Congress Plaza Hotel – Haunted Hotel in Chicago, Illinois

Once dubbed the “Home of the Presidents,” the Congress Plaza Hotel is now more famously known for its eerie history and ghostly guests. Built in the late 19th century, this grand hotel was once a symbol of luxury and political prestige. Over the decades, however, tales of tragic deaths, mysterious disappearances, and spectral sightings have transformed it into one of Chicago’s most haunted places.

Historical Background

• Year Built: 1893
• Original Purpose: Hotel for visitors of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition
• Significant Events:
  • During Prohibition, it was rumored to have been used by mobsters, including Al Capone.
  • The hotel has been the site of multiple suicides, especially during the Great Depression.
  • A mother reportedly threw her two children from a high floor before leaping to her own death.
  • Unexplained disappearances and murders have been associated with the building’s early years.

Paranormal Activity Summary

The Congress Plaza Hotel is a hotspot for a wide range of paranormal phenomena. Guests and staff report flickering lights, sudden cold drafts, whispering voices, and doors slamming without cause. Electronics malfunction frequently, and some elevators are said to move between floors on their own. Notable ghostly figures include a shadowy man believed to be Al Capone’s spirit, a young boy in the halls, and a female apparition known as the “Woman in Black.”

Ghost Stories & Reports

• The Boy on the 12th Floor: Believed to be one of the children killed in the tragic family murder-suicide. He is often seen peeking out from behind corners or heard running down empty hallways.
• The Woman in Black: A guest from decades past, dressed in 1920s attire, who is seen walking toward windows on the upper floors. She’s believed to be the mother who jumped to her death.
• Al Capone’s Shadow: Though there’s no record of Capone staying there long-term, many believe his ghost lingers. Staff have seen a stout man in a fedora pacing near the old bar area.
• Room 441: The most infamous room, where guests regularly report feeling watched, seeing a woman’s figure standing at the foot of the bed, and hearing unexplained knocking. Many request to be moved after just one night.

Most Haunted Spot Inside

Room 441 is widely considered the scariest part of the hotel. So many complaints and paranormal experiences have come from this room that even seasoned staff refuse to enter it alone.

Can You Visit?

• Open to the Public? Yes
• Entry Fee: No fee to enter the hotel, but overnight stays require booking
• Tour Availability: Occasional ghost tours around Halloween; inquire at front desk
• Photography Allowed? Yes
• Visiting Hours? 24/7 for guests; lobby access for visitors during standard hours

Best Time to Visit

Fall and winter months are said to bring the most activity—especially October, when Halloween energy seems to stir up the spirits.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

The hotel has been featured on paranormal shows such as Ghost Adventures and Most Haunted. Investigators captured EVPs (electronic voice phenomena) and thermal images of unexplained figures. Room 441 was a focal point in many of these investigations.

Safety Warnings & Legal Restrictions

While the hotel is operational and safe for guests, visitors are advised not to roam restricted areas like abandoned storage rooms or utility corridors. Some of these places are not only eerie but potentially unsafe due to age and disrepair.