HHC: Welcome guys. We have had the pleasure of many tours through your house (both lights on and light off). We have found some of the best-designed scenes at your house. From the well detailed multiple graveyards, to the Goth Chamber, and through the best indoor forest we have found, Dream Reapers really has a well-rounded tour. How many scenes do you have and which ones are your favorites to see your patrons get scared?

DR: Sitting here counting the scenes WE come up with about 22 we ran out of toes and fingers to count on. Our favorites are the ones that make our patrons wet themselves. That means it must be good!!!! We will have our new favorites this year because almost half of the house has or is in the process of being changed for the 2002 season!

HHC: How long has "Dream Reapers" been around?

DR: This will be our 3rd year together

HHC: Of course, that leads us to our next question. It's no secret that Dream Reapers used to be associated with Jim Upchurch and the 11th Hour Haunted House. With all the screaming in the past, have wounds been healed?

DR: There seems to be no hard feelings between Jim and ourselves. We parted ways and both went in our own creative directions.

HHC: Is it easier or harder to have 5 partners/owners?

DR: It is definitely harder. With 5 you have an uneven number which makes decision making easier and 5 creative minds are better than 1.

HHC: With the well-detailed design of your house, we wonder if you guys sleep there! How many hours has it taken you to get Dream Reapers to its current state?

DR: Being able to stay at our current location really enables us to put in the time to make DREAMREAPERS what it is. If you think about it 40+hrs a week x 3yrs..............................................

HHC: Where do you get your inspiration?

DR: From our SICK & TWISTED minds!!!!!

HHC: Can you tell us a little more about one of the most innovative products on the market known as, "Sinister Scents"?

DR: Yes, it is just another one of our SICK & TWISTED ideas. If your in a graveyard why not make it smell like one with the smells of fresh dirt, decaying matter, evergreen & pine trees even skunk. Cotton candy & popcorn in your clown room, hospital & dentist in your morgue, musty smell in the attic, etc... Most haunted houses assault the senses of sight, sound and touch. Now we are helping them assault the sense of smell !!!!!! To check out our list of scents go to our Web site: Dreamreapers.com

HHC: How many people did you put through your house last year?

DR: Attendance was up from the year before despite the tragedy we endured on 911

HHC: Geographically, Dream Reapers is the closest haunted house to Chicago. What part of the area do most of your patrons come from?

DR: They flock from all over. We have patrons coming from the City, suburbs, Wisconsin, Indiana, and even Michigan!

HHC: The 2002 Halloween season is quickly approaching and with that the Top 10 race is starting all over again. What changes are you planning? Any hints?

DR: As we mentioned above about HALF of our house has changed from the 2001 season.

HHC: The biggest downfall from our 2000 to our 2001 review was in the "performance" category. As said before, the scenes are incredible. But, how do you plan to improve in this category?

DR: Please remember all our actors are VOLUNTEERS and they do the best they can. Some have been with us going on 3 years. They get better every year! We are going to put at least 1 of our experienced actors in each scene this year.

HHC: How many actors do you have working at your house on a normal night? Maximum amount? What is the minimum to run the house?

DR: Anywhere between 35-50 depending on the night of the week it is. We can probably run with a minimum of about 30

HHC: Do you guys have any "true haunting" stories you would like to share?

DR: Well, we seriously think we might have brought something into the house either in our funeral home scene (which has been retired) or our attic scene. We have experienced foot steps, temperature changes, feelings of spiritual presence and have seen shadows. Not to mention the occasional sounds of doors slamming.

HHC: Do you have any "pre-haunting" warm-up rituals?

DR: Say hello to our resident ghosts upon entering the House.

HHC: OK you knew it was coming…do you drink a lot of Red-Bull?

DR: No. VENOM.

HHC: Other than your own haunt, what is your favorite haunted house?

DR: The Beast and the Edge of Hell in Kansas City, a couple of local Jaycees and, of course, Disney's Haunted Mansion.

HHC: OK and now for our "Fatal Five"…ready? Beside Haunting, what are your other hobbies?

DR: Chips/Dips/Chains and Whips.

HHC: Favorite Halloween Costume?

DR: Ours.

HHC: Favorite Horror Movie?

DR: Evil Dead Army of Darkness.

HHC: Favorite Horror Villain?

DR: Dracula.

HHC: Favorite Musician(s)?

DR: The band from Dusk Til Dawn.

HHC: Finally, what would like to say to all your fans and everyone that is reading this interview and considering making the trip to visit your house?

DR: We decided to go back to the basics of good old fashioned haunting combined with actors, animatronics and high detail. Come out and experience it for yourself.

HHC: Thank you for your time, guys. We look forward to seeing what Dream Reapers has in store for us this year.

Dream Reapers Haunted House is located in Melrose Park, Illinois. Interview originally posted on Haunted House Chicago during the month of August 2002.