haunted trail bartonville il

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OLD STATE MINE

An Outdoor Trail Experience With An Indoor Line

Located on the haunted asylum grounds of the Peoria State Hospital

Explore the legend of an old mining village that was overtaken by an evil entity known as Doom . Venture through the Mine, Olde Towne & Darkwell Museum before falling prey to Doom’s evil INFESTATION .

OLD STATE MINE is an all-outdoor trail based around the legend of an old mining village that was overtaken by an evil entity known as Doom. Journey down through time to unveil the origins of Doom's evil plan for Assimilation! If you are not consumed by the ghostly fire, you will wind through the narrow paths leading through the Doom-infested Mine, then ascend into the haunted village, Old Town. Those who claw their way out will still be faced with the Demons and their Hell Hounds unleashed by the dimensional rip open in the Mine. Survivors that manage to drag themselves to the top of the bluff will arrive at DarkWell Museum. Although the Museum Curator suddenly locked the doors, exhibits have continued to be delivered to the boarded-up Museum. Many evil and haunted items which never made it off the loading docks are now free to inhabit the Museum grounds. Traverse through these ancient evils if you hope to survive!

2023 Old State Mine Preview Trailer

2023 Event Dates:

Sept 30 | Oct 6 | Oct 7 | Oct 13 | Oct 14 | Oct 20 | Oct 21 | Oct 27 | Oct 28 | Nov 4 (Online Only Date)

2023 Hours:

7pm -> Midnight

Information:

Old State Mine is brought to you by: Doom Industries

Proceeds go to the Not-For-Profit Peoria State Hospital Museum .

4208 W Pfeiffer Rd, Bartonville, IL 61607

ACTOR REGISTRATION

It's time you become a LEGEND in this Old Mining Village. Register below... we will be in touch.

Online tickets are available until 4pm on the day of the event. Tickets are available at the gate for $15/person

Click here to buy tickets Sell tickets online with Ticket Tailor

This is a repeating event october 3, 2020 7:00 pm

Old State Mine Haunted Trail

Old State Mine Haunted Trail fri 02 oct 7:00 pm fri 12:00 am

Event Details

Old State Mine will take place at the Bartonville Insane Asylum (located at 4400 Industry Dr. in Bartonville) Friday and Saturday nights in October from Dark until the

Old State Mine will take place at the Bartonville Insane Asylum (located at 4400 Industry Dr. in Bartonville) Friday and Saturday nights in October from Dark until the gate closes at Midnight.  An all outdoor trail with new scares and horror imagery based around the legend of an old mining village and gold mine that was overtaken by an evil entity known as Doom, tickets are $10 per person and available online until the Thursday night before each weekend or cash at the gate the night of the event.  Recommended for ages 14 and up.  Masks/face coverings are requested to be worn by customers and no Halloween masks will be allowed.  For more information and to buy online tickets, visit https://hauntedinfirmary.org

(Friday) 7:00 pm - 12:00 am

Peoria State Hospital Grounds

4400 Industry Dr., Bartonville, IL 61607

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Bartonville scares continue into November at the Old State Mine Haunted Trail

BARTONVILLE (25 News Now) - There’s still time to be spooked at the Old State Mine Haunted Trail in Bartonville. It’s the 13th annual fundraiser for the Peoria State Hospital Museum.

People are invited to the haunted trail to experience all the scares and storytelling from the Old State Mine volunteers.

“The trail every year has a story line with actors that will tell you a little bit about how they became possessed by doom,” said Museum Director Christina Morris.

Morris says without the haunted trail, the museum would not survive. The fundraiser brings in about $30,000 each year.

“We focus a lot on the tenure of Dr. George Zeller. He created a lot of therapies and a movement within the industry to start treating patients fairly and humanely,” said Morris.

The museum shows the history of the state hospital , which was open in 1902 until 1973.

Meagan Carr has volunteered at the museum and haunted trail since she was 14 years old. Now, at age 22, she still gets excited.

“Being a different character and having all kinds of different scenes and always having an amazing costume,” said Carr.

Although, Morris says the history of the museum is not to be confused with the stories they tell each Halloween season.

“We don’t mix history and haunt. Our haunt is a fantasy and it’s based off a story line. History is something well-documented that we’re proud of,” said Morris.

Morris hopes to continue sharing the history of the museum and fun of the haunted trail.

“We want everyone to become part of us because that spooky season is just a time where you can get together with friends and have a good time,” said Morris.

