Countdown to 2013 - Haunted Yard Display, Oak Forest, IL

Today's entry is for a Haunted Yard display in Oak Forest.This yard display took us all by surprise. While searching for one of the regular Oak Forest displays, we came across this one, which featured lifesize figures of famous monsters like Jason, Freddy Krueger, and Mike Myers, as well as a first for us - figures of Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden! Check it all out here:

Countdown to 2013 - Cemetery Display in Justice, IL

No, the title isn't purposely vague, "Cemetery Display" was the actual name of this yard display in Justice, IL. Aside from the generic title, it was rather creative, featuring a spooky Jason Voorhees, a cool Michael Meyers, and half of a body covered in raw meat and maggots (which we hope was part of the display and not something more sinister!).

Check out our full review here.

Countdown to 2013 - Krohn's House of Terrors

Krohn's House of Terrors is one of several elaborate yard displays in the Mokena area. Along with Fear on Fiona, Grant's Graveyard, and Sunny Acres, those looking for some Halloween fun at no cost need look no further.

The Tourers first visited this location in 2010, and have come back each year since. The centerpiece of the display is a large pirate ship in the driveway of the haunt itself. This pirate ship practically life size, and features a fully decked out (no pun intended) interior composed of skeleton pirates. Surrounding the ship are light displays that look like flames, and the outside of the ship is lit by a series of skull lanterns. Although the ship is simply a display and is not something visitors can walk through, it is still most impressive.

Feel free to check out our full review here.

Countdown to 2013 - The Chop Shop

The Chop Shop was an accidental discovery for the Tourers - we were looking for Jason's Campsite Massacre and stumbled upon this one, which we originally thought was the Campsite location. It turns out it was not, so we wound up taking a look at this one as well.

The Chop Shop display is a rather simple one, featuring a few lighted objects, some tombstones, a skeletal creature hanging from the garage, and what looks like a Jason Voorhees figure imprisoned in a cage. Overall, nothing remarkable, although there was one figure at the edge of the driveway that was motion activated and started crawling towards you once you passed. Aside from that, there's not a lot to see, although the display does hold promise.

You can check out our full review here.

Countdown to 2013 - Nightmare at the Terrace

Today's review is for Nightmare at the Terrace, a great little pay haunt in Worth, Illinois. We've been visiting this one since it opened in 2009 - it's got a lot of atmosphere, some creative sets (like a homicidal Easter Bunny with missing ears), great actor enthusiasm and, at $10, some good bang for your buck. Unfortunately we didn't see a listing for 2012, so we thought it had folded, but it turns out we just missed it and it will be back in 2013, so we've very excited! We can't wait for this one to come around. Check out our full review here.

Countdown to 2013 - Jason's Campsite Massacre

Today's post is a new yard display that plays on the famous Halloween and horror them of Jason Voorhees - this one, however, is the first one we've seen dedicated solely to the Friday the 13th movies. It comes complete with Mrs. Voorhees' disembodied head and a life size Jason in a bedroom window. Check out our review here.

Countdown to 2013 - Grant's Graveyard

Today's entry is for Grant's Graveyard, a great yard display in Mokena, IL. Amongst the many props is a creepy clown carousel, a ghoulish couple in a demon headed carriage, and a ghoul ready to blow himself up. Many of the props are unique and cannot be seen elsewhere. Not only is the yard filled with many props, but the walkway up to the house is decorated with many different types of props, from skeletons to mummies to a sign proclaiming the property as a haunted house (as if anyone needed to be reminded on that1)

On the right hand side of the house is a large scarecrow display, complete with the word "Boo!" spelled out in large orange lights. There is a large Creeper from the movie Jeepers Creepers on the garage roof, and a towering scarecrow-like creature that watches over all of the proceedings.

One of the best things about Grant's Graveyard is that the giant scarecrow is really a live actor on stilts. In 2010, the figure looked like a Predator from the movie of the same name, and stood over the entrance to the front yard. He was so still that he fooled many people, including the Tourers, until he suddenly came to life and followed visitors around. In 2012 it was even better, as the stiltman was disguised as a skeleton-headed scarecrow hanging amongst stalks of cor.

For more, see our full review here.