07/18/2026
After 14 unforgettable seasons, it’s time to close the book on Shock House.
I’ve been putting off writing this because, honestly, it’s harder than I expected.
For those who have asked if Shock House is coming back… the answer is no. Shock House has taken its final breath.
This wasn’t one decision—it was a combination of many. Running a haunted house today comes with more state regulations than ever before. Finding dedicated actors and volunteers has become increasingly difficult. Building an entire attraction from scratch every fall, operating it for just a few weekends, and then tearing every bit of it back down is an incredible amount of work. We were the last haunted house in Illinois still doing a complete temporary build every single season.
On top of that, I have a 110-year-old family business to run. And if I’m being honest… I’m getting older. (Yep, I said it.) The time and energy it takes to do both simply isn’t there anymore.
Most people only experienced Shock House for 20 or 30 minutes each October.
What they didn’t see were the countless hours spent designing, building, wiring, painting, repairing, rehearsing, cleaning, acting, and eventually tearing it all back down. For nearly two months straight, our crew gave up evenings, weekends, and time with their families so complete strangers could have an unforgettable night.
Many people don’t know where the name Shock House came from.
Long before Shock House existed, my friend PK and many others were putting on haunted houses in The District. He always used to say, “We’re not a theatrical haunt… we’re a Shock House.” That simple phrase stuck with me, and when it came time to name our haunt, there was never any other option.
Every October, it became my way of honoring one of the coolest dudes I’ve ever met. Shock House was a love-hate hobby, but it was also a tribute to someone who helped inspire it from the very beginning.
To every person who ever bought a ticket, screamed their way through our halls, shared our posts, or made us part of your Halloween tradition—thank you.
To our incredible sideshow performers and the amazing bands who used their time and talent, thank you for helping create an experience that was so much more than just a haunted house.
A special thank you to the QCCA Expo Center for welcoming us year after year and putting up with the controlled chaos that came with transforming your building into our world of nightmares. We couldn’t have asked for a better home.
Most of all, thank you to every volunteer who ever wore a costume, built a wall, fixed a prop, sold tickets, swept floors, or simply showed up when we needed you. You were the heart and soul of Shock House, and none of this would have been possible without you.
While Shock House has reached the end of its story, Halloween in the Quad Cities doesn’t have to. If someone else is willing to carry that torch, I hope you’ll support them. If you’re still looking for some Halloween fun, go check out Terror at Skellington Manor and support the people keeping the spooky season alive.
As for Shock House… the name deserves to rest. It belongs to the memories we made, the friendships we built.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for allowing us to scare you for 14 incredible seasons. The memories we made together will last a lifetime.
And PK… I hope we made you proud.
❤️ — Kristofer Swinburn
