Patch's Best 2022 Halloween Yard Haunts: Lake And McHenry Counties

LAKE-McHENRY COUNTY — If you're looking for new zombie graveyards, body parts, floating ghosts and devil's playgrounds to explore for Halloween, you've come to the right place. Patch has assembled its annual scary yard tour for 2022, created by some of Chicagoland’s most imaginative and demented exterior decorators.

Given the scary yard tour’s past history of breaking the internet, we have organized the 2022 list by county. So click on the link for the list of scary yards near your house, or go crazy and visit them all,

GET ON THE LIST: We LOVE reader submissions, so we'll be updating the list every FRIDAY leading up to Halloween. So send in your pictures and tell us why your yard haunt is worth a drive-by to lorraine.swanson@patch.com. Read more about how to get on the list. If you participated in years past and didn’t get an email from us, send Patch your info.

This year, your Patch editors will be selecting the best decorated yard haunt and awarding a $100 Amazon gift card to the winner.

Also, check out these lists for more scary yards throughout the Chicago area: Chicago Haunt Builders, Haunted Illinois Directory, Illinois Haunted Houses and We Love Halloween. There's free fun to be had in the days leading up to Halloween, so set your GPS for these spooky standbys and nightmarish newbies.

See what other counties are doing:

• Cook County/Chicago
• DuPage/Kane County
• Will/Kendall/Grundy County

Check out these slick yard haunts in Lake and McHenry Counties:

Cary

NEW! 624 Surrey Ridge Drive, Cary – Michelle Jonas and her husband, Paul, have started a tradition of decorating for Halloween, which attracted neighbors and kids throughout the neighborhood. His special touches and amazing display have been a favorite for many years. “My husband unexpectedly passed away last September, but my family and I have kept his memory alive by re-creating his display in memory of him. Last year, there was a huge tribute to him throughout the whole subdivision.” This haunt is definitely drive-by worthy.

Deerfield

1630 PORTAGE PASS, DEERFIELD — Mild-mannered attorney David Kerpel puts up an elaborate Halloween display every year. He's been decorating since he was 9 years old. He's 49 now. David is accepting donations for the Furever Home Dog Sanctuary.

Chainsaw Manor, 1042 Gordon Terrace, Deerfield – This is Kevin Friduss’s first time on the list. He puts a lot of effort into making his display a theatrical presentation. The yard haunt features mostly static, creepy props. “My whole thing with Halloween is that it’s meant to be scary.” To make it less fearful for his young children, he lets them name the chainsaw maniacs. One is named "Mr. Poopie Head." There are live actors, fog, lasers, fun, music and excitement. Visitors can look from the sidewalk. The display does not operate in rainy conditions. Friduss is collecting donations for Ann & Robert Lurie Children’s Hospital. Hours are dusk to 10 p.m. Oct. 14, Oct. 21-22, Oct. 28-Oct. 31.

Fox River Grove

NEW! 401 Essex Rd, Fox River Grove

Grayslake

146 Westerfield Place, Grayslake

Ingleside

Overlook Cemetery, 34597 N. Catherine St, Ingleside – Halloween fanatics and Lake County homeowner newbies, Austin and Xanic Rink have turned their yard into a cemetery, featuring handmade decorations (the ‘Reaper’ is our fave). The Rinks have a new towering addition that will soon be installed. Guests are welcome to view the haunt from the street and drive, just stay off the lawn. Watch the Rinks’ creative process on TikTok, "The Suburban Ghouls."

Lake in the Hills

5453 Whitmore Way, Lake in the Hills

Massacre On McKinley St., 4 McKinley St., Lake-In-The-Hills – Chris Skaja started building props in 2009 when he was living at his parents' house and did their display for six years. This is a full walk-thru haunts that includes scene boxes, including a big cemetery, circus tent, rotting pumpkin patch and enclosed tunnel to walk through the end. Chris hopes to open Oct. 10. Live actors will prowl the yard on Oct. 22.

Lakemoor

NEW! After Hours Haunt, 700 w Illinois Route 120, Lakemoor – This spooky spectacular features a ton of animatronics and homemade monsters. Danielle DuBois is a member of Chicago Haunt Builders and is included on Haunted Illinois’s list.

Lake Villa

Smith’s Haunted Hill, 25418 W. Knolls Court, Lake Villa – Lisa Smith boasts that her home haunt reins supreme this year, with many drive-by gawkers looking to catch a glimpse of the Smiths’ 12-foot-tall skeleton Fred. The Smiths have added an inferno and a 12-foot-tall witch Petunia, along with singing pumpkins, tombstones, and blow molds. The display comes alive at night when ominous lights accentuate their chilling features, such as a radioactive skeleton making up his brew, and a trio of skeletons roasting treats over glowing skulls. No walking through the yard is allowed, or stay behind the fence. The Smiths will be doling out king-size candy bars on Halloween, while supplies last.

Lindenhurst

NEW! Terror-0n-Vista-Terrace, 1848 E. Vista Terrace, Lindenhurst – What makes Stephanie Harrison’s yard haunt special is that there are over 5,000 items on the lawn, along with animatronics, a 20-foot-tall stack of pumpkins and numerous 12-foot-tall skeletons. That has to be some kind of record. Lit daily from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m., through Oct. 31, when they'll be handing out full-sized candy bars.

McHenry

1204 W Circle Court, McHenry – For the past 18 Halloweens, the Deppmeiers’ front yard becomes a goth graveyard, including the last thing Laura Deppmeier’s husband before passing away – a full-size, horse drawn hearse in front of the graveyard. The hearse was even used at his celebration of life. Haunt runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday from dusk until 10 p.m., weather permitting.

Volo

NEW! Screaming Hills, 1288 Viola Lane, Volo – All the way up in Volo, Amanda Doud offers a 12-foot skeleton, a portal to the underworld, projections and few animated props. The display runs from duck to 9 p.m. most nights, and until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.