Midnight Terror Haunted House celebrates 10th anniversary

Midnight Terror Haunted House in Oak Lawn marks a decade of dread this autumn as it prepares for its biggest and best season since first opening in the village 10 years ago.
Launched in 2014 by haunt owner and Marine veteran Justin Cerniuk, Midnight Terror has big plans to help commemorate the milestone and make 2024 the most monstrously memorable year for visitors yet.

For starters, the haunt is cutting prices all season long by over 40% on a limited supply of general admission tickets (must be purchased online at MidnightTerror.com). That means you’ll pay as little as $20 to get into Chicagoland’s #1 haunted house.

“We’re providing the best Halloween event value in Chicagoland by offering throwback prices similar to what we charged 10 years ago when we first opened. But act fast and get yours before these $20 tickets are all claimed,” says Cerniuk. “The good news is that after they’re gone, you can still save $5 by purchasing tickets online versus on-site at the ticket booth.”

As they do every year, Cerniuk and crew have reinvented key sections of Midnight Terror for 2024, from the festively decorated waiting zone to the final exit passages. Visitors can expect a more immersive experience as well as an all-new psycho circus area populated by malevolent clowns. The haunt has also hired a record number of costumed actors who are specially trained to terrorize patrons.

Your paid admission provides access to two interconnected, maze-like haunted experiences under one roof: Black Oak Grove, and the Factory of Malum. Every year, Midnight Terror expands the mythology built around its exclusive characters, including the malignant overlord Malum and the wraith-like Willow. This season will mark their concluding chapter; Midnight Terror will roll out an entirely new theme and fresh roster of monsters in 2025.

“It’s a fulfilling achievement to reach 10 years. We’ve built a major following, a strong tradition, and a stellar reputation over the past decade that I’m very proud of,” adds Cerniuk, who ran a popular yard haunt in Oak Lawn for 13 years before opening his commercial haunted attraction. “We’ve had over 200,000 visitors to Midnight Terror since we first opened. I love seeing so many of the same loyal faces return to our haunt every year, including fans who years ago were teenagers or young adults but who now bring their own youngsters to our haunt.”

Cerniuk is also excited to host four special events this year:

• “Lights On Trick-or-Treating” on Oct. 26 from noon to 3 p.m., during which parents can bring their younger kids to tour the haunt while the lights are on and “scary mode” is turned off; friendly staff will pass out candy, take selfies, and award prizes to every child wearing a costume (all-ages admission is $12 per person; all children must be accompanied by an adult).
• “Blackout” on Nov. 3 from 7-10 p.m., when all lights inside are turned off and visitors must rely on a glow stick to navigate the dark haunt (admission from $30).
• “Clown Takeover” on Nov. 8 and 9 from 7-10 p.m., when the haunt’s theme switches to a “carn-evil” swarming with killer clowns (admission from $30).
• “Christmas Fear” on Dec. 13, 14, and 15 from 7-10 p.m., which promises an unforgettable experience in Yuletide terror (admission from $30).

Attendees enjoy covered outdoor and indoor waiting as well as entertainment provided by a DJ and stilt walkers, photo opportunities before entering and departing, free Midnight Terror prizes given away every night, special 10th-anniversary merch, and more. You can get details on other promotions and discounts by signing up for the haunt’s official email list, Nightmare Fuel, at MidnightTerror.com.

Ranked as one of the best haunted houses in Chicagoland by TimeOut, a top 10 haunted attraction by USA Today, a top 10 haunt by ScareFactor.com, and one of the 10 scariest haunted houses in America by ScaryOverload.com, Midnight Terror has been featured numerous times on Fox 32 and comes highly recommended by Thrillist, NBC, the Chicago Tribune, Patch.com, Haunted House Chicago, Illinois Haunted Houses, and others. The haunt has also received more than 1,200 five-star reviews from visitors on Google and Facebook.

Midnight Terror Haunted House is located at 5520 W. 111th St., Oak Lawn, Ill., 60453, just east of the intersection of Central Avenue and 111th Street. General admission per person starts at $20 online* and $35 at the onsite ticket booth; Fast Pass admission per person, which places you in a line that’s three times faster than the general admission line, is $55. Or you can purchase immediate access ($80 per person), which guarantees instant entry into the haunt.
*An additional fee starting at $2.88 is charged for each online ticket

Midnight Terror is wheelchair accessible and open, rain or shine, from:

• 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. most Fridays and Saturdays: Oct. 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26
• 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays and select days: Sept. 27-29, Oct. 6, 13, 17, 20, 24, 27-31, and Nov. 1-3, 8, 9

Visitors can park for no charge on-site or take a free shuttle to Midnight Terror; the shuttle departs from 9525 Tulley Ave., Oak Lawn, regularly during hours of operation (check the website for the latest shuttle schedules).

For more information, check out MidnightTerror.com or email [email protected].