Mount Carroll, Illinois, is populated by more dead bodies than living people. At least that’s what Mount Carroll lifer Jim Warfield told us after a marathon tour of the Raven’s Grin Inn, the year-round haunted house he operates and also lives in. Maybe it’s a thing he says for dramatic effect—but after spending the previous six hours wandering around town, it’s not a stretch to imagine that corpses outnumber the living.
The play’s budget must’ve been tight because, mostly, there weren’t people out and about in downtown Mount Carroll on a Saturday. When you’re surrounded by it, it’s hard to decide if the quiet is soothing or eerie. Are the people you do run into around town really that friendly or are they conspiring against you? Is everyone else already gathered in the basement of the Raven’s Grin, putting on their robes, and chalking a pentagram onto the floor?
It was around 9:45 PM when we headed to the Raven’s Grin. By the time we emerged, I’m pretty sure it was nearly midnight. It’s the slow off-season, we were enthusiastic, we laughed at all Jim Warfield’s jokes (even the awkward “adult” ones), and we wanted to be scared, so I think we got an extended tour of the house with extra stories, details, and scares. Like the bit he did where he pretended he was going to cut off my index finger at the knuckle with garden shears. Ha ha.
WHERE TO EAT: Bella Food and Spirits. The tomato bisque is incredible and they have live music on Saturday nights. facebook.com/bellafoodandspirits.
WHERE TO SLEEP: Hotel Glenview. Located downtown, walking distance to everything, built in 1886, no TVs . . . a real old charmer. Splurge on a suite if you want a private bathroom. $90 per night. hotelglenview.com.
WHAT TO DO: The Raven’s Grin Inn. It’s a year-round haunted house. You won’t be disappointed. $13 for an hour-and-a-half tour. hauntedravensgrin.com.
OTHER WAYS TO GET AWAY FROM IT ALL
Two cycling day trips to three brewpubs
Golf-cart livin’ in Northport
Saint Louis, not just a smaller, inferior version of Chicago
