Popular Oak Lawn home haunt celebrates 10th anniversary with big move to the backyard

Spirits on Sproat, one of the south suburbs’ most popular Halloween season destinations, is commemorating 10 years of frightful fun in 2014. To help celebrate, this fan favorite free home haunt has moved its display entirely to the back yard for a bigger, better experience for visitors.

First opened in 2004, Spirits on Sproat (subtitled “The Gallery of the Dead”) in Oak Lawn began as a meager outdoor exhibit with a handful of props. But over the years it continued to expand until it finally outgrew its front yard territory, using up nearly every square foot of available lawn space. Now, by relocating to the rear of the property, visitors can enjoy a 360-degree view of all of the fiendish figures on display, as well as a bit more elbow room on nights with larger crowds.

Over 40 home-made replicas of classic horror icons and scary characters from film, TV and literature are showcased, plus several originals—from Frankenstein and Freddy Kruger to Medusa, the Cryptkeeper, and the Headless Horseman. Fresh figures for 2014 include Carrie White, Norman Bates, and a new and improved Leatherface. This no-charge display provides humorous museum-like signage describing each character, live scarers waiting to spook teens and adults, creepy horror movie themes mixed with sound effects, and even a find-the-monster scavenger hunt game that you can play on your smartphone or without the aid of a digital device.

The display recently received a 10th anniversary gift in the form of a perfect 5 out of 5 chainsaws rating and a glowing critique from The Horror Tourers, a group of dedicated and well-traveled home haunt reviewers. Spirits on Sproat even comes with the endorsement of Chicagoland TV horror host Svengoolie (his written commendation and signature are on display).

The Oak Lawn haunt follows in the footsteps of a several legendary displays in the southwest ’burbs that influenced it, including Mayhem on Mansfield in Burbank and Nightmare on Maple Court in Bridgeview (both now closed for good) and The Bone Yard in Oak Lawn (still open).

Spirits on Sproat: The Gallery of the Dead is located just north of the intersection of 91st Street and Sproat Avenue (on the west side of the street in the middle of the block on Sproat; look for signage on the front lawn), 4 blocks west of Cicero and 4 blocks north of 95th St. in Oak Lawn. The display is open October 10-12, 17-19, and 24-31; hours are 7-11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and Oct. 31; 7-10 p.m. on Sundays and Oct. 27-30. All ages are welcome. For driving directions, a list of other area home haunts, photos, videos and more, visit www.welovehalloween.blogspot.com.