Lincoln Park Zoo is keeping its gates open after dark this October for one of the city’s most spine-tingling traditions: Haunted History Tours, the guided evening walk that digs into the zoo’s cemetery roots and its allegedly haunted past.
Led by author and podcaster Adam Selzer, host of the Mysterious Chicago tours, each 75-minute walkabout stops at notable locations in and around the zoo where history and mystery deliciously overlap. Guests hear the stories of the zoo’s origins on old cemetery grounds and the legends that have lingered for decades. Selzer, who has appeared on the History Channel and the Travel Channel, knows exactly how to turn Chicago’s past into an unforgettable night out.
Tours run on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings through October 28, with departures at 7 p.m. and an additional 8:30 p.m. slot from October 13 onward. Tickets are $35 ($28 for zoo members), and the walks are open to guests ages 16 and older. These popular tours tend to sell out, so booking ahead is the best way to claim a lantern-lit spot.
It is the perfect spooky-season outing for history lovers, curious skeptics and anyone who likes their autumn evenings with a little extra mystery — all inside one of Chicago’s most beloved institutions.
Photo: Lincoln Park Zoo
