Spider Hill
{{short description|Annual haunted event in Chillicothe, Illinois}}
{{Infobox recurring event
| name = Spider Hill
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| logo = SpiderHillHauntedAttractionLogo.jpg
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| logo_caption = Spider Hill logo
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| image = Spider Hill Peoria 20231021 1037.jpg
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| caption = Sign for Spider Hill at Three Sisters Park, October 2023
| status = Active
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| frequency = Annually in October
| venue = Three Sisters Park
| location = 17189 State Route 29, Chillicothe, Illinois
| coordinates = {{Coord|40.533633|-89.301313|type:landmark||display=inline}}
| country = USA
| years_active =
| first = {{start date|1999}}
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| website = {{URL|http://threesisterspark.com//|Official website}}
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Spider Hill is an annual haunted event held at Three Sisters Park in Chillicothe, Illinois to celebrate Halloween. The attractions include a trail, haunted house, and a paranormal tour. It is touted by the organizers as the number one haunted attraction in Central Illinois.{{cite web | url = http://www.spider-hill.com/ | title = Spider Hill | date = 26 July 2008 | accessdate = 1 October 2008 }}
History
Spider Hill was launched in 1999 by the local Optimist Club{{Cite web |title=Chillicothe Optimist Club - CLUB HISTORY |url=https://www.chillicotheoptimist.org/about-us/club-history |access-date=2023-10-07 |website=www.chillicotheoptimist.org |language=en-US}} and Three Sisters Park and featured three main attractions: The Massacre Mansion, The Haunted Express haunted hayride, and The Trail of Terror, which walks visitors through the forest.{{cite news|last=Boswell|first=John|title=New Haunts: Spider Hill is the Tri-county Area's Newest Halloween Happening|work=Peoria Journal Star|location=Peoria, Illinois|date=21 October 1999|page=R1|department=Metro Thursday}}{{cite news|title=The fright stuff – A retired railroad worker is the (twisted) brains behind the horrors at Spider Hill|last=Hilyard|first=Scott|date=31 October 2005|page=C6|department=Features|work=Peoria Journal Star|location=Peoria, Illinois}} Access World News. Newsbank. Accessed via Illinois Community College Library system, Illinois Central College: http://infoweb.newsbank.com.library.icc.edu/ Attendance in the first event was 8,000. Sponsors of the event remind visitors of the legend of Spider Hill and the event's namesake where 23 individuals died at the site during World War I from venomous spider bites.{{cite news|last=Green|first=Angela|title= Field of Screams|work=Peoria Journal Star|date=3 October 2003|page=A1|department=City}}
The event is run entirely by volunteers, starting with 60 in 2000, increasing to 165 in 2007, and about 100 in 2022.{{cite news|title=Spider Hill adds new frights – Chillicothe haunted house runs through Halloween|last=McMenamin|first=Ed|date=6 October 2007|page=B6|department=City|work=Peoria Journal Star|location=Peoria, Illinois}} Access World News. Newsbank. Accessed via Illinois Community College Library system, Illinois Central College: http://infoweb.newsbank.com.library.icc.edu/{{Cite web |last=Schopp |first=Collin |date=2022-09-22 |title=Chillicothe haunted house prepares for scares |url=https://www.wcbu.org/local-news/2022-09-22/chillicothe-haunted-house-prepares-for-scares |access-date=2023-10-07 |website=WCBU Peoria |language=en}} Volunteers participate in organized workshops to share scaring techniques.{{cite news|title=Tricks of the afraid trade – Spider Hill's haunted attractions scarring some, sharing secrets with others|last=Towery|first=Jennifer| date=13 October 2005|page=R1|department=Neighbors|work=Peoria Journal Star|location=Peoria, Illinois}} Access World News. Newsbank. Accessed via Illinois Community College Library system, Illinois Central College: http://infoweb.newsbank.com.library.icc.edu/ The last attendance figures released were in 2004, when 20,000 visitors went through the various attractions during the October weekends and Halloween night. Event volunteers or actors reveal the biggest screams result from encounters with terrifying clowns, causing a grown man to faint twice in 2003 and another to spit at the circus specter for scaring his girlfriend.{{cite news|title=Web of Gore|last=Burke|first=Brad|date=4 October 2002|page=B01|department=City|work=Peoria Journal Star|location= Peoria, Illinois}} Access World News. Newsbank. Accessed via Illinois Community College Library system, Illinois Central College: http://infoweb.newsbank.com.library.icc.edu/
Spider Hill went on hiatus in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|last=Hilyard|first=Scott|title=What a nightmare, no Spider Hill for Halloween in 2020|url=https://www.pjstar.com/story/entertainment/local/2020/09/09/what-nightmare-no-spider-hill-for-halloween-in-2020/42830409/|access-date=2022-02-02|website=Peoria Journal Star|language=en-US}}
Attractions
= Massacre Mansion =
Massacre Mansion is the haunted house, which encompasses about {{convert|8000|sqft|abbr=on}}. In 2012, the operators of Spider Hill bought a haunted house from Cedar Rapids called Nightmare Manor. Its props and scenery were used to double the size of Massacre Mansion.{{cite web |last=Miller |first=Justin |date=October 3, 2012 |title=Spider Hill opens Friday with updated scares |url=http://www.chillicothetimesbulletin.com/article/20121002/news/121009882 |access-date=September 1, 2017 |website= |publisher=Chillicothe Times Bulletin |quote=}}
= Haunted Trail =
The Trail of Terror is a winding path through the forest featuring scares along the way.
