AttRactIoNs
Haunted House
Nightmare Alley
Enter Nightmare Alley, where a deranged doctor’s obsession with immortality has taken a monstrous turn. Hidden deep in the ruins of his twisted lab, he’s discovered a horrifying secret—his own blood can create life... but never anything human. Now, flesh-crafted abominations roam the halls. The walls pulse. The air stinks of metal and rot. And somewhere in the dark, the doctor waits—with syringed hand, ready to make you part of his collection.
STREET EXPERIENCES
First Contact ALL NEW FOR 2025
Downtown Elgin has become ground zero for an extraterrestrial invasion. Alien spacecraft hover ominously above, casting eerie lights on the streets below. Unidentified creatures prowl the alleys, and the air is thick with the hum of otherworldly technology. Residents have been transformed, their minds and bodies altered by alien influence. The once-bustling city now stands as a battleground between humanity and an invading force from the stars.
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Plaza Mictlán
Let your soul be guided by a Xoloitzcuintli dog through this fully immersive zone inspired by the Aztec underworld. Plaza Mictlán pulses with music, memory, and myth—where Banda, Latin rock, Mariachi and Aztec dancers awaken the night for spirits just beyond the veil. Ancient gods line the street, while vendors serve food steeped in heritage and ritual. This isn’t just a festival. It’s a celebration of death, culture, and the thin line in between. Honor the dead… or join them.
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"Safe" Zone
Step into the heart of the chaos where the undead roam freely. This area is littered with zombies, grotesque décor, and interactive experiences. Guests can witness live "zombie outbreaks" while navigating dark alleys strewn with abandoned vehicles and makeshift barricades.
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Cirq D' Freak
The Circus Came to Elgin... and Never Left. Cirq D’ Freak was once a show of wonder—until one zombie bite turned the Big Top into ground zero. Now, undead clowns juggle limbs, fire-breathers scream flames, and aerialists drip bloody glitter. Every act is a nightmare—and you're in the front row. Game booths creak with decay, food stalls serve the grotesque, and barkers entice. It's horror wrapped in carnival lights. Step right up—if you dare.
Kingdom of Plantae
In this overgrown, post-apocalyptic jungle, nature isn’t healing—it’s hunting. Vines crush ruins, spores infect the undead, and glowing fungus twists zombies into floral horrors. Beware vine divas, dark fairies, and the monstrous "Swarm Thing" lurking in the shadows. This isn't your grandmothers garden. It's war. And the plants are taking back the city.
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​Thunder-Dome: Welcome to the ​Blood Lands
Born from the wreckage of the old world, the Blood Lands thrive on chaos. Here, zombie blood is fuel, fire is life, and survival comes with a price. Rusted scrap cities rise from dirt and rust, while the Thunder-Dome Stage erupts with battles, bass, and blood-soaked spectacle. Even the hookah lounge offers no peace—just smoke, dust, and desperation. In the Blood Lands, only the brutal thrive.
Svengoolie's B-Movie Boulevard
Step into a zone dripping with B-movie madness, honoring the legendary Svengoolie. Jam with the undead Zombie School Bus Band, cheer on a decaying pep rally, and watch live graffiti murals come to life in blood-red, ghost-white, and toxic green. Dare to enter the Spiderweb Cave, where silk and shadow hide venomous creatures—and Fang Young, the queen spider who doesn’t forgive missteps. Cap it off with a meet-and-scream: Svengoolie himself, autographs, rubber chickens, and all the campy terror you crave. It’s weird. It’s wild. It’s wonderfully undead.
Specialty themed pop-up bars
ZDI All Access Only. Pop-up Bars are Not Age Restricted, and serve both Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Beverages.
One complementary drink is included with this experience.
Be Kind, Rewind... Or Die
Step into a forgotten video store where the 80s never died. This is a hidden pop-up bar and immersive horror experience inspired by cult VHS classics, slasher flicks, and previous Nightmare years.
Sip twisted themed cocktails, snack on bloody-good eats, and explore aisles packed with haunted nostalgia. Think late fees and jump scares —just don’t forget to rewind… or else.
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First Contact
Beneath the city lies First Contact a hidden facility. Now declassified, you're invited to explore its corridors, where the last crew vanished and something... otherworldly remains. Sip themed cocktails and snack on cosmic finger foods in an immersive sci-fi station featuring retro-future tech, alien autopsies, and the eerie hum of a station that should’ve stayed sealed.
9 Niveles
Descend into the forgotten depths of Mictlán, the Aztec underworld, in 9 Niveles—a secret pop-up where each level reveals a darker layer of the afterlife. Inspired by ancient mythology and steeped in horror, this immersive experience blends ritual, shadow, and story with themed cocktails and ritual-inspired snacks. Nine levels. One way down. No promises you’ll return.
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The Cadaver Club
Welcome to the exclusive Cadaver Club, the secret parlor of a deranged doctor whose own blood fuels a terrifying undead serum. Step inside his decaying mansion, where failed experiments roam and the line between science and madness is long gone. Enjoy twisted drinks, and snack on foods served straight from the morgue. It’s elegant. It’s grotesque. It’s your final appointment.
ShoPping
Bizarre Bazaar
Shop ‘til you drop... dead. This haunted marketplace teems with eerie trinkets, handcrafted horrors, occult oddities, and more. Local and traveling merchants offer creepy crafts, custom masks, glowing artifacts, and other bone-chilling baubles. Street performers and roaming creeps add to the uncanny ambiance as you haggle under a cursed moon.​