Haunted House Chicago
Realm of Terror placed third on Haunted House Chicago's 2025 Official Top 13, behind HellsGate and Abandoned and ahead of the rest of the listed Chicagoland field.
View the ranking →Independent recognition · 24th season
PROVEN IN THE DARK
Anyone can call themselves the best. We would rather show you what independent reviewers have said across more than two decades.
HauntedIllinois.com
Realm of Terror finished #1 in HauntedIllinois.com's 2025 Illinois rankings. Across the site's historical archives, Realm of Terror has accumulated more #1 finishes than any other haunted attraction.
View HauntedIllinois →Haunted House Chicago
Named Haunted House Chicago's top haunted attraction in 2009.
See the historical rankings →Top-13 History
Haunted House Chicago documented Realm of Terror as a consistent Top 13 attraction beginning in 2006, with placements across multiple eras of the Chicagoland haunt market.
Explore the history →Built here. Judged against everyone.
24TH
SEASON.
Realm of Terror opened in 2003. The 2026 season is our 24th year of building original horror in Round Lake Beach.
Rankings change every season. Attractions open, close, expand and reinvent themselves. The part we are proud of is not simply staying in the conversation: Realm of Terror has repeatedly reached the top of HauntedIllinois.com's rankings, with more #1 finishes in its archive than any other attraction.
See the 2026 SeasonFor reporters, creators and researchers
Source the claim, not the hype.
We intentionally link to the independent publishers behind the recognition above. Media and creators looking for additional history, approved photography or interview access can visit our Press + Creator Center.