Chicago will be getting its own year-round version of Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights in 2027.
Universal’s first foray into expanding its haunted houses beyond theme park events is set to open in Las Vegas this August. The second Universal Horror Unleashed location will be built in Chicago on a vacant site across from the future Bally’s Chicago casino on the city’s near north side.
According to Block Club Chicago, construction on the Horror Unleashed complex is slated to begin early next year, with the building tentatively scheduled to open in 2027.
“We’re excited to bring this bold concept to life in Chicago, a city known for its vibrant culture,” Page Thompson, president of new ventures in the Universal Destinations & Experiences division, said in a statement. “We’re grateful for the city’s support as we convert this dormant site into a unique attraction that showcases our storytelling expertise and ability to deliver mind blowing experiences that shatter guest expectations.”
The press release from Universal does not mention any themes or intellectual properties for the haunted houses or dining locations planned with the complex. The soon-to-open Las Vegas location will include four haunted houses, including ones themed around “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” “The Exorcist,” and Universal’s classic monster movies.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson told reporters on Thursday, “This venue will not only bring growth with new visitors to this community, but it will also create 400 permanent jobs for Chicagoans, which ultimately grows our local economy.”
This is not the first time that major theme park players have tried expanding into Chicago. Just a mile-and-a-half away from the Universal Horror Unleashed site once stood the second location of Disney Quest, an interactive arcade that only operated for 27 months from 1999 to 2001 after failing to attract enough visitors.
The Horrors Unleashed expansion continues Universal’s push to create regional entertainment offerings beyond its theme parks in Orlando and Hollywood. Besides the Vegas horror attraction, Universal is set to open its first-ever kids-focused resort in Frisco, Texas next year.