Nestled within the Elgin, IL industrial area sits an unassuming abandoned factory. But look into its history, and one finds reports of mutilated bodies, disappearances, and paranormal phenomena that continue to this day; all inside the walls of what was once a real-life casket factory. And it’s here, within these dark halls and dusty, forgotten rooms, that Evil Intentions Haunted House has opened for business. Started as a home haunt by owner Mike Fitzpatrick in 2005, Evil Intentions quickly became known for its intensity and has been in its current home for six years.
First and foremost, Evil Intentions oozes atmosphere. The reality of the building’s history helps to foster an ominous feeling before even stepping foot on the property. The building itself is foreboding, and its legacy of real world horror and worn down visual tone are allowed to take center stage. There are still very impressive environments in the haunt, but they augment what’s already present, rather than get in the way. The crew have struck a beautiful balance between existing and new construction, and it sets the stage brilliantly for the house’s inhabitants to do what they do best: terrify visitors.
Have no doubt, this haunted attraction is intense. It’s geared for an adult audience, and past visitors have suffered from panic attacks, fainting spells, and even loss of bodily functions. An ambulance is on call every weekend to help those that find the experience to be too much for them. As you make your way through the old building, your path leads through the center of grisly scenes of murder, mayhem, and the macabre; putting you in the middle of the action and into close quarters with the criminally insane, evil cultists, and other assorted nasties clawing their way out of your deepest, darkest fears. And with between 60 and 70 actors lurking about on an average night, you can rest assured that there is most definitely something behind the next corner ready to jump out at you when you least suspect it.
This multi-level haunt uses a variety of techniques to scare you, from classic misdirection to modern special effects, and it’s clear that they’re masters of the craft. There was one spot in the maze where we got completely lost, and had to be shown the way out. This is by design, of course, and that section of the house boasts a 100% success rate for confusing visitors last year. The use of tight spaces, lighting and special effects, along with well-developed, high energy characters, mesh together wonderfully to create an immersive, aggressive, terrifying experience. And with 90% of the haunt having been changed from last season, even returning visitors can expect new horrific visions and twisted nightmares come to life.
Evil Intentions is an exhilarating journey, and is perfect for those that are looking for a more aggressive, intense experience than what’s offered by other haunts in the area. This attraction does get crowded quickly, so it is recommended to come earlier in the season, or show up early on the night you’re planning to attend. Three to four hour wait times are not uncommon.
Slideshow-Check out even more of the terror within Evil Intentions
Evil Intentions Haunted House is currently running select nights through October 31. The house opens at 7:30 PM, and runs until 10PM on weekdays and 12AM on Fridays and Saturdays. Tickets are $25 for general admission, and $35 for VIP. This haunted attraction is not recommended for children under 13.
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