NEW Sites Added!! 2016 Guide to the Southland's Best Halloween Yard Displays

We’ve cleaned up the list and added we’ve added more yard haunts submitted by our wonderful yards. If you’re looking for new zombie graveyards, body parts, floating ghosts and insane clown posses for Halloween check out the new frightening yard displays created by some of the Southland’s most creative and imaginative exterior decorates.

Some of these have become so popular over the years that the haunters are collecting donations for their favorite charities. We’ve UPDATED our guide of Halloween-decorated yardsfor 2016 that are bound to elicit a few 911 calls or cause brief heart palpitations when a pneumatic-controlled Freddy Krueger lunges at you from the bushes.

There’s free fun to be had in the days leading up to Halloween, so set your GPS for these time-honored spooky standbys and newbies.

Chicago

1. NEW! GRAVEYARD ON AUSTIN, 5926 S. AUSTIN AVE., CHICAGO, IL -- It all started with a small graveyard, a few lights, skeletons and some graves, Every year since 2008, the cemetery is filled with newly deceased zombies, skeletons, bats and other surprises. New this year is creepy window display. Take up the driveway to the house on Halloween night to trick-or-treat and be met by the grave keeper or something. In the spirit of Halloween, Graveyard on Austin will be collecting non-perishable donations of pet food to be given to ILPitcrew Rescue or any monetary donations will be donated to Chicago Police Memorial. Open for viewing through Nov. 2. Weeknights until 10 p.m. and midnight on weekends.

Oak Lawn

1. CORNER OF THE CURSED, RELOCATED TO HICKORY HILLS.
2. THE DEVIL’S PLAYGROUND, 6646 W. 87TH PLACE, OAK LAWN - An empty lawn is the devil’s playground, especially around Halloween. Our favorite is the guy in the electric chair, but we won’t spoil the rest of it for you. If you lose your baseball on this playground, don’t go looking for it. Open Oct. 21 through Oct. 31, from dusk until 10 a.m., maybe a little later on the weekends, through Halloween.
3. LIMBWOOD CEMETERY, 9112 LYNWOOD AVE., OAK LAWN - This work- in-progress started out with a few dollar store tombstones and couple of crows. Now the yard haunt has tripled in size and includes a homemade eight-foot-tall grim reaper, music and fog. Keeps getting bigger and better every year. We saw a ghoul proudly #FlyingTheW. Extra points for being Cubs fans.
4. SPIRITS ON SPROAT/GALLERY OF THE DEAD, 9028 S. SPROAT AVE., OAK LAWN - This who’s who of Hollywood monsters is moving their mash into the back yard (“We’re ready for our closeup, Mr. DeMille.”) It’s also ME-TV Svengoolie’s favorite haunt. Added: Bride of Chucky, flying monkeys from the Wizard of Oz, and horror-master Vincent Price. Now in its 13th fabulous year, Sprtris on Sproat runs from 7-11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays (including Halloween); 7-10 p.m. Sundays and weeknights during Halloween week.
5. NEW! 101ST STREET CEMETERY, 5133 W. 101ST ST, OAK LAWN, IL -- Inspired by Pinterest and Dollar Tree, this yard of ghouls has doubled in size from last year, including a garbage can full of guts.
6. NEW! OMINOUS OAKS MANOR, 9739 S. 51st AVE., OAK LAWN, IL -- This upstart yard haunt has gradually grown bigger over the past four years, but this is the first year the family has felt ready for its closeup. The display is lit up nightly through Oct. 31. On weekends, live actors will scare the snot out of your kids and dogs.
7. NEW! ONE-DAY ONLY - OCT. 31 - MR. KRICKL’S GARAGE, 10520 S. KILDARE, OAK LAWN, IL -- Throughout the year Billy Krickl is a steady, dependable family man, but come Halloween he turns into Michael Myers and scares the snot out of the neighborhood trick-or-treaters who come to his garage seeking candy. Last year he turned his garage into a hay maze and entertained 500 kids in the pouring rain. The year before, his insane clown house drew hundreds in 40-degree weather. This year, Mr. Krickl has created a Michael Myers shell game. Kids will have to guess which Michael Myers has the candy. He’s prepared for 1,000 kids, so if you’re in the Oak Lawn area, stop by. Mr. Krickl’s Garage is open one day only -- from 2 to 10 p.m., Oct. 31. And yes, Billy, we at Patch remember you. You’re a hard guy to forget.

Evergreen Park

1. NEW! HALLOWEEN DISPLAY, 9243 S. RIDGEWAY, EVERGREEN PARK, IL. -- Guess who’s coming to dinner? Your old pals Freddy Krueger, Creepy Clown and a headless bride. Lights on nightly through Oct. 31.

