×
• Iowa Edition •

 

Advertisement

Basement of the Dead Haunted House

 
Details
Average Review
  (13 reviews)
Scare Factor
Very Scary
Appropriate For
13 and older
Organization Type
Commercial / For Profit
Listing Categories
Haunted Houses, Escape Games
More Info
Wheelchair Accessible, Indoor Event(s), Covered Wait Area, Touching Not Allowed, Parking Fees May Apply
Share Your Photos
CLOSE

Share Your Photos!




Have you been to Basement of the Dead Haunted House? Then share photos of your experience!

Basement of the Dead:

In the late 1920’s, Walker Laundry opened at 42 West New York St. and became Aurora’s largest laundry Company. Around 1945 Imus Kilya was working there as maintenance engineer. His son Al came to work as his assistant in 1960.

Heat for the building and steam for the presses was supplied by a coal fired boiler installed when the building was built. Al and Imus continually complained that it needed to be replaced, but management wouldn’t spend the money. In 1964 the boiler exploded maiming and scalding Al and Imus. They never returned to work and rumor was they had vowed to get even.

Under the streets and building were sewer lines and tunnels well known to Al and Imus. A year or so after the explosion people from the laundry started to disappear and body parts were found in the river near the drainage pipes. Al and Imus were suspected but never found. The laundry eventually closed and the basement was never used again. Businesses have come and gone but nobody stays. Basement Of The Dead is proof that Al & Imus still exist and have made this basement their home.. The mutilation and horror you will witness is so shocking, you'll wish you never entered.

Shattered, the smashing clown, lost all sense of being human the day his famous sledgehammer trick malfunctioned, killing his wife and partner. He knew it had to have been the roadies fault for setting up the trick incorrectly or the pressure he felt from the crowd to do one more stupid trick! The hate and pain devoured his soul. Evil was all that remained. He went through the crowd like a hammer goes through a skull. When his rampage was over, 30 audience members and 15 workers found their final resting places in a puddle of their own blood. That was the last night Shattered the smashing clown was ever seen.

Rumor has it that the clown took refuge down in the darkest depths of an old building at 42 W. New York St. The locals call the building the Basement of the Dead. The story goes on to say that Shattered spent his time in exile praying to demons and learning to spread his evil across dimensions. His vivid nightmares are now becoming part of his resurrected circus. The rumor also says that all the souls he took that night followed him down there. They are keeping the smashing clown company.
Now, the circus tent is reopened! Can you hear the pipe organ in the distance? Shattered the smashing clown is longing to make you scream again. The show must go on! Come see SHATTERED Circus, The World’s Best 3D Nightmare.”

SO COME WALK THE BASEMENT OF AL & IMUS KILYA. IF YOU’VE GOT THE GUTS!
COVID-19
Some locations may have last minute updates due to changing circumstances. Please visit the attraction's website and/or social media before going to double-check that they are open.
 
 
All photos and videos within this listing are the property of Basement of the Dead Haunted House
Nearby Attractions
Get Directions

Get Directions
Across the bridge from Hollywood Casino – Behind Ballydoyle Irish Pub in the Court Yard – Free public parking one block north of The Basement of the Dead. We are only 35 miles West of Chicago and easy to get to from I88 or I55 and every road in between.

Recent Reviews

Review This Haunt
  • Unique experience

    It was such a unique experience. The lines were long, but the actors and DJ kept us entertained. The 3D haunted house was awesome. You got to walk through a little through the haunted house to get to the escape rooms. The puzzles to get out were a bit crazy. Our team failed to solve it. I will have a crack at it during my next visit. The staff was cool and friendly. Entry fee was not prohibitive. Check it out.

    Scare Factor:
    Fun Factor:
    Haunt Value:
    Posted March 2019

    Was this review helpful? YES NO

    2 out of 2 found this review helpful

  • Email Verified Creepy walkthroughs

    Visited the haunt on the event of my GF’s birthday. We had great fun in the haunted houses. The first one had scary interiors, creepy walkthroughs, and scary props. Each room had a different creepy theme and associated scares. Few of the jump scares got us totally off guard. The 3D haunted house was cool. But, personally, I liked the first one more for its scare factor. We did not survive the escape room. But we had lots of fun. The actors were passionate and seemed to love their job very much. Ticket prices were cheap as well. Recommend this haunt to all scare lovers out there.

    Scare Factor:
    Fun Factor:
    Haunt Value:
    Posted February 2019

    Was this review helpful? YES NO

    2 out of 2 found this review helpful

  • Email Verified Terrified

    TERRIFIC! The set was beautifully designed and the haunts looked like an asylum. The florescent and strobe lights will make matters worse and the props, actors jump at you scaring the hell out of you. Don’t forget to hold hands.

    Scare Factor:
    Fun Factor:
    Haunt Value:
    Posted February 2019

    Was this review helpful? YES NO

    2 out of 2 found this review helpful

  • Good Scares

    This was one of the best haunted house I have ever been to. We never got bored waiting in the line. There was good load of entertainment with DJ music, dance and monsters and clowns on the prowl. We got to click photos with them. It was quite scary and long enough and got our moneys worth of scares. The actors we truly amazing. They had their act presented really well. Good histrionics and was a pleasure watching them. Great place.

    Scare Factor:
    Fun Factor:
    Haunt Value:
    Posted November 2018

    Was this review helpful? YES NO

    2 out of 2 found this review helpful

  • Nerve wracking scares

    AMAZING. The haunted house had creepy sets and nerve wracking scares. Everything was realistic down to small details. Each room had its own theme and scares. Some rooms were so creepy that I only looked at the floor. There were numerous twists and turns that will leave you confused. Great place to get scared.