To purchase tickets for Friday or Saturday visit the Old State Mine website.

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Aura Haunted House 2022 Review

Aura haunted house – full review.

Aura Haunted House is a Haunted Attraction located in Bartonville, IL.

4500 Enterprise Drive, Bartonville, IL 61607 View All Details

Haunt Type(s):

Free Parking, Restrooms/Porta Potties On-Site, Food/Concessions, Gift Shop/Souvenirs, Indoor/Outdoor Waiting Line, All-Indoor Attraction

This attraction was reviewed on October 21, 2022 by Team White City Devils .

TL;DR - From the Author

Aura Haunted House just opened for its first year. See what lurks inside an actual haunted hospital!

About Our Reviews and Rating System

Our Rating System

UPDATE FOR 2022: Our former “Atmosphere” and “Theme” categories have now been combined and renamed “Immersion.” Our intent with this is to give more appropriate credit to attractions that have shown a clear focus on achieving and maintaining better customer experiences (both inside and outside the attractions) and developing creative storylines.

Each of the category scores in this review are calculated using a weighted average of several questions that we rate on a scale of 1 to 10.

The following breakdown explains what these scores typically mean. All of our Teams use this as a reference for providing accurate ratings:

10: “Peak Performance” This score is treated as if it has a chastity belt on it. “10’s” are reserved for the best of the best; those that we feel could not possibly improve on what they’re doing.

9: “Innovative and Groundbreaking” It rocked! Nearly everything seemed to go as planned and it was one of the best we’ve ever seen! These guys are leaders in the industry, and attractions like this are truly hard to come by.

8: “Solid” A high score on our scale. They had a good handle on it and, overall, they knew how to use it well. Most attractions can learn from what these guys are doing.

6 to 7: “Good” We could tell that a good effort was made. However, we’ve seen this done much better at other places, or can detect areas where significant improvements can be made. This is about the top end of what we’d call “Family Friendly.”

5: “Average / Fair” Compared to the competition, they weren’t the best, but definitely not the worst. Scares and Special Effects in this range are usually considered “Family Friendly.”

3 to 4: “Below Average” We could see that a clear attempt was made, but most other professional attractions are doing a much better job at this.

1 to 2: “Poor” It appeared that very little time, thought or effort was contributed to this aspect.

0 (Zero): “Non-Existent” No apparent effort was made to make this a significant contributor to the attraction.

Afterword: This rating system is standardized across all of The Scare Factor’s official haunt review teams. However, keep in mind there will always be minor differences between Teams, as we all have varying levels of experience. Regardless, we do our best to remain true to our core values, which is to promote all haunted attractions! Perhaps the biggest thing to remember is: sometimes the score – in and of itself – doesn’t tell the whole story about an attraction’s merits. This is why we provide detailed explanations for each category… to help you better understand how and why we chose the score/s that we did. We do our best to not let feelings or emotions rule our judgement, while also viewing the attraction through the lens of the typical haunt-goer. But, because all reviews with ratings are inherently subjective, this is nearly impossible to completely prevent. Though, when in doubt, we tend to give slightly lower scores than our original “gut feelings” to account for this, and also give the attraction more room to improve over time. We also do our best to be fair and consistent across all of the haunts that we review. We know that you’ll be looking at these scores and comparing them to other attractions, so we hope this review helps you out in that aspect. Do you have some feedback about our review system? Contact Us Here to let us know what you think!

Final Score: 8.4 //

Final Scores – By Category

Final Scores – By Category:

Cast (20% of Final Score): 8.38

Costuming (10% of Final Score): 8.38

Customer Service (10% of Final Score): 9.54

Immersion (10% of Final Score): 8.15

Special Effects (15% of Final Score): 8.68

Scare Factor (20% of Final Score): 8.45

Entertainment & Value (15% of Final Score): 7.48

Final Scores – By Attraction

Final Scores – By Attraction:

Attraction 1: 8.4

Aura Haunted House is located inside the old Peoria State Hospital district in the former Pollack Hospital. This building was the wing that treated tuberculosis. Now in the hands of new owners that have taken months to build a haunted house in it from scratch, the scares keep going with the help of its haunting presence inside.