Burbank

1. THE NEPHILIM FALLEN ANGELS, 8211 S. MULLIGAN AVE., BURBANK - It’s heartwarming when neighbors get along and pitch in to turn their front lawns into a hell for fallen angels every Halloween. Animated figures populate surround two houses for double the scare, as well as live ghouls on the weekends that will poke you. Now in its sixth year, the Ghoul Crew comes out to play on Oct. 7 and runs through Halloween. Runs 7-11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 7-10 p.m. Sundays and 7-11 p.m. Oct. 29-31. This year, Nephilim will be accepting donations for Bobbo’s Fund for Young Hearts, that works to eliminate preventable deaths of young people by funding heart screenings and portable AEDs for schools and youth sports organizations.

Justice

1. NIGHTMARE ON CRONIN, 7729 CRONIN AVE., JUSTICE - A haunted forest, insane clown room, and popouts that will scare the snot out of you. Set the GPS because word on the street is that it’s hard to find. 6-10 p.m. through Halloween.
2. ENDLESS ROAD, 7350 S. BANKS, JUSTICE - 6-10 p.m. through Oct. 31. Speed kills.
3. NEW! CEMETERY DISPLAY, 8025 S. 82ND COURT, JUSTICE, IL -- Don’t let the highly creative name of “Cemetery Display” deter you from visiting this massive tampered cemetery display, including floating body parts, a hologram Mike Meyers and great big gobs of guts with maggots. Watch the Horror Tourers 2015 youtube review.

Oak Forest

1. MOE’S GRAVEYARD, 6961 W. 156TH PLACE (156TH PLACE AND OAK PARK AVE), OAK FOREST - Taking a break in 2016. Moe will be back bigger and better in 2017.

Orland Park / Orland Hills

1. SCARES ON SEQUOIA, 7631 SEQUOIA COURT, ORLAND PARK, IL -- This Halloween haunt combines the 1970s and 1980s horror movie characters like Leatherface, Michael Myers and Jason along with your traditional zombies, witches, monsters and enclosures to startle and scare you. The Horror Tourers, a group of Halloween enthusiasts that visit Chicago-area yard displays rates Scares on Sequoia 5/5 chainsaws. NEW FOR 2016: A 6-7 room walk thru featuring a witch coven, zombie apocalypse, Incinerator Room, pirates and plenty of jump scares. Reservations required for the walk-thru from 6-9:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays via Facebook; but the walk-thru is open all weekend from 6-10:30 p.m. on the weekend, with actors ready to scare to the snot out of you. Donations are accepted. Dusk to 10 p.m., maybe a little later on weekends through Halloween.
2. SHURLEY HOUSE OF THE DEAD, 17404 DEER CREEK DRIVE, ORLAND PARK. There is lots to see in this yard haunt full of creatures, ghouls, headless brides and more. Check out the projection of the lady in the upstairs window that turns into a ghoul before your very eyes. Fun but not too scary. Kids will like it. Dusk to ten, maybe a little later on weekends through Halloween. Oct. 6th – 31st. ~ Dusk – 10:30 – Weekends 11:00 –Outdoor Haunt Only
3. DARK SHADOWS, 16741 88TH COURT, ORLAND HILLS -- If spitting, thrashing skeletons are your thing, than this Orland Hills Haunt is for you. Since 2005, Mike Yazumbek has been turning his front lawn into a creepy graveyard taken over by zombies and skeletons, featuring over 15 animated props. Yazumbek crafts all of the props by hand. The haunt also features a garage walkthrough with a dungeon and clown room. features a haunted garage walkthrough and live actors, weather permitting. Ths residential haunt is also collecting canned goods for Haunts Against Hunger Food Drive. Hours are 6-10 p.m. Oct. 22 through Oct. 31. The yard has won many awards, including Orland Hills’ prize for the best Halloween-decorated display. 6-10 p.m. Oct. 22 through Oct. 31. This residential haunt is FREE.
4. NEW! SPIDER WEB HOUSE, 7335 WHEELER DRIVE, ORLAND PARK, IL -- The itsy bitsy spider crawled up on this house and is waiting to snare human flies.
5. NEW! SCARY SHERI’S HOUSE OF HORROR, 9048 SHERI LANE, ORLAND PARK, IL -- Lambchop must be lurking somewhere in the shadows. Open dusk to 11ish daily, through Halloween.
6. NEW! THE GRAVEYARD SHIFT, 16801 89TH AVE., ORLAND HILLS, IL -- Sean McCarthy’s Graveyard Shift is shattering all kinds of attendance records -- with over 100 people passing through each weekend night. These Orland Hills third-shifters are dying to meet you. Features creepy animated clowns, zombies, a real coffin and other scary props. Runs 7-10 pm. Sunday- Friday, and 7 p.m.-midnight Saturday.
7. NEW! SQUEALER ON WHEELER, 7418 WHEELER DRIVE, ORLAND PARK, IL -- What do you get when mix up spider webs, moldy bread and mucky mud? You get Squealer on Wheeler. This friendly haunt is open from dusk until 10:30 p.m. daily, through Halloween.

