Amazing place super cool love this place nice owner also! Spookyyyy I def would want to go back every year if I could read more

RGI is currently Reservation Only so if you want to go make sure to call ahead and get a time slot with the owners. Our group booked RGI for a hide and seek party in the house. We got 2 hours for a very reasonable $23 per person ($11.50/hr). You need a group of 10 or more to book it for hide and seek. Since we only did the hide and seek portion I will only speak to that experience and not the tour, you can read about the tour portion in other reviews below. Raven's Grinn is a haunted house in the same way that the Addam's Famly or Munsters house would be considered a haunted house. Half labyrinth, half art museum, half insane asylum in all the best ways possible. I spent two hours in the house and in the last 5 minutes found a secret passage that we still hadn't found. You won't find Freddy/Jason/Chucky anywhere in this house, but a large collection of eclectic art/furniture/stuff that leaves you confused, and maybe a bit uneasy. The Warfield's (owners) gave us a quick tour of the building and the different floors and then let us loose. They asked that we be respectful of a couple rules and areas that are off limits outside due to some storm damage and their private living areas, otherwise we had free reign of the "haunted" side. There is a ton of places to hide and get lost in so that each round took about an hour to find everyone. Hidden passageways, doors, and rooms are everywhere. I'm already trying to collect a group of friends together to go play again so I can explore further and see if there are any hidden areas that were missed. Big thanks to the Warfield's for creating such a unique experience that I'm happy to make the 2 hour drive from Chicago to do again. read more

I have been here twice, and in my opinion that is no where near enough!!! The first trip was back in 2007 and the second last year. Both times were a BLAST! It is a truely unique experience. . One that I find a hard time describing! You really have to try it yourself to know. Jim makes each trip personalized and unique to his guests. It is often described as a "haunted house" but it's probably closer to a "fun" house.. we laughed a lot more than we screamed (although there may have been a few screams too =)) My husband insisted he doesn't like haunted houses (you know the type - fake blood and guts, screaming in your face, and lots of strobe lights) but he had so much fun and loved it just as much as I did! The entire drive home we kept laughing and recalling the fun we'd had. All in all, you have to see this place to believe it, and it is well worth the price of admission and the drive. read more

Raven's Grin Inn - Some of the outdoor decorations - Tours Near Me - Mount Carroll, Illinois

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This is one of those weird and whimsical trips that you leave with a huge grin from ear to ear! You'll never see anything like it anywhere else. If you are a humorless hermit-- stay home. Fun people only! Be fully aware that you will be directly interacting with a man that cuts cars in half and glues them to his house. This house isn't about cheap scares. .. it's about real thrills and big smiles for almost all ages. You will be in a very old wine cellar and basement, so make sure you pack an antihistimine. read more

Doesn't look like much. But it's a really cool experience and a great local experience. Very thoughtful and witty story line. Really cool stuff. Every time you notice something different. Really support this small local business and have some fun!!!! read more

Really fun and entertaining, if you scare easily you might get surprised. It's fun, unique and definitely worth the money. Jim tells a good story and the decor is definitely way out of this world. Some of the ideas and attractions are very bizarre. It's good to know that if you're afraid of dark places walk slowly. read more

Not your average haunted house! I've been to the Raven's Grin four times over the past ten years and it's better every time. The owner Jim is an artist (in my opinion), and has done pretty much all of the work on the house himself. His creativity is amazing! I love that he stays open year round, I've been during both Summer & Fall and we've never had a dull time. If you are ever in the area you should check it out! read more

Raven's Grin Inn - Sign - Tours Near Me - Mount Carroll, Illinois

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This is the most fun place I have been in years! Jim and Jessica are AMAZING! Went alone on Saturday afternoon and had a private tour with Jim all to myself. His personal stories and his artwork add so much too this experience. Love the slides. Do NOT MISS going down the slides!! Cannot recommend highly enough. Fabulous day trip. Definitely worth the drive and a real bargain. read more