Cast Score: 8.38 //

Cast Scores – By Question

Cast Scores – By Question:

Q1: Did it seem like there were enough actors? (25% of Cast Score): 8.25

Q2: How creative, believable, convincing were they? (35% of Cast Score): 8.5

Q3: How interactive (verbally, physically) were they? (20% of Cast Score): 8.25

Q4: Was there a good variety of characters (behavior)? (20% of Cast Score): 8.45

Cast Scores – By Attraction

Cast Scores – By Attraction:

Attraction 1: 8.38

Cast Review:

On the night we visited, the rooms were inhabited by various actors and characters. With interactions, the actors made their characters come to life and feel convincing.

There was an average of one to three actors per room, depending on the level of intensity. The actors used their space effectively by walking the room with us. The main character that effectively used their space was the Gravedigger. While making it through a room with caskets stacked above eye level to create a path, the Gravedigger would come around a corner and stand in the way with enough room to pass him by. With the idea that we may have left him behind, he would show up further down the path by either peeping around the corners or standing in the way, it’s as if there were more than one of him. The shovel he used to drag was also unsettling.

With interactivity, there was a variety of both high and low roles. An example of a low is when we were in a room with an oversized cage in the middle. As the path is wrapped around the cage, you can see a dense amount of mannequins with rabbit outfits on them. Someone was inside reaching out to us, which was effectively creepy because of the combination of the darkness inside the room with some disorienting strobe lights. An example of high interactivity was when we ran into… a baby? The baby interacted with both of us trying to get us not to leave him behind, and asking us to change his soiled diaper. The interest was mostly to have daddy clean the brown he had made. We also met Bob the Caretaker who told us he was the employee of the month, also his name is spelled the same “front and back” and he was very determined we knew that information.

Throughout the haunt, we noticed actors were hitting their light or sound cue marks. In general, the actors wanted to keep us in their scenes and didn’t use the dreadful “get out” lines to rush us out. It felt theatrical and the actors did a great job making their scenes come to life.

Costuming Score: 8.38 //

Costuming Scores – By Question

Costuming Scores – By Question:

Q1: How complete, unique, detailed were the costumes? (35% of Costuming Score): 8.35

Q2: Were the masks/makeup creative, detailed, realistic? (30% of Costuming Score): 8.4

Q3: How appropriate were the costumes for the respective scenes, themes? (20% of Costuming Score): 8.5

Q4: How believable-, detailed-looking were the queue actors? (15% of Cast Score): 8.45

Costuming Scores – By Attraction

Costuming Scores – By Attraction:

Costuming Review:

There were a variety of actors and characters using costumes and makeup that helped bring out their respective roles. It is also clear that they are using the airbrush makeup method, which helped make the faces and bodies enhanced, depending on their roles.

Generally, the actors in smaller roles had darker clothing that blended in the darker rooms. A few highlights when it came to costumes were the baby in just basically a diaper… that’s it. What else could be more convincing than that? With a bit of makeup to contour the skin and give a sense of dirtiness, this character was scary and a bit disturbing. We also saw the angel of death, she was in a dark angelic costume with a draped cloth as wings and a beautiful flower headpiece. The face was a bit unsettling as she wore white-out contacts, and the face looked a bit worn out with the help of her makeup.

For a few of the actors that were wearing masks, they were neatly tucked inside their clothing to keep the characters looking real. The masks looked real as they didn’t look clean or smoothie, but more of a rugged look or were skin textured. We had a queue line actor come over to take a picture with us that had a mask that looked like fabric overlapping and draping down the face. The eyes, mouth, and nose holes looked cut open unevenly which felt homemade and not store-bought. The costume was also showing a bit of fresh blood on the overalls and apron that proved there was foul play.

Overall, we liked how everyone blended well with their costumes, masks, and makeup.

Customer Service Score: 9.54 //

Customer Service Scores – By Question

Customer Service Scores – By Question:

Q9: How easy was it to find, park at, navigate the premises? (25% of CS Score): 8.75

Q10: Safety (30% of CS Score): 9.5

Q11: How professional, helpful, friendly were the staff members? (25% of CS Score): 10

Q12: How easy was it to find pertinent information before arrival? (20% of CS Score): 10

Customer Service Scores – By Attraction

Customer Service Scores – By Attraction:

Attraction 1: 9.54

Customer Service Review:

Using the GPS will be the best option since it is located inside the old Peoria State Hospital district with multiple businesses nearby. There are signs for the event with parking available nearby in unmarked areas. The ticket booth is marked with prices and different ticket options. While there is a QR code to buy online tickets, physical tickets were still needed to enter, and the staff ensured the customers were well aware of this.

