This hotel is NICE, okay? While the Congress Plaza is clearly teeming with apparitions, the hotels most enduring creepy legacy, perhaps, is connected to one of its real-life patrons, Americas first serial killer, Dr. H.H. We went ~ghost hunting~ using the free app called Ghost Detector and found ghosts named Dora and Mabel. Remember when I said that The Congress was built for the World Fair? Williams was a guest at the hotel, as the story goes, and entered her room to discover the Woman in Black, who pulled a gun from her purse and shot Williams dead. Breakfast not included, and very expensive, better walk and find another place. If you believe the world wide web, there have been oodles. 
Coincidentally, Holmes built a hotel for the World Fair also. Loud but Convenient but dated and small rooms. This was kind of disappointing, but also not disappointing, because I didn't need any demons attaching themselves to me and my friend. It was a 3-generation girls' getaway. Around 3 a.m., I made two decisions: First, I was going to sleep with the lights on, and second, if anything strange did happen to me, I would check out the next morning and get a new hotel. It was early in the evening the front desk said it'd be occupied later in the night so when she knocked and we thought we heard something again, we RAN.
I began to wonder if the hotel was keeping people out of these rooms or keeping something in. Arrived early and our lake view room was ready. Holmes. 
By visiting ChooseChicago.com, you are consenting to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Probably not. Just looking at the door, it seemed like someone had gone out of their way to make it look terrifying: We also played with my Ouija board in our room, but nothing happened. By what name was Room 441 (2020) officially released in Canada in English? But truth be told, I freaked myself out. His was a lot smaller and a lot less flashy though, so he was said to have trouble finding guests. In August of 1939, 43 year old Adele Langer checked herself and her two young sons into The Congress following a day at the zoo. Heres the famed fourth floor. Cue Demented Mitten Tours, who recently spent the night in Room 441 and lived to tell the tale. Anna: Staying in a haunted hotel wasn't as terrifying as I thought it would be, but that could be because I wasn't alone. Plus, there's the story of two children who were pushed from a 12th-story window by their mother. Overall it was not ideal, but it's fine for a two day trip. Uh, no. The lobby was fairly busy, and it was clear that I was one of a long line of guests shed checked in that day. It seemed the hallways went on forever. Captain Lou was staying at The Congress in preparation for his wedding, an event he was said to be very much looking forward to. The lobby especially. Discover unique things to do, places to eat, and sights to see in the best destinations around the world with Bring Me! , 10 free things to do in Chicago this July, See the city for less with Chicago CityPASS, Top things to do at Navy Pier this summer. It freaked me out, and I swear I felt my stomach drop out of my ass, but I kept repeating over and over that it was a coincidence the building is old, so it could have been pipes, right? In our room, we met one named Mary. But I could see the uneasiness settle in her eyes. Thanks, demons. The hallways wind and wind like youre in a maze. Franks was kidnapped and murdered by his cousin Richard Loeb and his accomplice Nathan Leopold in 1924. Room 441 is largely considered the most haunted room in the Congress Plaza Hotel. So I pulled out my phone again, which said we found a demon this time. If two lazy college students captured nothing happening on their iPhone then forgot to edit it and submitted it late in a desperate attempt to pass their film course, it probably would have been more entertaining than this movie. After an investigation, it was determined that Captain Lou shot himself accidentally, immediately upon waking from a nightmare. Before we get to that, Id like to share with you the ghost stories I had floating around in my head as we made the long drive to Chicago for our night of terror. Hard to tell. There were twists, turns, and even dead-ends. Seating will be available in the Palm Court and Club International rooms on a first-come, first-served basis.
