Chicago is prepping for one of its largest celebrations of the year. The Annual Haunted Halloween Ball attracts thousands of party-goers each year for spooky décor, drinking, dancing, and adult-only fun. This year, the party will be held on Saturday, October 28th at no other than the famous Congress Plaza Hotel on Michigan Avenue in Chicago.
While the hotel may seem like any ordinary venue, it’s so much more. In fact, The Congress Plaza Hotel has been named one of the most haunted hotels in the entire country. As you attend this year’s bash, consider the amazing history of the hotel and the terrifying folklore that has followed this hotel for over a century.
Brief History of The Congress Plaza Hotel
The Congress Plaza Hotel & Convention Center originally opened in 1893 with the closing of the 19th century. The hotel was built by R.H. Southgate, a famous hotel developer of the time. The hotel was famed for its unique façade and soon became a popular destination for many notable individuals, including U.S. Presidents, international celebrities, and more.
Over the years, the hotel has undergone many updates in an effort to provide guests with the latest conveniences and modern accommodations. It wasn’t until the 1960s that the hotel’s incredible ballroom in which the Haunted Halloween Ball is held each year was built. However, the hotel always retained some of its old-world charm along with its new additions, giving the hotel a unique personality that people all over the world come to experience.
Is The Congress Plaza Hotel Actually Haunted?
With more than a hundred years of history, The Congress Plaza Hotel has had many visitors. While most of these visitors go, some have decided to stay and live their afterlife in the hotel’s many guest rooms, banquet halls, and hallways. Many visitors of the hotel have described it as “creepy” while others call it “unsettling.”
The Congress Plaza Hotel has experienced high levels of paranormal activity and many guests report seeing ghostly figures, feeling cold spots, hearing ghostly voices, and seeing objects move across the room on their own. There is no denying the odd energy that the hotel gives off as soon as you enter its doors. However, some spirits in the hotel are more well-known than others.
One noteworthy ghost that is commonly seen in the hotel is known as the Shadow Man. This spirit is seen as a shadowy figure that often glides through the hallways, following guests and staff. It is speculated that the ghost is actually the spirit of Captain Louis Ostheim who stayed at the hotel in 1900. The captain suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and during a brutal night terror, put a gun to his head and pulled the trigger.
Another spirit that people call the Ghost Boy is also seen in the hotel quite frequently. This spirit is believed to be that of a six-year-old boy who visited the hotel with his mother and four-year-old sibling. After experiencing intense trauma, the mother threw both of her sons out the hotel window to their unfortunate deaths. For whatever reason, the six-year-old’s body never made it to the morgue and that is why people believe that he remains at the hotel.
Attend Chicago’s Biggest Halloween Party
The Haunted Halloween Ball at The Congress Plaza Hotel in Chicago is set to be the city’s largest and scariest annual Halloween party. To experience the spooky atmosphere for yourself and perhaps even catch a glimpse of a real ghost, grab your tickets for the 2023 Haunted Halloween Ball.
