Spider Hill Explained

Spider Hill
Status:Active
Frequency:Annually in October
Venue:Three Sisters Park
Location:17189 State Route 29, Chillicothe, Illinois
Country:USA
Founders:-->
Or Sponsors:-->

Spider Hill is an annual haunted event held at Three Sisters Park in Chillicothe, Illinois to celebrate Halloween. The attractions include a trail, haunted house, and a haunted hayride. It is touted by the organizers as the number one haunted attraction in Central Illinois.[1]

History

Spider Hill was launched in 1999 by the local Optimist Club[2] and Three Sisters Park and featured three main attractions: The Massacre Mansion, The Haunted Express haunted hayride, and The Trail of Terror, which walks visitors through the forest.[3] [4] Attendance in the first event was 8,000. Sponsors of the event remind visitors of the legend of Spider Hill and the event's namesake where 23 individuals died at the site during World War I from venomous spider bites.[5]

The event is run entirely by volunteers, starting with 60 in 2000, increasing to 165 in 2007, and about 100 in 2022.[6] [7] Volunteers participate in organized workshops to share scaring techniques.[8] The last attendance figures released were in 2004, when 20,000 visitors went through the various attractions during the October weekends and Halloween night. Event volunteers or actors reveal the biggest screams result from encounters with terrifying clowns, causing a grown man to faint twice in 2003 and another to spit at the circus specter for scaring his girlfriend.[9]

Spider Hill went on hiatus in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[10]

Attractions

Massacre Mansion

Massacre Mansion is the haunted house, which encompasses about 8000square feet. In 2012, the operators of Spider Hill bought a haunted house from Cedar Rapids called Nightmare Manor. Its props and scenery were used to double the size of Massacre Mansion.[11]

Haunted Trail

The Trail of Terror is a winding path through the forest featuring scares along the way.

Hayride and Zombie Invasion

The original haunted hayride was replaced with Zombie Invasion, which is a paintball shooting experience from aboard a "war wagon". In 2022, the Zombie Invasion was put on hiatus due to costs and returned to a family-family scenic ride.[12]

Paranormal investigation

In 2023, Spider Hill partnered with Enlightened Souls Paranormal investigation group to offer paranormal investigation of a historical building at the park.[13] Tickets in 2023 were $45 for the paranormal investigation experience.[14]

Other bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Spider Hill . 26 July 2008 . 1 October 2008 .
  2. Web site: Chillicothe Optimist Club - CLUB HISTORY . 2023-10-07 . www.chillicotheoptimist.org . en-US.
  3. News: Boswell. John. New Haunts: Spider Hill is the Tri-county Area's Newest Halloween Happening. Peoria Journal Star. Peoria, Illinois. 21 October 1999. R1. Metro Thursday.
  4. News: The fright stuff – A retired railroad worker is the (twisted) brains behind the horrors at Spider Hill. Hilyard. Scott. 31 October 2005. C6. Features. Peoria Journal Star. Peoria, Illinois. Access World News. Newsbank. Accessed via Illinois Community College Library system, Illinois Central College: http://infoweb.newsbank.com.library.icc.edu/
  5. News: Green. Angela. Field of Screams. Peoria Journal Star. 3 October 2003. A1. City.
  6. News: Spider Hill adds new frights – Chillicothe haunted house runs through Halloween. McMenamin. Ed. 6 October 2007. B6. City. Peoria Journal Star. Peoria, Illinois. Access World News. Newsbank. Accessed via Illinois Community College Library system, Illinois Central College: http://infoweb.newsbank.com.library.icc.edu/
  7. Web site: Schopp . Collin . 2022-09-22 . Chillicothe haunted house prepares for scares . 2023-10-07 . WCBU Peoria . en.
  8. News: Tricks of the afraid trade – Spider Hill's haunted attractions scarring some, sharing secrets with others. Towery. Jennifer. 13 October 2005. R1. Neighbors. Peoria Journal Star. Peoria, Illinois. Access World News. Newsbank. Accessed via Illinois Community College Library system, Illinois Central College: http://infoweb.newsbank.com.library.icc.edu/
  9. News: Web of Gore. Burke. Brad. 4 October 2002. B01. City. Peoria Journal Star. Peoria, Illinois. Access World News. Newsbank. Accessed via Illinois Community College Library system, Illinois Central College: http://infoweb.newsbank.com.library.icc.edu/
  10. Web site: Hilyard. Scott. What a nightmare, no Spider Hill for Halloween in 2020. 2022-02-02. Peoria Journal Star. en-US.
  11. Web site: Miller . Justin . October 3, 2012 . Spider Hill opens Friday with updated scares . September 1, 2017 . Chillicothe Times Bulletin .
  12. Web site: Strahan . Maggie . 2022-09-30 . Haunted locations to visit in Central Illinois this fall . 2023-10-07 . CIProud.com . en-US.
  13. Web site: Spider Hill – Three Sisters Park . 2023-10-07 . en-US.
  14. Web site: Watznauer . Kelsey . 2023-10-02 . Spooky season awaits at these Central Illinois haunted houses . 2023-10-07 . pantagraph.com . en.

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