Lincoln Springs Resort’s Halloween holiday “Haunted Trolley Tour,” which tours the three haunted houses, is completely booked by Charleston community members who wish to celebrate with tricks and treats for $30 a person. The one remaining date on Oct. 25 at 7 p.m., has been sold out for several days since the first date on Oct. 11. The resort conducts tours of haunted sites in the Coles County area that include the Halls of Madness, Nightmare Alley and Ashmore Estates.

“We are trying to add another date because we ran out of room on the trolleys,” said employee Chelsea Halweg. “There has just been so much interest in the new event.”

Manager David Kirsch said that the attempts to add vehicles and extra dates could not be organized because weather and drivers were harsh and scarce.

“We have a waiting list that is full of names in case there are any cancellations,” Kirsch said.

Halweg said the resort did not anticipate the turnout for the haunted tours.

“We want to have everyone come and participate, but we just didn’t expect this much excitement,” she said.

View Larger Map

All three haunted houses, however, are open to the public to purchase tickets and attend on their own.

The Halls of Madness, 7857 Illinois Highway 16, Paris, Ill., boasts about its winding hallways that are filled with so many scares that “many people don’t make it out, and the ones that are lucky enough to make it, let’s just say they are never the same again,” according to LincolnSpringsResort.com. Last Halloween season, 182 people could not make it through the entire tour, according to statistics on the Halls of Madness Web site. Tickets are $10 and $15 for the “Hate 2 Wait Pass.”

Nightmare Alley, 310 Buena Vista St., Kansas, Ill., is in its second year of scaring. Tickets are $8, the cheapest of the three. This year, by partnering with Lincoln Springs Resort, the haunted attraction has begun to be noticed.

“Blood curdling screams were heard as the Lincoln Springs Trolley delivered its victims for consumption,” said owner Scott Kelley.

Ashmore Estates, 22645 E. County Road 1050 N., is the third and final stop and has been named one of Coles County’s truly haunted sites. Originally the Coles County Poor Farm, it is rumored that over 100 people died in the building until 1956. From 1956 to 1976, Ashmore Estates was cultivated into a mental institution for the mentally disabled.

Tickets for the site are $13 for the flashlight tours and regular tours. All sites remain open only on the weekends and information can be found at hallsofmadness.com, nightmarealleyonline.com and hauntedcharleston.net.

Krystal Moya can be reached at 581-7942 or at [email protected].