Killdare Haunted City 2021

Killdare Haunted City
Bridgeview, Illinois
Visited on: Friday, October 15, 2021

Vital Signs:
Year opened: 2021
Number of seasons to date: 1
Number of attractions: 1
Number of actors: 30
Setting: Outdoor
Fun Fact: Some of the props and staff used to be a part of the now closed D.E.A.D. Rising Haunted House

As the kids say, it has been a hot minute since we have been to a haunted attraction in Bridgeview. But, when we heard the rumors that one might be surfacing, we were pretty excited. The suburbs near west and southwest of Chicago have a legacy for producing some of the best “old-school” haunted houses in the game. When we heard who was on the roster and actively involved with this newly emerging attraction, we started to let our imaginations run wild.

Located on the grounds of Commissioner’s Park, just behind the Bridgeview Park District office, Killdare Haunted City isn’t flashy from the parking lot. In fact, the outside is very deceiving. While we might consider it “quiet” compared to other attractions, we forged ahead. As we approached the front entrance to the attraction, familiar sounds of metal music and chainsaws filled the air. As we settled-in, we were met by The Knightmare who set the mood and properly welcomed us to town.

As we approached the entrance to Killdare Haunted City, we were addressed by a classic favorite “Not Blade”, as some may refer to him. After a quick refresher on the rules (including the very important point to not shoot anyone), we were asked to walk up the stairs and enter into a real train car caboose. Ducking our heads, we entered into the madness expertly presided over by Kylie Smiley. Within a blink of an eye, without warning, things kicked into high gear almost instantaneously and we were off and running.

Sticking with the train theme, we exited the crazy train into a train crossing. One would say that makes total sense, and is great for sticking with the motif. But, what really impressed us was that it not only was a real caboose, but also a real operating train crossing gate and tracks! A+ for authenticity! As the equipment mesmerized us, we neglected to notice the horde of zombies quickly amassing behind us. You know that awesome point in movies when you realize that all hope is lost? Well, we had that exact feeling as we found ourselves quickly surrounded by blood-thirsty cannibals looking to get their next meal. Lucky for us, Killdare had an exit, which whisked us away to safety.

{Now, that would certainly be no fun. No, no safe-zones allowed here!)

As we continued through our trek around town, we experienced a number of fantastically executed, and fun, old school scenes like the circus, alien invasion, bathroom, and even a jungle with gorillas! During our experience in the bathroom, we met a gentleman named, “Sh*tstick” who, with his superb execution, made our journey even more disgusting! We also have to give credit to another favorite, Bummer the Clown! Bummer showcased her expert chops (and joke telling skills) providing us a quick moment of laughter during our shriek-filled trip to the circus.

Now, what town would be complete without their resident satanic preacher? Killdare was no different! Inviting us into a very special church scene, they not only had seating for all of us, but also a wonderful interior decorator! The priest certainly knew how to deliver a sermon that none of us will soon forget!

Just when we thought the tour through town was over, we had to enter one of the local residents’ homes. One well-kept trailer included an animated, blissful couple and their fluffy family pet, Dolly. What is really remarkable is that Dolly is a REAL chicken!

As we approached the city limits, we received a special performance by Sticky the Clown playing a variety of metal songs on his risen, lit up, full drum set! While infinitely better than the drummers in the subway this hauntingly good performance, of some of our favorites, was the perfect end to our frighteningly fun journey!

Monsters of Note: The Knightmare, Kylie Smiley, Bummer the Clown, “Sh*tstick,” Not Blade, the Priest, and Sticky

Bottom Line: Our very first comment after completing the entire journey was that this attraction is far bigger than we had anticipated. The path that guests follow is filled with twists and turns and kept us guessing on what was coming next. This was an incredibly fun experience, filled with a great assortment of jumps and smiles, as many of the scenes have theatrical foundations. In their first year, the team behind Killdare Haunted City showed that they are definitely serious about their craft and here to stay. Make sure you check them out! We know we can’t wait to see how they follow this up in 2022!

Don’t just take our word for it, check out these images from our visit:

-Official Haunted House Chicago Review Team Review