= Hayride and Zombie Invasion =
The original haunted hayride was replaced with Zombie Invasion, which is a paintball shooting experience from aboard a "war wagon". In 2022, the Zombie Invasion was put on hiatus due to costs and returned to a family-family scenic ride.{{Cite web |last=Strahan |first=Maggie |date=2022-09-30 |title=Haunted locations to visit in Central Illinois this fall |url=https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/local-news/haunted-locations-to-visit-in-central-illinois-this-fall/ |access-date=2023-10-07 |website=CIProud.com |language=en-US}}
= Paranormal investigation =
In 2023, Spider Hill partnered with Enlightened Souls Paranormal investigation group to offer paranormal investigation of a historical building at the park.{{Cite web |title=Spider Hill – Three Sisters Park |url=https://three-sisters-park.com/spider-hill/ |access-date=2023-10-07 |language=en-US}} Tickets in 2023 were $45 for the paranormal investigation experience.{{Cite web |last=Watznauer |first=Kelsey |date=2023-10-02 |title=Spooky season awaits at these Central Illinois haunted houses 👻 |url=https://pantagraph.com/news/local/spooky-season-awaits-at-these-central-illinois-haunted-houses/article_f73e294c-5ee2-11ee-96f2-a72b36e3ad2f.html |access-date=2023-10-07 |website=pantagraph.com |language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
Other bibliography
- {{cite news | title = Spider Hill will hold Chillicothe blood drive – Haunted attraction, Red Cross join forces | last = An | first = Susie | date = 26 September 2005 | page = B6 | department = City | work = Peoria Journal Star | location = Peoria, Illinois }} Access World News. Newsbank. Accessed via Illinois Community College Library system, Illinois Central College: http://infoweb.newsbank.com.library.icc.edu/
- {{cite news | title = Haunted Parks Planners Expect Some 'Wet Pants' – Spider Hill Opens Tonight With Some New Frights | last = Burke | first = Brad | date = 5 October 2001 | page = B6 | department = City | work = Peoria Journal Star | location = Peoria, Illinois }} Access World News. Newsbank. Accessed via Illinois Community College Library system, Illinois Central College: http://infoweb.newsbank.com.library.icc.edu/
- {{cite news | title = SCARE OR BE SCARED – Ready for a few tricks and treats? Get a Jump on Halloween With some of the area's best haunts| last = Burke | first = Brad | date = 5 October 2006 | page = C1 | department = Cue | work = Peoria Journal Star | location = Peoria, Illinois }} Access World News. Newsbank. Accessed via Illinois Community College Library system, Illinois Central College: http://infoweb.newsbank.com.library.icc.edu/
- {{cite news | title = Spooktacular Spider Hill Opens Tonight | last = Green | first = Angela | date = 1 October 2004 | page = B6 | department = City | work = Peoria Journal Star | location = Peoria, Illinois }} Access World News. Newsbank. Accessed via Illinois Community College Library system, Illinois Central College: http://infoweb.newsbank.com.library.icc.edu/
- {{cite news | title = Terrifying Secrets – Special Effects Make Spider Hill Events Truly Spooktacular | last = Hilyard | first = Scott | date = 31 October 2000 | page = C10 | department = Feature | work = Peoria Journal Star | location = Peoria, Illinois }} Access World News. Newsbank. Accessed via Illinois Community College Library system, Illinois Central College: http://infoweb.newsbank.com.library.icc.edu/
External links
- [http://www.spider-hill.com/ Spider Hill official website]
Category:1999 establishments in Illinois
Category:Chillicothe, Illinois
Category:Festivals in Illinois
Category:Halloween events in the United States
Category:Recurring events established in 1999
Category:Spiders in popular culture
Category:Tourist attractions in Peoria County, Illinois