Midlothian

1. NEW! MIDLOTHIAN MANOR, 15000 LAWNDALE AVE., MIDLOTHIAN, IL -- Another corner lot classic now in its third year. The cemetery is closed to to this living. If you went in 2015, plan to visit again this year because more stuff has been added.

2. NEW! OLD TOWN TERROR, 4359 W. 150th ST., MIDLOTHIAN, IL -- Formerly located at 15400 S. Laramie Ave., in Oak Forest, Old Town Terror and its demented clowns have moved to Midlothian. This award-winning home haunt features a huge yard display, including a garage walkthrough of clowns, spiders and the unknown. Check out their review on Horror Tourers.

Palos Heights

1. NEW! OZ HOUSE, 7021 W. 125TH ST. PALOS HEIGHTS, IL -- A sentimental favorite among Palos Heights residents, this whimsical display recreates scenes from the famous 1939 film. it’s not scary but kids will love it. (Well, the witch is a little scary.)

Hickory Hills

1. NEW LOCATION: CORNER OF THE CURSED, 8945 82ND AVE., HICKORY HILLS, IL -- Oak Lawn's little corner of Hades has moved to Hickory Hills. We love a guy whose sole goal in life is to fill a corner lot with clowns. This cursed yard display features two real coffins, a headless girl whose neck drains blood into a bucket and a swinging hangman. On weekends actors join the motion-sensored animatronics. WARNING: Monsters talk back. Read the Patch 2013 writeup.

Alsip

1. Mausoleum de Balcony, 12635 CENTRAL AVENUE, ALSIP, IL -- No yard, just a creepy balcony with the occasional hologram ghost floating by the stained glass window. Dusk to 10 p.m. through Halloween.
2. NEW: ERIE ACRES CEMETERY, 3624 W. 123RD PLACE, ALSIP, IL -- A must-see haunt, Erie Acres Cemetery won first place in Alsip’s Halloween yard decorating contest in 2015. The homeowners have built a mausoleum and cemetery with lights, music and fog. Beware of the undertaker.

Hometown

1. THE HAUNTED CEMETERY, 4033 W. 89TH PLACE, HOMETOWN, IL -- This creepy upstart features a prevailing spider web theme, a headless man blood fountain and miniature people hanging in a cage from a tree. On some nights little creatures come out to scare the snot out of you. Dusk to 10 p.m. through Halloween.
2. LORETTO CEMETERY, 9041 BECK PLACE, HOMETOWN, IL -- Tom Roche has been decorating his yard for the past five years, adding props and animatronics. The haunt includes 25-30 props, a handful which move and talk. Roche and his girlfriend are out most nights haunting the yard with chainsaws and sledgehammers. This homeowner also has another surprise for trick or treaters. Watch out for the man on the lawn mower. Yard lights up 7-7:30 p.m. most nights through Oct. 31.
3. NEW: HOMETOWN’S UNFORGIVEN, 4546 W. 89TH PLACE, HOMETOWN, IL -- If you’re out and about this Halloween, stop by this haunt for a free hug. This cemetery features a torso bleeding into a wall, with an real 8X12 haunted house filled with two-way mirrors, a drop panel and a surprise in the ceiling. (We won’t spoil it for you.) If you stopped by last year, come back again because every year is different. The real fun happens on Halloween when the monsters are released and no one is safe. Should be open by Oct. 14.

Lemont

1. RESURRECTION ON ROSEHILL, 323 ROSEHILL DRIVE, LEMONT, IL -- The haunted house has become a time-honored tradition for the Pukula family who have put together this display every year for nearly three decades. The yard features a large, interactive exhibit of coffins, scarecrows, monsters, hayrides and other scary sights.

Mokena

1. NEW! FABIAN’S HAUNTED HOUSE ON SARKIS, 19410 SARKIS DRIVE, MOKENA, IL -- Don’t let those friendly pumpkin inflatables on the front lawn fool you. John Fabian runs a different 3-D mix every night in his home’s six windows and the door, from witches stirring brews to ghosts flittering across the windows. On Sunday night, Fabian features a Zombie show (“My wife thinks they’re a little gory.”) where the windows turn blood red. Young kids will enjoy this haunt, except you might want to skip Zombie night. Creative and fascinating. We’ve included a YouTube video that Fabian put together. How does he do that??????

Western Springs

1. NEW! HAUNTED YARD DISPLAY, 4125 FOREST AVE., WESTERN SPRINGS, IL -- Kids will love this beautifully decorated, but not to scary yard near Laidlow Elementary School in Western Springs.

Do you know of a Halloween yard display that should be included on Patch’s list? Family-friendly displays are also welcome to join the list. We’ll keep updating it throughout October, so check again next Friday. Send us the address, pictures and description to lorraine.swanson@patch.com.

Also, check out these other great resources for Halloween yard haunts:

• We Love Halloween
• Horror Tourers: Rating and Reviewing Illinois Haunts
• Chicagoland Home Haunts
• Chicago Haunt Builders