Old Joliet Prison Tours: Here's How 2018 Went

JOLIET, IL - On August 28, the Joliet Area Historical Museum began offering guided tours inside the limestone walls of the Old Joliet Prison. The prison property had been neglected and sat abandoned for the previous 15 years. The city of Joliet and the museum staff mobilized more than a half dozen volunteer cleanup initiatives during the first eight months of the year to make the property safe for guests. So how did it go?

This week, museum executive director Greg Peerbolte provided the city with solid proof that the new tourism attraction is off to a great start for Joliet and 2019 will likely be even better.

"I reallly think there will be more of an opportunity next season, when we have six-months plus," Peerbolte told Joliet Patch on Wednesday morning.

He is excited about the prospect of adding Coach bus tours as well as bringing school groups from around Illinois to tour the 1858 prison institution for education and history lessons.

The museum hosted the memorable Great Joliet Prison Break-In fund-raising event on Saturday, Aug. 25, an event that attracted more than 3,000 paid guests for a night of live music, plenty of food and fun. The three-day per week guided tours began the following week.

"We had people excited, and this first season was incident-free," Peerbolte said. "I was really pleased that it was a well-managed safe experience."

2018 (limited season) Prison Tours

$28,805 in revenue

(tours were offered three days a week in September and October)

Prison Gift Shop Merchandise

$12,295

Paid Visitors to Old Joliet Prison

1,576 people

Paranormal Tours at Old Joliet Prison (offered through Chicago Hauntings group).

1,400 to 1,500 guided tours, final count unavailable, continues until early December.

Paranormal Tours revenue generated for Joliet Area Historical Museum

$15,000

Oct. 13 Special Event: National disc golf tournament at Old Joliet Prison:

Total net revenue for Joliet Area Historical Museum: $5,673

Aug. 25 Great Joliet Prison Break-In Event: Revenue generated was $137,000

What's ahead in 2019?

Tour schedule will be reformatted in January, tours of the prison property are expected to start up again in March or April.

How often will they be?

Three or four days per week. The off-days will be reserved for Coach bus tours, school group tours and private group bookings with 15 or more people. Also, guided tours for 2019 will be refined to include additional buildings on the prison grounds, according to Peerbolte.

What's building improvements are slated for 2019?

The facility dubbed the "Spa Building," which is near the main parking lot entrance by the iconic administration building, will be renovated into a functional gift shop and visitors center.

Roofing, Plumbing and Electrical Work: Adler Roofing has already donated 150,000-square-feet of rubber roofing material and has promised to weatherproof and make general repairs to the following units: Spa Building, Chapel, Cafeteria and Hospital buildings.

Omega Plumbing has already installed an emergency sump pump and agreed to install working bathrooms for the future visitor's center at the Spa Building.

More Electricity: Besides video camera installation for security, plans call for increasing the electrical conduits along the west and east sally ports to provide lighting and surveillance on entry points into the prison grounds.

Related: Old Joliet Prison Tours Include Haunting Murder Mystery

Images via John Ferak/Joliet Patch Editor