Haunted hotels · Illinois
Haunted Hotels in Chicago & Illinois
Historic Illinois hotels with published ghost stories, from Chicago’s Congress Plaza and The Drake to Galena’s DeSoto House and the river towns.
The short answer
There is no official ranking. In Chicago, the Congress Plaza has the biggest reputation, with stories of Al Capone’s ghost and Room 441, and The Drake has its ‘Lady in Red’. Outside Chicago, Galena’s DeSoto House, Hotel Baker in St. Charles, the Ruebel Hotel in Grafton and the Inn at 835 in Springfield all have published ghost stories.
Where they are
Built 1855 · Inn
DeSoto House Hotel
The ghost story Haunted Rooms reports that staff claim to have seen apparitions in 'old fashioned attire' passing through walls where doors once stood, along with unexplained cigar smoke and disembodied voices.
Where the story comes from: hauntedrooms.com
Why stay Galena's 1855 hotel, where Lincoln spoke from the balcony in 1856 and Grant ran his presidential campaign from rooms 209 and 211.
Built 1893 · Grand hotel
Congress Plaza Hotel
The ghost story Choose Chicago reports lore that Al Capone's ghost is seen near his old suite, that a spirit called Peg Leg Johnny turns lights and electronics on and off, and that a female ghost in Room 441 'kicks guests awake from the foot of the bed.'
Where the story comes from: choosechicago.com
Why stay Built in 1893 for World's Columbian Exposition visitors, facing Grant Park, with ghost stories about Al Capone and Room 441.
Built 1909 · Inn
Inn at 835
The ghost story Legends of America relays the legend that original owner Bell Miller 'refused to leave' her dream home; staff and guests report a warm voice, a figure in doorways, moved objects and elevators stopping on the wrong floors, attributed to 'a benign and friendly spirit.'
Where the story comes from: legendsofamerica.com
Why stay Businesswoman Bell Miller's 1909 apartment building near the State Capitol, guest rooms since 1994, where legend says she never left.
Built 1913 · Inn
Ruebel Hotel
The ghost story Haunted Rooms reports that staff and guests often spot the spirit of 'a little girl named Abigail' roaming the hallways; the hotel's own site links to this account.
Where the story comes from: hauntedrooms.com
Why stay Grafton's riverfront hotel, rebuilt in 1913 after a fire took Michael Ruebel's 1879 original. It calls itself the last of its era in town.
Built 1920 · Grand hotel
The Drake
The ghost story Choose Chicago relays the lore of a 'Lady in Red' said to creep around the hotel after a tragic death and a 'Woman in Black' tied to an unsolved 1944 killing; Bobby Franks' parents are also said to wander the halls.
Where the story comes from: choosechicago.com
Why stay Benjamin Marshall's hotel at Lake Shore Drive, opened New Year's Eve 1920, with Palm Court afternoon tea since the 1920s.
Built 1928 · Boutique hotel
Hotel Baker
The ghost story Haunted Rooms relays the legend of a chambermaid, jilted at the altar, who drowned herself in the Fox River and whose spirit 'has returned to work'; guests in the former maids' quarters report disturbed bedding and 'disembodied sobbing.'
Where the story comes from: hauntedrooms.com
Why stay Colonel Edward J. Baker's 1928 Spanish Revival hotel on the Fox River, with its own hydroelectric plant, once the 'Honeymoon Hotel.'
Our rules
How we report ghost stories
We list a ghost story only when it has been published, by the hotel, a historic-hotel organization, a tour company or the press, and we link to where it comes from. We report what guests, staff and storytellers say; we don’t claim any building is haunted. The history is checked separately, the same way as every inn on this site: the year it was built, its historic credential, and that it takes bookings today.
After dark
Ghost tours in Illinois
Tours are sold by GetYourGuide and run by local operators. If you book one through these links, we may earn a commission at no cost to you. Ratings and prices are GetYourGuide’s.
Questions travelers ask
What is the most haunted hotel in Chicago?
There is no official ranking. By reputation it is the Congress Plaza: Choose Chicago relays lore of Al Capone’s ghost near his old suite, a spirit called Peg Leg Johnny and a female ghost in Room 441. We report these as stories.
Is The Drake haunted?
Choose Chicago relays the lore of a ‘Lady in Red’ said to creep around the hotel after a tragic death and a ‘Woman in Black’ tied to an unsolved 1944 killing.
Are there haunted historic hotels outside Chicago?
Yes. Haunted Rooms, a ghost-travel site, reports stories at Galena’s DeSoto House, Hotel Baker in St. Charles and the Ruebel Hotel in Grafton, and Legends of America relays the legend of Springfield’s Inn at 835, whose original owner is said never to have left.
Keep exploring
How we chose these inns
Every place on this page is at least 50 years old, holds a credential we can check (National Register listing, a listed historic district, landmark status, or Historic Hotels of America membership), and takes bookings today. We verify each one against primary sources before it goes on the list, and last checked this list in October 2026. Read our criteria.
Sources (16)
- DeSoto House Hotel: desotohouse.com
- DeSoto House Hotel: npgallery.nps.gov
- Hotel Baker: www.hauntedrooms.com
- DeSoto House Hotel: www.historyillinois.org
- Congress Plaza Hotel: www.congressplazahotel.com
- Congress Plaza Hotel: webapps1.chicago.gov
- The Drake: www.choosechicago.com
- Inn at 835: npgallery.nps.gov
- Inn at 835: www.legendsofamerica.com
- Inn at 835: www.connshg.com
- Ruebel Hotel: npgallery.nps.gov
- Ruebel Hotel: www.ruebelhotel.com
- The Drake: www.thedrakehotel.com
- The Drake: npgallery.nps.gov
- Hotel Baker: www.hotelbaker.com
- Hotel Baker: npgallery.nps.gov
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