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The owner of Ravens Grin Inn, Jim Warfield, has serious issues. And that is a good thing! We've been several times over the last years, and are always bringing new victims along yet enjoying the show as it gets modified over time. Previous reviewers here have alluded to certain features of the experience but stopped short of revealing some features for fear of spoiling it. I don't think it's any sort of spoiler to say that you have the option of experiencing two different ride/slides from the top floor on down, at about 10 mph, hurtling through a sheet metal tube while wrapped (for slipperiness) in a burlap sack! It's in total darkness, so it feels like 50mph. I have had back surgery, but somehow live through it every time. Jim is truly a creative artist, and this building is pure installation art. It's not chainsaws and screams, as Jim reminds, but I will tell you that if you have an open mind and a desire for some cerebral foolishness, you can't beat this. The tour of this improbable old building is reason enough for the lengthy show. For years, his neighbors and town fathers didn't much care for the RGI, but Mt Carroll has grown to accept this piece of living art. There are now a few good dining choices in Mt Carroll downtown, a block away. It is also an easy trip from Savanna IL so if you are a motorcycle tourist, this is something new and different for you to try. Enjoy your experience and make sure Jim has quit breaking his pills in half ;) [ I edited this because of the owner's reply... to correct the town location name. Jim now seems to be aware of his location, so who's to argue? ] read more

I've been to RGI a handful of times and while the tour is basically the same each time, the presentation varies based on the whim of the owner/tour guide. The last time I was there, my two girlfriends and I were the only three on the tour. Because we were a small and captive audience, what would normally have been about an hour long tour lasted nearly three hours. At a certain point I had to wonder if we'd legitimately been taken hostage. The owner has an extremely creepy vibe about him; not sure if it's genuine or shtick. The house was also incredibly filthy (not just made to appear filthy as part of the haunted effect) and reeked of dog urine. After my last experience, I most assuredly won't be returning. read more

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This place is awesome went for the first time last year and it was AWESOME!! We are having a hide-n-seek party this Janurary. I am a Halloween person by nature (born in Oct) and having a "haunted" fun house open yrear round is a treat!!!!! If you've never been, then GO!! and also rent out the house for a few hours and do a hide-n-seek, I can't wait, it'll be soo much fun, there are also some slides that are awesome!! The guy who owns the house is awesome and funny :-) read more

I can't believe no one's rated this place. It's not quite a fun house, not quite a museum, it's...something else again. Basically this freaky artist guy (in a good way) took it upon himself to convert this old farmhouse into a living work of art, and gives tours through it. It's halloween appropriate without being scary per se, and is just cool as heck to tour. You have to arrange it with them in advance, but it's definitely worth the trip. I can't tell too much without giving away some of the great surprises, but rest assured it's an interesting experience. read more

This place really is something special. It's hard to describe, but best compared to a haunted house. (But fun and interesting, not like the kind of haunted house where there are middle-aged Jaycees dressed up as zombies and groping teenage girls.) I recommend it to anyone looking for a unique and memorable activity. I think it would appeal to school-age kids on up. read more

What an awesome experience! The tour we had was around 2 hours and worth every bit of money and time our group spent. Jim is on point with his stories and with making this a fun and interactive experience. I would recommend reading as little as possible about the tour and just giving it a go to experience it for yourself. We had an all adult group and because of that, got more raunchy stories than a family group would good and that was great that he catered to our age group. We will be back read more

My Dad came here 20 years ago and wanted me and my family to experience this and wow was it hilarious. Jim is a great story teller and doesn't leave you bored while you are on the tour of his house. I definitely suggest going! read more

My boyfriend has been talking about this place for MONTHS, so we finally went. For $15 you get your money worth. Jim who runs and owns it is fantastic and very funny. His wife is great also although she mainly works window. VERY unique experience. Maybe call ahead for tour time. Leave your cellphone/purse/whatever in the car...just bring yourself. Possibly don't wear a skirt ladies as you will see why later. I would go back at a later time. read more

