13th Floor Expanding To Old Joliet Prison

JOLIET, IL — In January 2018 Evil Intentions proclaimed its second Halloween-themed haunted house would open at the world-famous Old Joliet Prison property. But the project never happened because of renovation costs. Ultimately, the city of Joliet rescinded its contract with the Elgin-based Evil Intentions.

Now, two years later, the city of Joliet appears poised to ink a multi-year contract with a much larger and more nationally distinguished entertainment company, one in several states including, according to its website, The World Famous 13th Floor Haunted House in Chicago.

"Thirteenth Floor is an entertainment company, which operates attractions nationwide, including 16 Haunted Houses," writes interim city of Joliet manager Steve Jones. " The closest haunted house to Joliet is located in Melrose Rose, which was recently voted 'Top 5 Most Terrifying Haunted Houses in the USA' by the USA Today."

According to his city memo, 13th Floor also operates haunted houses in Denver, Phoenix, Houston, San Antonio and Los Angeles, Jones indicated.

"Many of the other sites required rehabilitation before occupancy, thus the Thirteenth Floor team is experienced and familiar with the renovation and rehabilitation of facilities in order to create top tier entertainment experiences," Jones wrote. "The company also offers year round attractions such as escape rooms and axe throwing."

You should expect 13th Floor to open in Joliet in less than eight months. That Joliet Patch prediction is based on the terms of its proposed contract with the city of Joliet.

According to the city memo, 13th Floor will be considered in default of its lease agreement, if it fails to be open for business on or about Sept. 1, 2020.

The financial terms proposed by Jones are as follows:

On Sept. 1, 2020, the developer would pay Joliet $20,000 in rent for the next 12 months.

On Sept. 1, 2021, the developer would pay Joliet $25,000 in rent for the next 12 months.

On Sept. 1, 2022, the developer would pay Joliet $30,000 in rent for the next 12 months.

Starting this September, in 2020, the developer would pay Joliet $1 per guest over 10,000 in attendance for the ensuing 12 months.

Beginning Sept. 1, 2021, the developer would pay Joliet $1 per guest in attendance for the next 24 months.

"The Parties agree that there shall be a mutual option to extend the Agreement beyond the initial three year term, subject to a renegotiation of the enclosed terms," the documents indicate.

The Joliet City Council's prison committee will discuss the multi-year lease agreement with 13th Floor at Monday afternoon's regular meeting. If no major problems arise, the contract will likely be forwarded to the full council for an up or down vote.

The long-talked about haunted house-theme attraction would open at the empty building along the east side of Collins Street that served as a state of Illinois women's prison for much of the 1900s. The limestone building for the proposed haunted house dates back to 1896.

The old women's prison site, at 401 Woodruff Ave., has remained in a state of disrepair since the Illinois Department of Corrections closed the entire prison in 2002.

Last year, 2019, marked the Joliet Area Historical Museum's first full year of offering guided 90-minute walking tours of the Old Joliet Prison property on the west side of Collins Street. The paid admission tours were within the men's prison yard, which became famous 40 years ago by the iconic 1980 movie "Blues Brothers."