Hold on, though, Im getting ahead of myself. That night, however, he was found dead in his room from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. In fact, Travel + Leisure once named the Congress Plaza Hotel the most haunted place in Illinois and, as I would learn, for good reason. Quick service, and he opened a window for us. Perhaps the most poignant ghosts, however, are those of the parents of Bobby Franks. They remain there in the afterlife, it seems, and have been witnessed wandering the hotel, mourning their murdered son. And Mr. Langer, still in Prague, was very much alive, although it is said that he became suicidal upon learning of the deaths of his family. On a Saturday afternoon, he procured his marriage license and purchased a revolver, then retired to his room. Murder is bad. California residents can opt out of "sales" of personal data. Everyone was very friendly and helpful from check in to check-out! But we get calls about it all the time. Either that or the fifteenth floor. According to her nametag, I was checked in by the hotels manager. Let me tell you, of all the ghost stories I took into that hotel with me, this is the one that stuck. We did awesome. Because really, we did. Im too scared. Room was really hot. Al Capone hes the stuff that mob legend is made of. Keep up with the latest daily buzz with the BuzzFeed Daily newsletter! I dont know why anyone else even tries, honestly. It's hard to explain. I decided to venture 10 floors below and walk past the door. My guess is that someone stole the original one, but they couldnt spring for one of those cheap plastic engraved doohickeys? That was probably the most unsettling thing about our entire visit. It's said that some of those guests never checked out. President Theodore Roosevelt was in the hotels Florentine Room when he announced that he was leaving the Republican Party. We sat in nervous silence until I eventually fell asleep. She was polite, but definitely on autopilot. While not necessarily haunted, that room was the place where time stood still. Ask jbenz18 about The Congress Plaza Hotel & Convention Center. CAN YOU FEEL THE CREEPINESS? With a history like that, how could it NOT be haunted, right? But what about deaths that have actually occurred inside the hotel? Siddiqui later told me this was most likely because of the pandemic. But without an elevator, they would have to use the stairs that looked like they hadnt been walked on in years. So here it is. Not a great night of sleep, but it was not the fault of hotel. WE MADE IT! Im honestly kind of regretting the whole trip at this point because Im not a ghost hunter, Im just a curious weirdo, and my nerves are too shot for some angry shadow woman to be shaking my bed and flipping the paintings upside down and whispering in my ear. The location is convenient. The Langers were a wealthy family from Prague, who had come to the US seeking asylum during the war.
I wish I could say I found room 441 and stood in front of it bravely. What Im trying to say is, ghosts dont typically perform on cue. Now on the other side of our adventure, Im glad we went. I will be the only person in the room who didnt hear the ghost voice or see the shadow person, but then the next day, Im the only person who can barely open their eyes for fear of vomiting up the soul of Satan. We eventually went back to our room in a bit of a panic because I seriously felt like we were going to get lost. Weirdest thing ever. She never saw the letter though, because shed left the house with the children early in the morning on what would be their last day. Holmes would supposedly meet women in the lobby before taking them to his "murder castle," multiple people have jumped to their deaths from windows, and Al Capone's spirit lingers and those are just a few legends surrounding the Congress. Cute little guys with striped hats and symbols and the like. Did I mention that there is a heavily supported theory out there that H.H. Ive come to recognize the feeling over the years, and while its not evidence, per say, I do believe that spirits are present when I start to feel that way. On to the twelfth floor, where Adele Langer and her children are said to still reside. For starters, the building is rumored to have been mobster Al Capone's headquarters. So this brings us back to Room 441 at about 1 am. Lets get the big questions out of the way first. I mean, I suppose circus monkeys could become ghosts, couldnt they? It is so haunted, apparently, that it is only booked when specifically requested by a thrill-seeking guest. It could be because I knew that I'd be sleeping in a haunted place, or it could be because Anna decided to tell one of the ghosts to "suck her ass" and still managed to fall asleep later, even though I stayed up the whole night complimenting Mary so she didn't end up murdering us or holding us hostage like John Cusack in 1408. Im only going to mention the couple that I was able to verify. As for Room 441- we didnt experience anything paranormal. Ghosts arent circus monkeys. The hotel was nice. Then you're brave. The costume party promises to combine elements of a lavish VIP nightclub and lounge experience, with the exclusiveness of a luxury hotel gala, and the terror and chills of a haunted house. Itruns from 9pmto 3am, with tickets priced at $20 per person.
