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How suburban haunted houses will look different this year

Scary characters won't be the only ones wearing masks at haunted houses this year.

Masks for customers will be among the requirements at top suburban haunted houses already in the planning stages with the idea of opening in September.

Not all will be opening this year. Realm of Terror in Round Lake Beach, for example, will be shuttered because of COVID-19.

Owners of haunted houses that are opening say safety will be of utmost importance.

Actors will have protective face coverings along with masks many of them typically wear for scary roles, according to the haunted houses' policies in light of COVID-19.

Peter Koklamanis, owner of Dungeon of Doom in Zion, said reservation-based ticketing will be part of the protocols to ensure proper social distance between visitors. Only ticketed visitors will be allowed in the parking lot for a certain time slot.

Tickets will be scanned before the lot, then a text message will be sent notifying people that they can enter the Dungeon of Doom. Guests must wait in a vehicle before the text is sent.

"We'll be maximizing the group sizes up to six, so you and your family of five can come in at one time and you would be separated from the group in front of you and behind you," Koklamanis said.

Dungeon of Doom is known for 60 minutes of terror with the likes of deranged doctors, killer clowns, zombies and assorted post-apocalyptic sewer dwellers. Koklamanis said the plan is for the haunted house to open in September and operate through Halloween.

Koklamanis said visitors will find a "very typical experience" at Dungeon of Doom this year.

"We're going to have some really aggressive scares," he said. "We are basically doing some Plexiglass scare pockets ... so you can be right there within inches. We are definitely taking it safe, meaning we are not going to overpopulate our actors."

Owner Todd Baraniak said he plans for Basement of the Dead and Shattered 3-D to open in September or October at the latest. The haunted houses draw visitors from across the Chicago area. Courtesy of Basement of the Dead

Basement of the Dead and Shattered 3-D in Aurora will have regulations similar to Dungeon of Doom. Basement of the Dead is known for taking visitors through ghoul-filled sewers, boiler rooms and crypts, while Shattered 3-D offers a three-dimensional carnival of terror, complete with a killer clown.

Owner Todd Baraniak said he plans for Basement of the Dead and Shattered 3-D to open in September or October at the latest.

"Some potential COVID precautions include timed ticketing, elimination of touch points, more animatronics, social distancing in any lines, online reservations, private group entry, masks for actors and customers, temperature checks," Baraniak said.

Basement of the Dead and Shattered 3-D also will have an abundant availability of hand-sanitizer stations, wipes and full cleaning every day and night with products that kill COVID-related bacteria, Baraniak said. He added that the progression of COVID-19 will be monitored and that the haunted house will be prepared to adjust the policies if the situation changes "for the better or worse."

Dungeon of Doom has a plan to provide scares no matter what's happening with COVID-19, Koklamanis said. He said details will be released closer to the opening date.

Stay tuned for whether Six Flags Great America in Gurnee will have Fright Fest this year with haunted houses such as Ride Gates of Hell, as seen here in 2017. Daily Herald file photo, 2017

Six Flags Great America in Gurnee has haunted houses, roaming zombies, spooky shows and more as part of its annual Fright Fest. However, spokeswoman Caitlin Kepple said the park needed to figure out its summer operation before considering whether Fright Fest can be held this year.

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