    Scare Factor:
    Fun Factor:
    Haunt Value:
    Posted November 2018

    Was this review helpful? YES NO

    2 out of 2 found this review helpful

  • Email Verified Had a great time

    I and hubby had a great time at the Basement. The lines were a bit long. Even with VIP passes, we had to wait for 30 minutes to get inside the haunt. The first haunted house had creepy sets, and bone-chilling scares and props. Few of the jump scares made me scream. Actors’ costumes/makeup were well done. The 3D haunted house was amazing to say the least. But few more actors there would have made it more entertaining. Escape rooms were challenging as expected. Ticket prices were reasonable. Staff were friendly as well. I will come again with my kids.

    Scare Factor:
    Fun Factor:
    Haunt Value:
    Posted October 2018

    Was this review helpful? YES NO

    2 out of 2 found this review helpful

  • Perfectly timed

    We had a great time at the basement of dead. Went there with a few of my friends. Most of us liked it . The scenes, actors and props were all top class. We liked how the scenes were set and on the whole how the set is designed. It was all quite unique you have not seen in other haunt houses. The scenes were perfectly timed with ample spacing of groups. Never miss this for anything else. Super, will come back.

    Scare Factor:
    Fun Factor:
    Haunt Value:
    Posted October 2018

    Was this review helpful? YES NO

    2 out of 2 found this review helpful

  • One of the best haunt house ever visited

    It was one of the best haunt house and we all loved it. It was like a carnival in the waiting area with music, food, drinks and lots going on. Once inside you will have to face the terrors of zombies and clowns. They had two haunts. The second glass was even more challenging. It was dark and needed a black flash light to navigate. It’s themed around evil clowns and the actors did a fine job. A superb experience and we had a great time. Will not miss this for anything else.

    Scare Factor:
    Fun Factor:
    Haunt Value:
    Posted October 2018

    Was this review helpful? YES NO

    2 out of 2 found this review helpful

  • Dark and Spooky

    Dark and spooky. The haunted house had some nice scares. But over-reliance on animatronics can’t be missed. More scare actors inside would have made it even better. The rooms had different scary themes and hidden scares. My GF screamed whenever a scare occurred. The walkthroughs was really creepy. The 3D thing in the second haunted house was really cool. Actors did their job well. Recommend this place.

    Scare Factor:
    Fun Factor:
    Haunt Value:
    Posted October 2018

    Was this review helpful? YES NO

    2 out of 2 found this review helpful

  • Email Verified So much Fun

    WOW!! LOL!!! I screamed out loud. Haven't had that much fun in a long time. Lots of monsters, cool back story, wonderful actors.

    Scare Factor:
    Fun Factor:
    Haunt Value:
    Posted October 2018

    Was this review helpful? YES NO

    2 out of 2 found this review helpful

  • Email Verified The Scary Night Out

    We had the blast of our life in Basement of the Dead Haunt. It had a huge lot of scares!!! AWESOME!!! The 3D part was really crowded and was one of the best attractions here. The haunts, the props, and actors were all absolutely top class and the best!!! I must say waiting in the queue was also entertaining and fun as the staff and the DJ were taking care to keep us entertained all the time. Great job guys!

    Scare Factor:
    Fun Factor:
    Haunt Value:
    Posted November 2017

    Was this review helpful? YES NO

    2 out of 2 found this review helpful

  • Email Verified Best Experience

    Truly the best! I must say that the actors outside the house looked scarier than the ones inside it. The sounds effects were loud and so creepy. The DJ made sure to keep us entertained in the lines which were by far the best part of this place. I also enjoyed the live zombie hunt which was real entertaining. The actors, makeup, setup, props everything was top notch. I will be definitely coming back with my friends and family.

    Scare Factor:
    Fun Factor:
    Haunt Value:
    Posted October 2017

    Was this review helpful? YES NO

    2 out of 2 found this review helpful

  • Email Verified Scariest House ever

    Our visit to the Basement of the Dead Haunted House was the scariest of all the haunted houses we had been visiting so far. It was fun and scary. They had tons of scares and actors appointed. The haunt was mostly in the dark and was very scary. The actors were great in their makeup and costumes and the best amongst them all was the actor dressed as a serpent creature who looked very creepy. Good place to have fun and hear you scream. I will be coming back for sure.

    Scare Factor:
    Fun Factor:
    Haunt Value:
    Posted October 2017

    Was this review helpful? YES NO

    2 out of 2 found this review helpful

Basement of the Dead Haunted House
Review This Attraction

  • Click to rate
  • Do not use all capital letters. No profanity.
  • Be specific - the more details the better. No HTML.
  • Optional
  • Administrative use only. Will NOT be displayed
  • Click to rate
  • Click to rate
  • Click to rate
  • I have more to say about this haunt (optional)
  • Would you recommended to a friend?
  • Suitable for families with kids?
Get More Info

630-896-2466
Visit Website   Email Haunt Owner

Haunt Owners

Visitors to this page: 68,204
Clicks to Haunts Website: 29,339
Last edit to your listing: 9/27/2023
Edit This Listing
Grab a Badge (Awards, Reviews, + More...)
Get More Exposure for your Haunt

All information on this page was submitted to Iowa Haunted Houses and was believed to be accurate at the time it was posted. Please report any inaccuracies here.