Image credit: Moonlit CoutureLOCKPORT, ILLINOIS — HellsGate Haunted House has opened the gates on its tenth season, marking the anniversary with more monsters, anniversary surprises and a towering new addition to the attraction.
The Lockport haunt opened for the 2026 season on September 24 and will operate on select nights through November 1.
For its tenth anniversary, HellsGate is introducing a new 19-foot-high Clown Carousel, adding another large-scale set piece to an attraction already built around the idea that reaching the haunted house is part of the experience.
Guests don't simply walk through a front door.
The journey begins after parking in Lockport and taking a shuttle toward the HellsGate grounds. From there, visitors make their way through the woods and Lost Souls Cemetery before eventually reaching the multi-level mansion itself.
Inside, HellsGate is known for elaborate environments that include secret passages, giant slides and an extensive cast of characters. According to HellsGate, more than 150 live actors are part of this year's production.
The experience extends beyond the mansion as well. HellsGate's Monster Midway offers games, photo opportunities, food vendors, a gift shop and signature drinks around the fireside after guests complete the attraction.
Ten Years at the Gate
The 2026 season represents a significant milestone for HellsGate.
To mark its 10-year anniversary, the attraction says it will offer special discounts and giveaways throughout the season as a thank-you to longtime visitors.
One HellsGate tradition is also returning: find the key and your ticket is free.
The challenge involves locating that night's Key Master and correctly answering a question based on HellsGate lore and trivia. Guests who succeed can earn their ticket for free.
It's an unusual tradition that fits an attraction built around exploration.
HellsGate doesn't present itself simply as a collection of rooms and scares. The woods, cemetery, mausoleum, mansion and midway are designed to make the trip feel like a larger Halloween adventure.
Ten seasons in, that world is still expanding.
And this year, somewhere beyond the cemetery and behind the gate, a 19-foot carousel full of clowns is waiting.
Location: Lockport, Illinois
2026 season: September 24-November 1 on select nights
Halloween-season parking: 301 W. 2nd St. Lockport, IL 60441
Source note: Ghost Signal Radio received 2026 press materials and photography directly from HellsGate Haunted House.