2023 Question and Answer With The Park After Dark

IllinoisHauntedHouses.com recently sat down with Marcus Bales of The Park After Dark, to discuss what's new at The Park After Dark for the 2023 Halloween Season!

What's new at The Park After Dark for 2023? Do you have any new rides, attractions, or special features that Haunt Seekers should know about?

The Park After Dark is all new and redesigned for the 2023 season! This year we a pleased to present: Outbreak, a zombie survival adventure. After a strange illness plagued Chase Park in the fall of 2023, the remaining staff locked the parks doors, trapping the horde inside, vowing never to speak of it again. But what if those secrets don’t want to be forgotten…
This October, venture through this macabre park overrun by the damned children and staff trapped inside.

What are you most excited about for the 2023 Halloween Season?

We are just excited to be back for 2023. After being closed due to Covid for the last 3 years, we have a lot of scaring to make up for!

What differentiates The Park After Dark from other local haunts in Illinois?

The Park After Dark is a charity event to raise money for the Chase Park after school teen program. Every year, we transform the old theater into a brand-new haunted house, never repeating the same theme twice creating a truly unique experience.

How long has The Park After Dark been in business? Can you tell us a bit more about The Park After Dark's history?

We have been in business since 2018, with an unfortunately gap do to the covid pandemic. But we are back and better than ever! Each year we try and out do ourselves with bigger sets, scarier costumes, and of course, more fun for the after school teen program.

What's your favorite experience since opening The Park After Dark?

By far our favorite memory is winning best new haunted house in 2018 from Haunted House Chicago.com. It was truly an honor, and is an achievement we will always remember.

How long is a typical haunt experience at The Park After Dark from start to finish?

At a normal pass, not including the wait time, you should be through the attraction in less than 20 minutes, leaving you plenty of time to hit one of the local bars or restaurants.

On a scale from 1 to 10, how scary would you say The Park After Dark is? Why?

I would give us a 7, because though we are a local charity haunted house, we maximize our budget to take advantage of your worst fears. Hollywood props are expensive, but tight spaces, loud noises, and pitch black are cheap.

What inspired you to open up a haunted attraction? What's your favorite part of the business?

I've been running haunted houses since I was 13 years old, and the experience has shaped me into the person I am today. After nearly 20 years, I wanted to give that same experience to the next generation of haunters. So I decided to partner with Chase Park and their after school teen program to give the youth of Chicago the same creative outlet and sense of community I grow up with, and hopefully create a tradition our community looks forward to every year.

How has new technology (i.e. animatronics, special props, etc) helped you to enhance The Park After Dark?

The prevalence of affordable projectors, speakers, and lighting has allowed us to create scenes and effect that I could only dream of just 15 years ago. I can't wait to see what AI and other technology can do for us in the coming years.

Can The Park After Dark accommodate large groups? How many people can experience The Park After Dark together as a group?

Yes! We can provide large group discounts upon request. But we only allow four people to enter at one time to enhance the experience.

Does The Park After Dark offer any special deals, discounts, or coupons?

We offer an early bird special, running now until October 8th, for 15% off your tickets. Just use code: HAUNT15 at checkout.