It is that time of year when pumpkins, costumes, candy, apple cider and caramel apples are everywhere; but haunted houses become one of the main attractions for nights out. Here are a few options located near the University that students can attend to help them get into the Halloween spirit.

Bone Saw Mill

601 N Country Fair Drive in Champaign, Ill.

Located in Champaign on Country Fair Drive, the Bone Saw Mill haunted house is just about 15 minutes away from campus. The Haunt at Bone Saw Mill maintains a continuous sawmill theme because it used to be a sawmill called Boneyard Mill. Jace Hoppes, director and designer of The Haunt at Bone Saw Mill used some of the saws from the old sawmill to create the attraction. The website for The Haunt at Bone Saw Mill contains the entire history of how the sawmill became haunted. After emerging from the many sawmill-themed rooms of The Haunt, visitors can enter a zombie shoot, which consists of three rounds of shooting zombies with a paintball gun. 

“We’re just trying to make sure that we have fun with everything that we’re doing here and that the people that come here have as much fun as they can,” said Hoppes. This haunted house is open through Saturday. Admission to The Haunt and zombie shoot costs $15, and admission to both attractions costs $25.

Gates of Delirium

115 N. Central St. in Gilman, Ill.

Gates of Delirium is open for its third season in Gilman, Ill., and will be open Halloween night, as well as Friday and Saturday. All of the actors in Gates of Delirium are volunteers, and this year’s cast members seem to truly enjoy what they do, said Greg Lavender, one of four owners of the Gates of Delirium. This haunted house is farther from campus — about an hour drive — but it was voted a Top 5 Visitors’ Favorite Haunt in 2012. Tickets are $10 for general admission and $16 for front-of-the-line access. 

“I think that we’re the best value that you’ll find in central Illinois,” Lavender said.

Midway of Madness

1302 N. Coler Ave. in Urbana, Ill.

Located at the Champaign County Fairgrounds, Midway of Madness is another haunted house located near the University campus and is less than 10-minute drive away. Thursday night will be Midway of Madness’s last night open to the public. This carnival-themed haunted house is held in a barn with a dirt floor. Chad Swim, owner, actor and manager of basic operations, said that Midway of Madness has about 40 actors on a nightly basis. Admission to the haunted house is $10.

Nightmare Alley presented by Fear Factory

1568 E. Grove Ave. in Rantoul Ill.

Jason Tatar, owner of Nightmare Alley, said the haunted house will be open Halloween night as well as Nov. 1 and 2 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Admission is $13 per person, which includes a trip through the haunted house and one game of bowling with bowling shoes.  

Olivia can be reached at [email protected].