26-06-2025
Universal bringing horror venue to Chicago River
A horror venue will open along the Chicago River in 2027.
Driving the news: Universal Destinations & Experiences announced Thursday it will build a "year-round immersive horror experience" called Universal Horror Unleashed at 700 W. Chicago Ave. in a vacant 114,000-square-foot building.
Zoom in: Universal is promising "terrifying mazes, unforgettable scares, themed bars and unique food and beverage offerings, and a retail space featuring exclusive merchandise" at the new facility, which will be across from the expected Bally's Casino.
Officials say the venue will create more than 400 permanent jobs in roles that include operations leaders, merchandise hosts, entertainers called scareactors, and make-up and prosthetics artists.
What they're saying:"This is exactly the kind of creative, high-impact investment we're working to attract — one that brings new life to a vacant site, creates hundreds of jobs, and cements Chicago as a must-visit destination for entertainment tourism," Mayor Brandon Johnson said in a statement.
Between the lines: The project will receive state incentives through the Illinois EDGE program, and state officials predict Horror Unleashed will generate $1 billion in economic impact.
"Universal choosing Illinois didn't happen by accident — we were proud to support this project through our EDGE incentive program, which has helped fortify a positive business climate that draws world-class companies to the state," Gov. JB Pritzker said.