The staff wore branded sweaters and shirts and walked around to make sure customers had tickets while sitting in the waiting area. The waiting area is a room with many sets of numbered pews that were called up once the previous groups went in. It gave a hospital vibe.

The website shows all information needed such as directions, parking, and ticket prices. Overall, the staff was helpful with questions and were the main reason for helping with the flow of customers in their first year.

Immersion Score: 8.15 //

Immersion Scores – By Question

Immersion Scores – By Question:

Q13: How well did the pre-haunt areas (“vibe”) prepare you for the attraction/s? (25% of Immersion Score): 8

Q14: How obvious, creative, believable was the storyline? (20% of Immersion Score): 0

Q15: Were you completely, consistently immersed inside the attraction/s? (40% of Immersion Score): 8.4

Q16: How well did the “vibe” flow after, between the attraction/s? (15% of Immersion Score): 7.75

Immersion Scores – By Attraction

Immersion Scores – By Attraction:

Attraction 1: 8.15

Immersion Review:

After acquiring tickets, the queue line starts inside a waiting room where groups sit in what appear to be pews that were used by the hospital when it was once up and running. The walls and ceiling look weathered as if the building was left untouched, which is probably for the best to keep the spirits at peace.

While walking inside, the path leads you in and out of rooms. A few items in the rooms were left unbothered like a few bathtubs, sinks, lockers, cabinets, and even toilets. The actors did a great job using their scenes to keep the immersion going and kept us pulled into the scene instead of rushing us out. We did notice that a group started catching up to us but with quick thinking, the actors stopped them to give us time to walk through without interruptions.

After exiting, the gift shop is back in the building where you initially wait sitting on the pews. While the vibe is still the same, we wish we could have seen more entertainment leading into the gift shop. We can’t wait to see how this develops in the next seasons.

Special FX Score: 8.68 //

Special FX Scores – By Question

Special FX Scores – By Question:

Q17: How effective were the sound effects? (20% of SFX Score): 9

Q18: How realistic were the scene designs, details? (30% of SFX Score): 8.8

Q19: How effective, realistic were the props, animatronics? (30% of SFX Score): 8.4

Q20: How well did they use creative, special, sensory FX? (20% of SFX Score): 8.6

Special FX Scores – By Attraction

Special FX Scores – By Attraction:

Attraction 1: 8.68

Special FX Review:

The building itself is already a great setting with its creepiness. There is no need to add a facade, but the inside is filled with a few more added lights, sounds, and animatronics to give a haunted house vibe.

What we noticed through the haunt is there was an adequate amount of sound in each room, ranging from ambient and intense sounds that coordinated with the lights. The actors used them as their cues which worked quite well in their favor. The use of different colored lights facing directly at you helped with disorienting customers while turning corners or going into a new room. The actors also hit their cues in those areas to get a great scare out of us. There was a scene with a swamp that got us good. The light reflected on the fog and made the lower half opaque enough to have an actor crawl around unnoticed and pop up in random spots.

We were told that there were about 200 mannequins in the building. While this helped with keeping the rooms filled, this also helped with making it uncertain if the mannequins were props or if someone was hiding in between pretending to be one.

We can’t forget to mention the camera room, which is fully decorated from floor to ceiling with a variety of old and modern cameras. The sound of shutters and random cameras lights going give a sense of disorientation while the sounds get more intense.

Scare Factor Score: 8.45 //

Scare Factor Scores – By Question

Scare Factor Scores – By Question:

Q21: How scary was it? (35% of Scare Factor Score): 8.6

Q22: How well did they provide scares for everyone in the group? (15% of Scare Factor Score): 8.7

Q23: How predictable were the scares? (25% of Cast Score): 8.5

Q24: How well did they provide a wide variety (types) of scares? (10% of Scare Factor Score): 8.5

Q25: How strong was the ending/finale? (15% of Scare Factor Score): 7.75

Scare Factor Scores – By Attraction

Scare Factor Scores – By Attraction:

Attraction 1: 8.45

Scare Factor Review:

Right off the bat, the entrance already gives a creepy feeling with a look inside the hospital. The actors play their roles in their given scenes and make this forsaken hospital come to life.

As mentioned above, the actors used light and sound cues to create a variety of pop scares. The lights were also used to disorient and distract while the actors come from below or from the sides. The actors did a great job using their surroundings to create quality scares.