Last night was my first time visiting Raven's Grin and it's hard to fathom the amount of art and craftsmanship that went into building and creating that place. The entire building is decked out with hand-made statues, creatures, paintings, hallways -- yes, hallways that the owner built himself .. and tunnels and freaking slides that take you from one end of the building to another! And the people that run that place are so friendly and passionate. Expect fun, surprises, laughs and some wholesome awkwardness at the Raven's Grin Inn!! read more

Raven's Grin is a must see when visiting Mount Carroll. It is not the type of haunt you think it might be. It is great and for the most part kid-friendly. It is full of history and memorabilia that will astound you. Jim is a great guy who keeps in mind the people that come through the door. It's amazing to think of how long it has taken him to create this mansion! He is still going strong and adds to his collection every year. He also changes up the mansions route every once in a while which means you may never get the same tour as the last. It was great fun and I think I may be going there again once I am in town. Can't wait to see whats in store for next time! read more

Raven's Grin Inn - Tours Near Me - Mount Carroll, Illinois

Drove here from Milwaukee, WI - Raven's Grin Inn was the excuse to explore this part of Illinois. Jim is a mastermind and the place he has created is incredibly imaginative. It was well worth the drive - we will remember this place for the rest of our lives. read more

This place is amazing! I have been here at least 15 times. Every Time I go there is something new. There is literally nothing else like it. It is not your average haunted house. It was very fun, creative, interesting, and creepy. Jim (the owner) is very good at what he does. I will continue to visit and I advise everyone else to also. read more

Raven's Grin Inn - Tours Near Me - Mount Carroll, Illinois

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The owner Jim Warfield is an amazing guy. I have gone to his place 5 times now and plan to go back with more new people. The location is at the end of a road just off the main strip in the small town. But the location is easy to get to with plenty of parking. His stories and artistic flair he uses to highlight the stories is truly unique. I'm in love with this place. I don't want to talk about anything specific as to not ruin the fun of visiting but it is a haunted house meets fun house meets city museum in St. Louis. It can be scary but if you are in a group and want it toned down as to not frighten anyone he is 100% willing to do so. I highly recommend visiting this place if you have the chance. There are many nice places to stay near by if you can't make it there and home in one day. But I make the trip from Chicago there and back with some coffee while everyone is passed out in the car. Happy adventures!!!! read more

Don't come to this haunted house expecting to be frightened the whole time, but do expect to be entertained. The owner is hilarious and entertaining throughout the entire experience. The price is right, and the amount of time you spend in the house is far greater than any other haunted house I have been in Illinois. read more

Visited this September, 2015 and LOVED it! It is demented, Spooky, and a bit cerebral. Jim is an amazing host. Raven's Grin Inn is a one-of-a-kind experience that you can't really label a "haunted house" in the traditional sense of the word. It's really more of a creepy full-immersion experience, a very macabre show and tour through the eyes and mind of Jim Warfield, who is as unique and fun as they come. In my opinion, this is a show not to be missed--but definitely be ready for something very... very... different... read more

i have loved horror movies all my life and i love to get scared all the time. so i decided to give it a shot and go to this ravens grin and may i add it was a 2 hour drive there and back. this haunted house tour was the worst. the tour guide person was loony off his shit as if he didn't take he medication and not only that what was with the damn tap in the beginning of the tour. it was a total waist of 6 hours in my life. the worst. the best part of this whole trip was us hydroplaning on the way there. i do not recomend it at all. it was the worst haunted house ever read more

