. This is why the footwear brand ranked the 37 U.S. major metro cities from safest to the most dangerous for pedestrians. Rankings are based on an overall Walk Score – the walkability between residential areas and business areas – and the number of fatal pedestrian accidents.
Higher walking scores and fewer pedestrian related deaths earned these U.S. cities top five rankings: 1) New York, 2) Boston, 3) San Francisco, 4) Washington D.C., 5) Chicago.
On average, Chicago has two pedestrian deaths per 10,000 people and a Walk Score of 77.2, for a total safety score of 81.
Traffic and safety conditions can vary from city to city, so it is advisable to follow the local traffic regulations in your neighborhood and when walking in any urban environment.
Read about the study on KURU Footwear.
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The remains of the most sophisticated prehistoric native civilization north of Mexico are preserved at Cahokia Mounds State Historic site, located a few miles west of Collinsville, Illinois in the southwestern part of the state. Here lie the archaeological remnants of the central section of the ancient settlement that is today known as Cahokia.
In 1976, The Cahokia Mounds Museum Society was founded as a not-for-profit to support the historic site. Their mission is to promote for the public benefit the educational and scientific aspects of Cahokia Mounds and associated archaeological sphere. The society recently received an award of excellence from the American Association of State and Local History for their augmented reality experience, “Back to the City of the Sun.”
“Back to the City of the Sun” brings the past to the present with audio and video through an app for personal smart devices. On the tour, visitors can see the temple that once stood on Monks Mound and other cultural aspects of the site that were present 1,000 years ago through the camera of a smart phone or other device.
The 2023 award of excellence is part of the American Association of State and Local History’s Leadership in History awards, the most prestigious recognition for achievement in the preservation of state and local history.
The Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site is located at 30 Ramey St. in Collinsville. The site’s interpretive center and gift shop are currently closed for renovations, however the grounds are open to the public daily from 8 a.m. until dusk and guided tours take place twice per day, Wednesday through Sunday. For more information, visit IDNR’s website.