There were a few times we just didn’t know what to expect, which helped create some memorable scares. There was a scene when a shovel just fell softly with no one around. We hoped it was just a coincidence, but with the history of the hospital, we weren’t sure if it was something supernatural, which is a first for us. As we started to walk away, someone came screaming at us from behind, we now realized it was all a setup. You got us there!

As we exited, we were happy to be back in the real world. Lo and beyond, we got to see someone pop up and scream to give the last scare from behind a wooden decoration on the side. Overall, we love how everyone was enthusiastic about playing their roles and scaring us, we can’t wait to see how everyone progresses throughout the seasons.

Entertainment & Value Score: 7.48 //

E&V Scores – By Question

E&V Scores – By Question:

Q26: How satisfied are you with the entertainment from the Main* attractions? (50% of E&V Score): 7.7

Q27: How satisfied are you with the Other* entertainment (incl. w/ ticket price)? (25% of E&V Score): 7

Q28: How appropriate is/are the ticket price/s? (25% of E&V Score): 7.5

E&V Scores – By Attraction

E&V Scores – By Attraction:

Attraction 1: 7.48

E&V Review:

Aura Haunted House is in its first year running and while it is a work in progress, they have done so much with a clean slate.

General admission tickets are $30, and speed passes are $45. Our walkthrough time was a solid 15 minutes. While the MPD is 0.5, this is a bit below average in the area. This does not seem to discourage the customers that flocked in to see what creeps inside. With the walkthrough being 15 minutes, we felt that there was an adequate amount of scares inside.

Though a few actors were walking and interacting with customers, we do think that there could have been more entertainment outside. There are a few photo op sections while waiting in line, which comes naturally with the territory. With time, we do see the potential for expanding and adding more props and entertainment. For the moment, we are happy that Aura Haunted House is on a solid foot, and we wish them luck on their new journey.

View Full Score Sheet

Pics we took from our visit:.

Guest Reviews Guest Average: 10 out of 10

Alexis – 10 / 10 – October 22, 2022 40/10 so far its the best one around

Submit Your Own Review!

The Scare Factor provides reviews and directory listings for Halloween haunted houses, haunted trails, haunted hayrides, scream parks, and other types of haunted attractions.

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Aura Haunted House

• 4500 Enterprise Drive, Bartonville

Oct 06 to Nov 04

• Buy Tickets

Home You are in… Arts & Culture » Outdoor Adventure » Reenactment » Seasonal » Theater » Aura Haunted House

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The hospital was added to the state hospital campus in 1949, although tuberculosis deaths on the grounds dated back to the earliest days of the asylum. By 1906, it was the leading cause of death at the Peoria State Hospital. The high number of deaths convinced Dr. Zeller to try and control the spread of the illness by segregating the sick.  Some visitors say, you can still feel the AURA of those patients still within the Pollak Hospital Building to this day.

Information

Aura Haunted House is located in the old Bartonville State Hospital, a psychiatric hospital operated by the State of Illinois from 1902 to 1973. Under the direction of Dr. George Zeller as a “cottage system plan” of 63 buildings.

Event Details

$30.00 to $60.00

• Address: 4500 Enterprise Drive Bartonville IL 61607
• Phone: (309) 633-2053 +1 309-633-2053
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: Visit Website

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5 Haunted Attractions in Greater Peoria

Leaves changing colors and pumpkin spice mean the arrival of fall and Halloween and the opening of haunted attractions across Greater Peoria. Check out these five terrifying haunted houses in the Peoria Area:

Aura Haunted House    {Bartonville}   //   September 29, 30, October 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28, 31,  November 3, 4

Aura is located in the old Bartonville State Hospital, a psychiatric hospital operated by the State of Illinois from 1902 to 1973. Completed under the direction of Dr. George Zeller as a “cottage system plan” of 63 buildings. This location is truly haunted. 

Blood Moon Manor    {Forest City}   //   October 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28

Blood Moon Manor (formerly Fright Night) is an “old school” IN YOUR FACE haunted attraction! This Haunted Attraction is the main fundraiser for Forest City Park Development Committee–all proceeds from Blood Moon Manor go to local community charities.

Old State Mine Haunted Trail    {Bartonville}   //   September 30, October 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28, November 4

The Old State Mine is located in the woods of the Bartonville asylum. This outdoor trail is based around the legend of an old mining village that was overtaken by an evil entity known as Doom.

