Creaky stairwells Our creepiness rating 💀💀💀💀💀
ABC7 reported in 2018 that paranormal investigators say spirits have appeared on the prison's stairwells, as the Joliet Area Historical Museum and Chicago Hauntings launched ghost hunts. Source: ABC7 Chicago, 2018.
Facts below are drawn from the linked sources.
Real history
The prison opened in 1858, built of limestone quarried on site by convicts leased to contractor Lorenzo P. Sanger; the first 33 inmates came from Alton in May 1858. It operated until 2002 and opened to guided tours in 2018 (Wikipedia).
Ghost stories
These are reported legends, not verified events. The creepiness score (1–5) is Spook Atlas's own editorial rating, not a measurement.
Then and now
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Public access
Partly open The official site sells self-guided ($22), guided ($35) and flashlight ($32) tours; the prison closes for winter in November and reopens by April (Old Joliet Prison). Last checked: Nov 1, 2026.
Explore more
- More places in Joliet and Illinois
- More haunted & abandoned prisons
- Nearby: Rialto Square Theatre (Joliet, IL), Bachelor's Grove Cemetery (Midlothian, IL), Resurrection Cemetery (Justice, IL), Hotel Baker (St. Charles, IL)
⚠️ Please read: This information may be outdated and conditions change. Verify access with the owner or operator before you go. Spook Atlas does not encourage trespassing. Entering private, closed or condemned property can be illegal and dangerous. Report a correction.
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