THINGS-TO-DO

Get spooked in the neighborhood: Where to find the best Halloween homes around Peoria

Dean Muellerleile
Journal Star
A super-sized skeleton stands stonily, bonily vigilant over the web site and cemetery at 3022 W. Playden Drive in Peoria.

As the year's most haunted holiday looms, the Journal Star presents a creepy collection of Halloween homes on deathly display for all who dare to drive — or walk — past.

Peoria

The River City has a fine haunted history, including ghostly sightings at the Madison and Peoria Players theaters. But those spirits can be elusive. 

More: Detailing Peoria’s ghostly history 

On the West Bluff, the specters are on ready display, with many a haunted homestead.

1313 N. Institute Place sports a scattering of tombstones, but the prime attraction is a terrifying trio of formally clad females: a bride dangling a man's headless corpse over the porch, a child holding her "baby ghoul" and a corpse girl on a swing.

A corpse child looks out at passersby while riding a swing at 1313 N. Institute Place in Peoria.

1500 N. Sheridan Road boasts multiple life-size (and larger) deathly denizens and a front yard full of headstones. 

Deathly denizens within and without 1500 N. Sheridan Road in Peoria greet passersby.

West Moss Avenue hosts a haunted handful of Halloween homes. This terrifying trek is best done on foot.

The "Moss Avenue Cemetery" is at 1011 W. Moss Ave. in Peoria.

1011 W. Moss Ave. is home to the "Moss Avenue Cemetery." How some occupants got there remains a mystery. A "floating" specter keeps watch over the fearly departed.    

"Ivan Dracorian (1431-1857)" was born before Peoria's founding but buried in the "Moss Avenue Cemetery" at 1011 W. Moss Ave. His presumable crimes remain a very, very cold case.

1325 W. Moss Ave. is the "Hocus Pocus" house and "Spooky Hollow Bed and Breakfast." Beware of little monsters.

The "Hocus Pocus" house and "Spooky Hollow Bed and Breakfast" is at 1325 W. Moss Ave. in Peoria.

Other homes along Moss add to the holiday cheer ... er, fear ... in the neighborhood.

A sign at the "Hocus Pocus" house at 1325 W. Moss Ave. in Peoria cautions passersby to beware of little monsters.

Extra: Area’s greatest ghost story came from Peoria State Hospital founder Dr. George Zeller   

Arachnid alert! The Stonehenge Estates subdivision is crawling with giant spiders.

A giant spider amid its web site defends 2834 W. Playden Drive in Peoria.

2834 W. Playden Drive has two such amid their webs and also sports an especially athletic skeleton.

An athletic skeleton shoots a phantom basketball at 2834 W. Playden Drive in Peoria.

3022 W. Playden Drive has another requisite super spider, Darkness Falls Cemetery and a twice-life-size skeleton.

A massive skeleton keeps watch over the residence and Darkness Falls Cemetery at 3022 W. Playden Drive in Peoria.

East Peoria

The scenic, blufftop Fondulac Drive has a disappointing dearth of deathly decor but does pass by the actual Fondulac Cemetery.

710 Fondulac Drive boasts a tree-swung skeleton and a front yard boneyard whose denizens include Phil Dirt, Yetta Nother and Yul B. Next.

Deathly denizens of the cemetery at 710 Fondulac Drive in East Peoria include Phil Dirt, Yetta Nother and Yul B. Next.

Just across the Woodford County line, a bustling boneyard fills a front yard in a creepy cul-de-sac.

The residents are restless at the graveyard at 1214 Briar Ridge Court in East Peoria.

1214 Briar Ridge Court is graced by a ghoulish graveyard and an apparent therapy stand for traumatized visitors.

An evil clown apparently offers 5-cent therapy — or death? — at 1214 Briar Ridge Court in East Peoria.

Washington

Just off the square and under the shadow of St. Mark's Lutheran Church, skeletons rule the roost — and yard — at the "Bedlam House" in Washington.

The dead have risen and rule the roost — and porch, and yard — at 127 S. Main St. in Washington.

127 S. Main St. is deathly on multiple levels. Porchtop skeletons overlook a small but elaborate cemetery — and an active one, at that. Skeletal arms reach from the graves. One skeleton lies half exposed. Presumably successful escapees cluster nearby. Witches' hat bunting adds to the effect.

Burials at 127 S. Main St. in Washington were only partially successful.

814 Morris St. features a giant inflatable witch standing guard while projected lights and Halloween shapes swirl around the front and side of the house.

A smiling witch lords over a colorfully-lit home at 814 Morris St. in Washington.

Morton

707 Main St. is a kinetic display of light and sound synchronized to music on 94.7 FM. The annual spectacle can be seen from 6-10 p.m. daily.

The Lights on Main display at 707 Main St. in Morton is an annual Halloween treat.

Don't see your hard work on display? This post could be updated! If you know of another Halloween home, email dmuellerleile@pjstar.com. Please include HALLOWEEN HOMES in the subject line.