We visited Raven's Grin Inn for the first time last Sunday during the day and had THE best time. I'm really glad that we went for our first visit in the "off-season", as we had Jim, the owner and mastermind behind Raven's Grin all to ourselves for almost 2 hours. When we arrived Jim and his wife Jessica were outside and we chatted with them briefly before starting our tour. Jessica was so sweet, she even brought her Corgi out for us to play with while we were waiting a few minutes for Jim to set up everything inside. I can't even begin to describe what happened in there, even if I wanted to give spoilers I feel like there were so many cool and random things we saw and did that I wouldn't even know where to begin. It's definitely not your typical haunted house (although the house does have real paranormal activity), it wasn't scary and I was with my little sister who hates to be scared. Jim really plays to his audience and made sure any startles were directed towards the boys of the group, and not my sister and I. I would recommend this for families w/ kids 5 and up. Overall I would highly recommend going out to Mt Carroll to visit Jim and Jessica. They made our 3 hour round trip from Sandwich WELL worth it. Also, it's $13 bucks admission per person. For almost 2 hours of really awesome entertainment, that's like a no brainer!! Haunted houses are like $25 bucks for a 20 minute walk through. Definitely go out and support Raven's Grin Inn, its worth the trek (it's even a beautiful drive out there). read more

I have been to this place numerous times and i can honestly say it is one of my favorite places to visit. It is a mix of fun house, art show and comedy club thrown together with a few scares along the way. If you are lucky and go at the right time not only do you get more than what you pay for, you get an in depth look at the man who runs this place. The last time i was there we showed up around 9pm and did not end up leaving till almost 1 in the morning. Mr. Warfield showed us many things and spots in the house that normal tours do not get to see. His off color humor and friendliness is unmatched in today's world. His stories are endless and his passion is tangible. From the body slide to the insane barbie room there is not one thing that does not amuse and assault the senses. If there was ever a "roadside attraction" that you should not pass up the chance to see this would be the one. There is a great little bar around the corner to grab a pizza, which is surprisingly good and to grab a drink at while waiting for your tour. He accommodates for children as well and will tone down the adult humor and "scares" he has planned throughout the house. Truly this is one of the last great interactive attractions and a one of a kind barker. You will not be sorry you went. read more

I went there a few days ago and I love it! My friend and I got our own personal tour with Jim because another couple that was there in the beginning left before we started the tour. I think Jim might have freaked them out with his performance in the frontroom because why else would they not want to check out the rest of the house! I highly recommend going to this place. I cant wait to go again. I am thinking of going for Halloween. You pay 60 bucks and you stay overnight and get a free run of the house. The whole place has a creepy feel to it and Jim just enhances that feeling! Hes one of the strangest people I have ever met but he is awesome. My friend and I got to know him pretty well because we kept stopping at certain points and talking with him. We ended up being there for about 3 hours. As much as I enjoyed just having a personal tour, I think it would be a blast to go with a bigger group too. Go check it out! Oh and its open all year long which is also awesome! No more waiting for halloween season to go to a haunted house! read more

Went to this house at about 9pm on a Friday with some friends. Met the owner Jim as he took money for tickets. Sign and flyer and website say they accepted credit cards but he told me that he couldn't and didn't elaborate further. I paid cash and the tracks he pulled outside the house were fun and silky. That all changed when we entered the house. The smell of mold was pretty overwhelming and we were seated in a small dark living room with 5 teenage girls. What E sat there for at least ten minutes watching a guy playing with toilet paper and wearing a rainbow wig on the TV. The man on TV just kept laughing and it was just plain annoying. Jim finally came in and began an hour long tapestry if stories that made absolutely no sense. I think out group had it once he started using the fart machine and saying "I think I just sh#it my pants" after an hour if listening to his self indulgent act, we moved on to the kitchen and it was just plain dirty and his gags were just badly made prop jokes. This is sad because he seems to have the ability to be amazingly creative with some of his tricks. He also seemed to be more interested in the young girls on the tour than our group. We finally asked to leave and he said OK. On the way out he said that his wife always tell him the tours are too long. He should really listen to her. He showed us some highlights of the house as we left and was very proud of his work. I think if he shortens the hour long intro and cleans the place a little and focusses on the house it could be way better. As it stands now, I wouldn't recommend wasting your money here unless you are really into nonsensical never ending stories and super cheap tricks. It is also my theory that he didn't take my debit card because he may have known I would ask for my money back. It was just plain sad read more