Now, Im going to tell you something, and hopefully you wont think Im a complete kook. But I have no desire to stay there for days/weeks/months to figure it out. I cant help ya.. The elevator only goes up to floor 14, but there is another staircase, behind a door, that goes up to another floor. Rooms very old, bathroom needs some upgrade. I stayed at the Congress Plaza for two nights on my first visit to Chicago. Im an asshole. I paid $75 for a glass of winesteak dinner and dessert. It was easier said than done. I was not happy with any of my food. ), Mid-Michigan's Premier True Crime/Paranormal Touring Company. As she handed me my room key, she offered me a sympathetic smile. It was an experience, thats for sure. more. It had to be demon Mary. In less than a week, music lovers from across the country will descend upon Chicagos Grant Park by the thousands for the annual Lollapalooza music festival.
After doing some research, I learned that the hotel's nickname is "Home of Presidents" because Presidents Grover Cleveland, William McKinley, Teddy Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, Woodrow Wilson, Warren Harding, Calvin Coolidge, and Franklin Roosevelt all worked and stayed at the Congress Plaza at some point. Check it out for yourself at the hotelsHaunted Halloween Ball.
If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. There was no one in the lobby, there was no one in the restaurant, and there was no one in the halls. The hotel opened in 1893 for the World's Fair. We dont use them, because Im clumsy enough without some asshole ghost trying to kill me. Among the endless winding halls that look like something out of a Stephen King novel, there is one room in particular that is said to be more haunted than any other. It felt like we were in. While guests at the Congress Plaza and The Drake enjoy luxury, comfort, and meticulous attention to detail, they also revel in ghostly lore particularly during Halloween season. Know who doesnt sleep at night though? We weren't about to be eaten by a ghost, folks. My heart dropped and WE JUST RAN. Exploring we go. Im telling you guys, serial killer of all serial killers right there. The hotel location is very nice, a little too far from the main stores, but still great location. However, Shakeel Siddiqui, the general manager of the hotel, told me these incidents are only rumors.
New & Upcoming Superhero Movies and Series. Past guests of room 441 said objects moved without being touched and the lights flickered on and off throughout the night. For some reason, I yelled, "Hey, Mary, suck my ass!" Stay spooky, kids! Holmes is known to have loitered aroundthe hotel lobby in search of new victims. Is it possible that the ghost of H.H. Taking place in the stunning Palm Court, your ticket allows you admission to a luxurious masquerade ball, filled with history and mystery. Get out of here!!! That room more than any other. She told me that when she first started working at the hotel, she had no idea about the rooms reputation, or even that the hotel was rumored to be haunted. Maybe the shadow woman decided to take pity on a tired family from Michigan and leave us alone. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google. Have to squeeze by air vent to get to one side of the bed. What about Room 441? Its pretty creepy, but would be a lot creepier if it had that fancy carpet like on the third floor. Serial killer H.H. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Mrs. Langer and her sons were here on a six month travel visa that was about to expire. From the sleepless nights to the eerie feeling that I was the only one in the hotel, my stay at the Congress Plaza will definitely haunt me for some time. "We do not consider our hotel haunted," Siddiqui said. What do you want from me? I wrote MURDER backwards on the glass after my shower. In 2016, in fact, Leisure + Travelmagazine declared the Congress Plaza Hotel the most haunted place in the State of Illinois, noting that Capone set up his headquarters here, and his ghost is most frequently seen near his old suite on the 8th floor. Seriously. Guests at The Congress who see Captain Lous ghost wandering the halls of the hotel, looking for his long lost love. Over the years, there have been countless additions, renovations, closings, and re-openings. Siddiqui later told me the tape was used to direct people at a veterans event at the hotel, but the information did little to ease my panic and confusion in the moment.
Strangely, the lobby of the Gold Room a large events space was dark and there was no one around. And the hallways? We both believe in the paranormal, so we went in hoping we'd get a message from beyond, find a terrifying clue in a forbidden room, or even catch a ghost in one of our pictures just that ANYTHING spooky would happen, really. That happened. WHAT THE SHIT??? There is an abundance of urban legends and tall tales about The Congress, so Im going to just pick a few that I a.) But H.H. See production, box office & company info, Scream King Entertainment (United States), 520 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, Illinois, USA. Oh, and did I mention the deaths?
