Congress Plaza Hotel: One of the Most Haunted Hotels in the U.S.

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 adults-only fun. The party is held at none 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 it for over a century.

Brief History of The Congress Plaza Hotel

The Congress Plaza Hotel & Convention Center originally opened in 1893 at the close of the 19th century. Built by R.H. Southgate, a famous hotel developer of the time, it was renowned for its unique façade and quickly became a popular destination for many notable individuals, including U.S. Presidents and international celebrities. Over the years the hotel underwent many updates to offer guests modern conveniences. It wasn’t until the 1960s that the incredible ballroom — where the Haunted Halloween Ball is held each year — was built. Even so, the hotel always retained its old-world charm, giving it a unique personality that people travel from all over the world to experience.

Is The Congress Plaza Hotel Actually Haunted?

With more than a hundred years of history, the Congress Plaza Hotel has had countless visitors — and while most leave, some have decided to stay and live out their afterlife in the hotel’s many guest rooms, banquet halls, and hallways. Guests have described the hotel as “creepy” and “unsettling,” reporting ghostly figures, cold spots, disembodied voices, and objects moving on their own. Some spirits are more well-known than others. The Shadow Man is a shadowy figure often seen gliding through the hallways, said to be the spirit of Captain Louis Ostheim, who stayed at the hotel in 1900. Another, the Ghost Boy, is believed to be a young child who never left after a tragic family incident 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 this year’s Haunted Halloween Ball.