3 Illinois Spots Make List Of Scariest Graveyards In America

As a kid growing up in Oregon, Illinois, my neighborhood bordered Riverside Cemetery along the Rock River. I was never fond of crossing through the cemetery in broad daylight, and only went through at night if I had no choice.

My grandfather used to say that there was nothing to worry about from the dead when you were walking through a cemetery, it's the living that you should be wary of. Just the sort of thing an adult would say to a kid with fear issues.

Most people, kids and adults, have some degree of trepidation about being in cemeteries at night, so let's take a look at the cemeteries some recent survey-takers said were the scariest here in Illinois.

You Want Spooky and Scary? Illinois Has Got Spooky And Scary Covered When It Comes To Cemeteries

If you’ve ever wondered which graveyards would make most Americans think twice about a midnight stroll, you’re in luck.

Choice Mutual, a life insurance company that specializes in funeral and burial policies, recently asked 3,004 Americans exactly that question: “Which graveyard would you be least prepared to visit alone at night?”

In Illinois, several cemeteries made the national survey’s list. Rosehill Cemetery in Chicago, the city’s oldest and largest cemetery, landed at #14 nationally. Founded in 1859, Rosehill is home to the graves of Civil War veterans, elaborate mausoleums, and some truly striking statuary.

Then at #57 overall comes Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery in Midlothian, notorious for its reported ghost sightings. This small, abandoned cemetery in the woods has long captured the imagination of paranormal enthusiasts, thanks to stories of phantom lights, shadowy figures, and unexplained noises.

The 3rd Illinois cemetery to make the Choice Mutual list is Springdale Cemetery in Peoria, coming in at #138. This 250 acre cemetery has over 80,000 graves which date back to 1855.

Here Are The Cemeteries Across The Nation That Ranked 1-10 On The List

It figures that a place known for spookiness because of a short story by Washington Irving would come in at number-one in the country.

Top Ten Scariest Graveyards Nationally, according to the Choice Mutual survey:

1. Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, NY

2. Gettysburg National Cemetery, PA

3. Hollywood Forever Cemetery, CA

4. Oakwood Cemetery, MI

5. Green-Wood Cemetery, NY

6. Pine Hill Cemetery, NH

7. St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, LA

8. Old City Cemetery, CA

9. Mount Hope Cemetery, MA

10. Forest Lawn Memorial Park, CA

Here's one cemetery in Illinois that didn't make the list, but others say it's the scariest of them all: