Screams, Queens, and Prison Scenes: My visit to Old Joliet Haunted Prison
Sat. October 4, 2025 2:20 PM by Gerald Farinas
photo credit // gerald farinas
Jailhouse shock is unique venue for haunted night out
Joliet, Ill. -
My best friends and I piled into the car one chilly Halloween night and drove the hour and ten minutes down from my home in Edgewater Beach to Joliet, full of equal parts excitement and dread. We arrived at The Old Joliet Haunted Prison just as the sky turned dark, and the outline of the real prison walls rose ahead of us. It’s one thing to go to a haunted house built for show, but this was an actual abandoned prison. Even from the parking lot, you could feel its weight and history pressing in on you.
We had purchased Easy Pass tickets in advance to avoid the worst of the lines. That decision saved us from hours of shivering in the cold, though there was still a bit of waiting between checkpoints. If you go, wear your most comfortable running shoes because you’ll be on your feet for quite a while. The waiting lines move, stop, shuffle, and then move again, and the haunted routes themselves can get intense.
Before entering, we stopped at the concession stand, which looked delightfully rundown in a way that fit the atmosphere. We grabbed canned cocktails and beers to steel our nerves. The drinks, the smell of popcorn, and the sound of screams echoing from inside made for a perfect start to the night.
Once inside, we chose one of the mapped-out courses. One led straight through the old prison Cell Blocks, where the lighting was dim, the air cold, and the echoes played tricks on your mind. You’d hear movement behind a wall or the clank of metal somewhere down a hallway. The environment itself was half the scare.
It's hard to take photos when you're moving from fright to fright. And it's actually frowned upon. They don't want you sharing their secrets.
There were sudden turns, dead ends, and long stretches where groups bunched up together. Timing mattered. If you lagged, you risked being cornered by something you couldn’t quite see. If you rushed, you’d miss the quieter, creepier moments that built up to the bigger scares.
One important rule: do not touch the actors, no matter how much your adrenaline spikes. They might get close, they might whisper or scream in your ear, but you have to keep your hands to yourself. They are professionals who know exactly how far to push, and respecting that boundary keeps everyone safe.
Some moments were predictable, but the setting made up for it. The old cell blocks and prison yard created an authenticity no movie set could match. The actors worked hard to make each scene feel alive and unnerving. The mix of lighting, fog, and echoing sound effects made it easy to lose track of where you were.
For 2025, The Old Joliet Haunted Prison will again open its gates on select nights between September 20 and November 9. The theme centers around a prison uprising gone horribly wrong, with the undead Warden still roaming the halls, hunting both inmates and guards.
This year’s event will feature multiple haunted courses, mini escape games like “Asylum” and “Prison Break,” three themed bars including hidden “secret” experiences, and the option to buy a Respawn Pass to go through again. There will also be special event nights, including “Friday the 13th Weekend” with extra scares.
We had purchased Easy Pass tickets in advance to avoid the worst of the lines. That decision saved us from hours of shivering in the cold, though there was still a bit of waiting between checkpoints. If you go, wear your most comfortable running shoes because you’ll be on your feet for quite a while. The waiting lines move, stop, shuffle, and then move again, and the haunted routes themselves can get intense.
Before entering, we stopped at the concession stand, which looked delightfully rundown in a way that fit the atmosphere. We grabbed canned cocktails and beers to steel our nerves. The drinks, the smell of popcorn, and the sound of screams echoing from inside made for a perfect start to the night.
Once inside, we chose one of the mapped-out courses. One led straight through the old prison Cell Blocks, where the lighting was dim, the air cold, and the echoes played tricks on your mind. You’d hear movement behind a wall or the clank of metal somewhere down a hallway. The environment itself was half the scare.
It's hard to take photos when you're moving from fright to fright. And it's actually frowned upon. They don't want you sharing their secrets.
There were sudden turns, dead ends, and long stretches where groups bunched up together. Timing mattered. If you lagged, you risked being cornered by something you couldn’t quite see. If you rushed, you’d miss the quieter, creepier moments that built up to the bigger scares.
One important rule: do not touch the actors, no matter how much your adrenaline spikes. They might get close, they might whisper or scream in your ear, but you have to keep your hands to yourself. They are professionals who know exactly how far to push, and respecting that boundary keeps everyone safe.
Some moments were predictable, but the setting made up for it. The old cell blocks and prison yard created an authenticity no movie set could match. The actors worked hard to make each scene feel alive and unnerving. The mix of lighting, fog, and echoing sound effects made it easy to lose track of where you were.
For 2025, The Old Joliet Haunted Prison will again open its gates on select nights between September 20 and November 9. The theme centers around a prison uprising gone horribly wrong, with the undead Warden still roaming the halls, hunting both inmates and guards.
This year’s event will feature multiple haunted courses, mini escape games like “Asylum” and “Prison Break,” three themed bars including hidden “secret” experiences, and the option to buy a Respawn Pass to go through again. There will also be special event nights, including “Friday the 13th Weekend” with extra scares.
Hours and ticket prices vary by night, so check the schedule online before heading out. To plan your visit, buy tickets, and see event details, go to hauntedprison.com.
The Old Joliet Haunted Prison is a production of Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group.