17404 Deer Creek Drive, Orland Park, IL
year: 2013
Shurley House is one of the Horror Tourers annual favorite haunts. Located in Orland Park, Shurley House fills its front yard space with displays of all kinds, including a full size crypt and a giant tower filled with ghouls of all types.
There is so much to see here that one can easily spend 20-30 minutes just looking around and making sure that nothing is missed. The front yard is packed, and the displays carry on up the front walkway, onto the porch, inside the rooms on the bottom floor, and even in the windows of the top floor. In addition there are more props along the driveway and even hanging from the house itself. If you don't look closely you'll be sure to miss a display of some kind. This year's setup included a 1920's style Egyptian room, reminiscent of the styles that were popularized after the discovery of the tomb of King Tutankhamun in 1923. It includes a sarcophagus, a creepy ghoul in full Egyptian headdress rocking in a rocking chair, and a life size female figure dressed in 1920's regalia. The top windows feature videos playing that project figures onto the windows themselves. They provide good scares, especially if one just barely catches them out of the corner of their eye. Both the entrance to the front walkway and the entrance to the porch are surrounded by faux stone arches topped with gargoyles and lit by flickering simulated candles and lights, giving the impression that visitors are walking into an old, disused cemetery. Figures galore populate the main portion of the display, from skeletons to zombies to famous monsters like Freddy Krueger, in coffins and out of coffins, with glowing eyes and ghoulish grins. Also, on certain nights, live actors hide amongst the fake ones, jumping out to startle the unwary. This year's live actors included a white spectral figure lurking by the crypt, a ghoul in a white tux and top hat, a Norman Bates figure dressed as his mother, and even a headless figure carrying his head in his hand - most effectively blended in with the surroundings and managed to surprise even veteran haunt visitors like ourselves.
Overall, there is so much to see at Shurley House that it's worth multiple visits. Bring the family, too, as it's a bit scary but not too much, and if you're lucky you'll catch one oft he haunt owners giving out candy.Shurley House is one of a long string of yard displays and home haunts that are easily better than some professional haunts, plus it's free, so if you're on a budget it's easy on the wallet. We encourage all haunt lovers to visit Shurley House - you'll be glad you did! |
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