1970s serial killer John Wayne Gacy hid the remains of at least 29 different people in and around his home at 8213 W. Summerdale Avenue. The house was demolished in 1979, but locals were mystified by the fact that the lot remained mostly barren for years thereafter – not even grass or weeds would seem to grow on the property. Stories started to emerge about the property being haunted by the ghosts of Gacy’s victims.
A new home was built on the property in 1988, and the new owner petitioned the city to change the number of the street address.
If you've had a paranormal experience here, or have any additional information about this location, please let us know!
Rate this Haunted Place
What do you think? Is this place really haunted? Voice your opinion here! Click "thumbs up" if you think its haunted, or "thumbs down" if you think its all just a tall tale.
Geographic Information
- Address:
- 8213 W. Summerdale Avenue
Chicago, IL
United States
Get Directions » - GPS:
- 41.9764051, -87.83233009999998
- County:
- Cook County, Illinois
- Nearest Towns:
- Norridge, IL (0.9 mi.)
Harwood Heights, IL (1.4 mi.)
Park Ridge, IL (2.4 mi.)
Schiller Park, IL (2.4 mi.)
Rosemont, IL (3.0 mi.)
Niles, IL (3.3 mi.)
Franklin Park, IL (3.3 mi.)
River Grove, IL (3.5 mi.)
Elmwood Park, IL (4.0 mi.)
Des Plaines, IL (4.7 mi.)
Please note: It is your responsibility to acquire appropriate permissions before investigating any location listed on this site. Private property should be respected at all times, as should all posted signs concerning trespassing, hours of operation and other local regulations. Many "ghost hunters" have been arrested because they failed to contact property owners and/or local authorities ahead of time.
Share Your Experiences
Comments (5)
Share Your Comments
Disclaimer: The stories posted here are user-submitted and are, in the nature of "ghost stories," largely unverifiable. HauntedPlaces.org makes no claims that any of the statements posted here are factually accurate. The vast majority of information provided on this web site is anecdotal, and as such, should be viewed in the same light as local folklore and urban legends.
I really believe its haunted, so many lost their lives violently. They all had unfinished business! ! !
My old school teacher in 1998 said she worked at the local hardware store as a teen and he’d come in all the time to buy lyme out of the gardening section which of course didn’t raise any eyebrows until much later of course.
I wonder how many people still drive by to check out this house. I bet a lot. I bet the owner could tell their own stories of people checking out their house.
The real house has long been torn down. A new one was built on the site
In the 80s, my dad worked in real estate. When the house was torn down the lot was turned over to my dads company. His co workers were trying to make a decision what to do with the lot. My dad suggested that it should be a memorial for the victims. But the others put money over sentiments and decided a new house should get built there instead. Up to his dying day ,dad often said a house should have never been built there .