By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider Luckily for attendees, there is no shortage of hotels in Chicago, a city made for grand events and mass tourism. One of the earliest verified deaths at The Congress was that of war hero Captain Lou Ostheim. Between Mr. Langers absence and the threat of being sent back to Prague when their visas expired, Adele went mad with fear. The case was big news at the time, but was never solved. And, it would seem, a resident of the Congress Plaza Hotel (520 S. Michigan Ave.) to this very day. The purple rug with the blue suede comforter made it feel like I was stepping back in time to the colorful '80s. Although the hotel was old our room was clean and comfortable. The place is gorgeous and filled to the brim with history, but also feels like something dark is lingering in the air. Holmes.
(Spoiler alert- the answer is no.) There was no noise coming from any of the hotel rooms. Theres also the case of the Woman in Black, who murdered socialite Adele Born Williams in 1944. There were lots of noises coming from the fifteenth floor. I instantly had visions of mobsters tossing people over the railings to their deaths. To my confusion, the place was lined with yellow caution tape. Holmes did it so good. White walls, white bedding, standard cheap hotel furniture. Or maybe it was just her night off. Very good location, very old old old hotel. When we knocked, it was completely hollow, and SOMETHING moved inside, because it sounded like a knock back. Room 441, huh? she asked. Because it wasnt really a hotel at all. "We never experience any paranormal activity in any of our rooms. We briefly checked out the thirteenth floor, which looked exactly like every floor before it (except the third floor with the fancy carpet, the second floor with the ballroom, and the main floor which is super fancy.) Heres the thing- on every single floor there are doors without handles, doors nailed shut, half doors painted shut up near the ceiling. The staircases are creepy AF. Here is a photo I took while running/falling down the stairs: We decided to take a break to calm down, and then we slithered down to the most notoriously haunted room in the ENTIRE hotel: room 441. As months passed with no word from her husband, Mrs. Langer became increasingly despondent. If All Hallows Eve finds you in our fair city, consider booking a room in one of these spooktacular hotels. Okay, so here was the scariest part of the night: reuniting with Mary, the ghost we met in our room. Awesome, I say. So is one night at The Congress really enough to decide that all the hype around Room 441 is just that, hype? We all slept through the night peacefully and uneventfully, which is both a relief and a bummer. The tale, obviously. A great time to visit The Drake is during the Masquerade Ball: A Nightmare on Walton Street. Otherwise it sits dormant, aside from whoever (or whatever) lurks within its ancient walls. Like something out of The Shining. It sounded like people pushing carts and doing laundry and all of the things you would expect a hotel staff to do. Only Americas very first serial killer, who is said to be responsible for the deaths of anywhere from 27 to 500 people in the late 1800s. was able to verify as fact. The hotel itself is pretty run down (other than lobby area) and had a bit of an eerie vibe. I'm Anna, and I'm obsessed with everything spooky so when I got the chance to stay the night at Chicago's most haunted hotel, the. Back to that rich history. Also went to the 12th floor north and nothing haunted there either but a really old hallway.. Our room 441 was huge and creepy the curtains are quite scary lol.More. We survived though, so I would most definitely return for another creepy adventure. I started to feel nauseous. Or pass out while puking. Heres where I have a bit of trouble with this story. The absolute mess of body parts found in the basement of said murder castle after Holmes capture and his amazing ability to dispose of corpses entirely can be blamed for the lack of a solid number of victims. However, ghost experts report that the hotels most haunted spot isRoom 441, where a female ghost reportedly kicks guests awake from the foot of the bed. This man built an entire building for the sole purpose of torturing and murdering people. Thats obnoxious but forgivable, right? The boys ghost, like Peg Leg Johnny, causes mischief, but his shenanigans are largely limited to rearranging furniture and the like. In fact, there is a fourteen story hotel directly across the street from Grant Park with affordable rooms and a rich history. I had not done my homework to get a quiet room. The L train ran just yards from our room and construction equipment work woke us each morning. Also- the stairwells line up perfectly so that from the top floor, you can see alllllll the way down to the ground