Motes Haunted Hallow Offers Free Halloween Fun in Byron

Finding Halloween fun in Northern Illinois that won't leave your wallet screaming can be a challenge, but there's a haunted trail in Byron that deserves a spot on your family's to-do list this year. Best of all, it's free!

Halloween Adventures in Illinois

I love almost everything about Halloween. Pumpkins, fall decorations, costumes, candy and cute little ghosts? Sign me up! Haunted houses and things that jump out at me in the dark? That's where I draw the line.

At least, that's what I used to think.

Last weekend, my nearly 13-year-old daughter survived her very first haunted house experience. I say "survived" because, as someone who would rather admire scary Halloween things from a safe distance, I'm pretty sure I was more nervous about the whole thing than she was.

And now? She wants to go to MORE haunted houses.

Apparently, once you conquer your first haunted attraction, you immediately want to see what other terrifying adventures are out there. Meanwhile, I'm over here wondering if we can just visit a pumpkin patch and get cider donuts instead.

Thankfully, there's a Halloween attraction in Byron, Illinois, that offers a fun way to get into the spooky spirit without spending a fortune.

Motes Haunted Hollow in Byron

Every October, Roy and Renee Motes transform their six-acre property on Hoisington Road into a Halloween destination that people love.

To be clear, this is not just a massive collection of scary decorations that you admire from the road. Visitors are invited to get out of their cars, explore and experience the Halloween fun up close.

The Motes have created a haunted trail that winds through their property and a haunted house inside their pole barn. Plus, the whole attraction keeps growing every year!

Now here comes my favorite part: the entire experience is completely free!

Let's be honest. Fall family activities can get expensive pretty quickly when you're paying admission for several people. So, finding something fun that doesn't require you to empty your wallet is always a win.

A Helpful Tip for Fellow Scaredy-Cats

A few years ago, when I spoke with Renee Motes, she let me know that nervous visitors (me) or families with younger children can ask for a less frightening experience when they arrive at Motes Haunted Hallow.

That's perfect for families who want to experience Halloween scares but aren't quite ready for the full-blown, people-jumping-out-at-you-with-chainsaws terror treatment yet.

(Of course, my newly fearless daughter might not appreciate me asking for the toned-down experience this time.)

Where to Find Motes Haunted Hallow

Motes Haunted Hallow is located at 12112 North Hoisington Road in Byron, Illinois, and is open Wednesday through Sunday through October 31.

Although admission is free, please consider leaving a donation to thank the Motes family for all the time and effort they put into creating this Halloween experience for us all to enjoy, and to help them make the attraction even bigger next year!