Spider Hill Haunted Attractions  at  Three Sisters Park    { Chillicothe }   //   October 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28

Open every Friday and Saturday in October, Spider Hill Haunted Attractions features a massacre mansion, trail of terror, and a paranormal investigation that is frightening, twisted, and filled with horror!

Spook Hollow Haunted House    {Marquette Heights}   //   October 13, 14, 20,  21, 27, 28

Open the last three Fridays and Saturdays in October, Spook Hollow is an award-winning haunted house with high-intensity scares!

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Torment at Twelve Hundred

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"Torment at Twelve Hundred" the Innovative Haunted Attraction. 2023 Celebrates 20 years of the daunting saga where true Torment originates. This innovative haunt exceeds the boundaries of fear, sending you on a walking path through dark winding tunnels, outdoor wooded trails, highly detailed Read More

Aura Haunted House

Located in Bartonville --> Next open 10/13/23

Located in the Old Peoria State Hospital Historic District at 4500 Enterprise Drive, Bartonville, Illinois in the Historic Pollak Hospital Building. The Peoria State Hospital Historic District, also known as Bartonville State Hospital or Illinois Asylum for the Incurable Insane, was a Read More

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• Dates & Times

Our haunted history

The Old Peoria State Hospital...

Aura Haunted House is located in the old Peoria State Hospital Historic District in Bartonville, Illinois at the historic Pollak Hospital Building.

A psychiatric hospital operated by the State of Illinois from 1902 to 1973. It was completed under the direction of Dr. George Zeller as a cottage system plan of 63 buildings. Among the buildings were patient/caretaker housing, a store, and the Pollak Hospital Building.

The Pollak Hospital was added to the state hospital campus in 1949, although tuberculosis deaths on the grounds dated back to the earliest days of the asylum. By 1906, it was the leading cause of death at the Peoria State Hospital. The high number of deaths convinced Dr. Zeller to try and control the spread of the illness by segregating the sick.

The Pollak Hospital Building was built to care for patients with tuberculosis. The northern wing was for female patients and the southern wing was for male patients. It was named in honor of Dr. M. Pollak, who carried out the exhaustive research at the asylum in 1937.

By 1973, the Pollak Hospital was one of the last buildings on the grounds of the asylum that were still in use.

During the hospital's years of operation, hundreds of patients passed away. According to both stories and eyewitness accounts, their spirits stayed behind to walk the hallways. Some visitors say you can still feel the AURA of those patients within the Pollak Hospital Building!

Are you brave enough to walk these hallways?

THE EXPERTS IN FEAR

Four Decades of Fear

Aura Haunted House is brought to you by a family of seasoned haunted attraction professionals! While lending their talents to other haunted events in Illinois, like Spook Hollow, an opportunity of a lifetime presented itself to the Little family. Scott, Dale, & Steve Little were given a chance to take over a chilling piece of the old Peoria State Hospital. In an instant, distant dreams of producing nightmares within their own quality haunted attraction became a reality. It was then that a sinister seed was planted, and the intensely thrilling Aura Haunted House was born.

Since construction began, the professional team behind Aura has been working diligently to create a unique horror experience that is sure to chillingly captivate all who dare enter! With a combined total of over a century of haunted house experience, Scott, Dale, and Steve have embarked on this hauntingly creative journey, all the while assembling an advanced crew of maniacal masterminds. The Aura Haunted House Team proudly invites you to witness the horror that unfolds as Aura reopens for its second season at the old Peoria State Hospital this fall.

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Aura Haunted House Bartonville, IL

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Located in the Old Peoria State Hospital Historic District at 4500 Enterprise Drive, Bartonville, Illinois in the Historic Pollak Hospital Building. The Peoria State Hospital Historic District, also known as Bartonville State Hospital or Illinois Asylum for the Incurable Insane, was a psychiatric hospital operated by the State of Illinois from 1902 to 1973. The hospital is located in Bartonville, Illinois, near the city of Peoria in Peoria County. Our buildings, The Pollak Hospital ,was one of the last remaining buildings on the grounds of the asylum still in use. During the hospitals years of operation, hundreds died and according to stories and eyewitness accounts, their spirits stayed behind to walk the hallways. Some visitors say, you can still feel the AURA of those patients still within the Pollak Hospital Building to this day! Around here, you are never alone!!! Come prepared to be scared!

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From Asylum to Haunted House: The Unexpected Story of Peoria State Hospital in Bartonville, IL

A humble beginning.