floor. Did someone just steal numbers from other doors and nail them to this one??? I dont know, she said. Had to ask for decafe coffee for the room. Could it be an angry Mary, because we were disturbing her quiet, peaceful night? I cant help but think about the unwitting Lollapalooza attendees that will be checking into The Congress over the next couple of days, with no idea that theyre immersing themselves in some of Chicagos most haunted history. I have to say meh. He was to be wed the following day. It really wasnt a convenient place for anything to be kept. Here for Lolla? If youve never heard of him, write that name down. My hope is that throughout the first few thousand words of this article, youve picked up on the fact that Im pretty cynical and sarcastic, and it takes a lot to impress me. Two lights in the room. Holmes murder castle. But the room had an undeniably heavy feeling to it. We hold major institutions accountable and expose wrongdoing. We also noticed a lot of rooms were locked from the outside, and learned that rooms in the hotel are supposedly. Youve got some googling to do later. We then began exploring, and Ren was the bravest, so she started knocking on doors and opening sketchy closets. Luckily, I fell asleep with the lights on and the rumored ghosts weren't active. While the Congress Plaza Hotel reigns supreme in the world of Chicagos haunted hotels, The Drake Hotel (140 E. Walton Place) is a strong second. Dont believe the ghostlyhype around the Congress Plaza? Definitely worth the trip if youre into that sort of thing. Ahhh, the elevators. At some point during their night at The Congress, she took her boys in her arms, climbed out the window in their room, and jumped- sending all three of them to their deaths. Capone isnt the only ghost taking up residence at the hotel, however. So do I, but I also dont want to puke. As folks are known to do, Ive saved the best for last. In one aspect this is a horror film because the sound of squeaky flip flops and the dull repetition of a dude saying "this feels so like, creepy" will haunt me forever. Holmes still roams The Congress at night, looking for pretty young girls to torture and murder? Like murder castles. The presidents used the hotel as campaign headquarters, as a meeting place for caucuses, and for historic interviews. Screw it, the hotel staff has cleaned up worse messes, right?
Two of Chicagos most historic hotels are also its most haunted. Staff very nice and polite. LOOK AT THAT ELEVATOR!!! I might've almost pooped my pants. And then without warning, weve got lightbulbs exploding, kids snarling like rabid dogs in their sleep, toddlers talking to little ghost boys, and sticky ectoplasm footprints on our bedroom floor. My family couldn't sleep at all the first night (not sure if because of hard beds or just feeling a little creeped out), so we left a day early, but staff was nice enough to refund our last night. People also talk about "Peg Leg Jonny" who is said to have been killed in an alley behind the hotel. Self care and ideas to help you live a healthier, happier life. The Air conditioner did not work, a window had to be opened all the time. The longer we were out there, the more disoriented and confused we became. Ren wasn't convinced and it scared the shit out of her so much that she didn't sleep all night. Like Cancun for Spring Break ill. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Justmeh. We shower, pack up our things, and go on one last mini exploration to get some pics before checking out. Anytime we have a paranormal investigation at our house, I get violently ill the next day. While he had been suffering from night terrors and bouts of insomnia for some time, he was neither depressed nor suicidal. . Who? They quieted for a while, then started up an hour later. The Congress Plaza Hotel stands on Michigan Avenue in the middle of Chicago's Loop neighborhood. In all honesty, youd be hard pressed to find a building in Chicago that was around in the 1920s that Capone didnt set foot in. Herman Mudgett.) The rates were amazing, actually, considering that once a guest checked into Holmes hotel, they were there for life. The room is small. Thats not to say that our night at The Congress was without incident, though. Is the room really that bad? I asked, sure she was just messing with me. The ghost of the famed Lady in Red still creeps around the hotel, nearly 100 years after her tragic death on New Years Eve. My family stayed here March 31-April 5 and I would definitely say that you get what you pay for. In fact, King spent a few nights at the Congress Plaza Hotel and, according to Patch, his story "1408" was inspired by one of the rooms, 441, at this Chicago hotel. Im not sure, to be honest with you. The rates were better, after all. The hotel has not been up to its full capacity because of limited global travel.