In the heart of Illinois , nestled near the city of Peoria in Bartonville , stands the vestiges of an institution that was once a beacon of hope for the mentally ill.

The Peoria State Hospital , initially known as the ‘Illinois Asylum for the Incurable Insane,’ has a rich history from 1895. This hospital was not merely a medical institution; it was a testament to the resilience and vision of its founders.

The establishment of the hospital resulted from the proactive measures of the Illinois General Assembly. Governor John Altgeld appointed a three-person commission responsible for selecting the site, and Bartonville was chosen.

The first building, completed in 1897, was never used due to compromised structural integrity caused by abandoned mine shafts. This setback, however, did not deter the hospital’s mission.

In 1902, under the innovative guidance of Dr. Frederick Howard Wines, the hospital transformed, adopting a cottage system that resulted in the construction of 33 buildings.

Years of Service and Enduring Impact

Opening its doors in 1902, The Illinois Hospital for the Incurable Insane emerged as a haven for those believed to be beyond help. The facility later became known as the Illinois General Hospital for the Insane, and by 1909, it was recognized as Peoria State Hospital .

The leadership under Dr. George Zeller, a man ahead of his time, was instrumental in shaping the hospital’s reputation. His holistic approach to therapy was groundbreaking and changed the lives of many patients.

Dr. Zeller removed all bars from the windows, took away all forms of restraint, and began a new, compassionate approach to therapy. This revolutionary concept of treating mental illness humanely made him a maverick in the eyes of many.

The hospital gained recognition as the leading institution in patient recovery for an impressive 69 out of its 71 years of operation, a clear indicator of the success of Zeller’s approach. It also housed a highly respected nursing program, further elevating its standing.

The hospital peaked in the 1950s, with 2,800 patients calling it home. However, the patient census had dropped to 600 when its closure was announced in 1972. The closure was met with employee protests, but lacking funding and staffing led to its inevitable end in 1973.

From Closure to Modern Era

After the closure, the buildings stood vacant and were auctioned off. Winsley Durand Jr., a developer, acquired the hospital with the vision of transforming the structures into office spaces, but his plans never fully materialized.

As time passed, many of the original structures were torn down, with the remaining ones refurbished to accommodate a range of commercial and industrial businesses. The Village of Bartonville marked the entire area as a TIF district to promote continued growth and revitalization.

Unfortunately, the Bowen building, the nurses’ dorm, and the administration building were demolished in 2016. The loans taken for the demolition remain unpaid to the Village of Bartonville, leaving a bitter reminder of the historical loss.

Supernatural Connections and Public Engagement

Despite its closure, the hospital continued to draw visitors due to reported paranormal activity. The grounds became a hotspot for paranormal enthusiasts, and stories of the property being haunted began to circulate.

One such tale involves Manuel A. Bookbinder, a former patient at the hospital who worked with the burial crew. According to the tale, Bookbinder’s ghost was seen by 400 staff and patients at his funeral, a sight that led to his coffin being opened to confirm his body was still inside.

Peoria State Hospital recently reopened its doors for public tours, allowing the curious and the brave to walk through the historic buildings. Tours include the monument area, the four cemeteries, and the Old State Mine Haunted Trail.

The Peoria State Hospital Museum even started offering private asylum tours, where guides lead guests to paranormal hotspots inside the building, leaving guests alone to explore the property.

A Final Reflection

The Peoria State Hospital was more than just a medical institution. It was a beacon of hope for those shunned by society, a sanctuary where they were treated with compassion and dignity.

The hospital’s legacy, from its inception to its closure and beyond, is a testament to the resilience and vision of its founders and the enduring spirit of those who walked its halls. It is a stark reminder of our society’s evolving approach to mental health and the necessity of preserving such historical institutions.

While the hospital no longer serves its original purpose, it remains interesting. It welcomes the public to immerse themselves in its rich history, to walk its haunted trails, and to remember a time when this place was a refuge that society had deemed ‘incurable.’

The Peoria State Hospital is a testament to the passage of time, the evolution of mental health care, and the enduring spirit of humanity.

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I'm Spencer Walsh, a professional traveler who loves to help people discover new places and learn about different cultures. I've traveled worldwide, from Europe to Asia and Africa to South America. My favorite thing about traveling is getting lost because it allows me to discover unexpected gems—finding a hidden museum or stumbling upon a beautiful park in the middle of the city.

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