Congress Plaza Hotel

One of the oldest and most haunted hotels in Chicago, built in 1893 to accommodate visitors to the World's Columbian Exposition. The hotel has hosted presidents, celebrities, and notorious figures including Al Capone and serial killer H.H. Holmes. Business Insider named it the most haunted spot in Illinois.

The Congress Plaza Hotel at 520 South Michigan Avenue opened in 1893 in anticipation of the World's Columbian Exposition. Tony Szabelski of Chicago Hauntings Ghost Tours states, "If there's any place in Chicago that's haunted, it's the Congress Hotel." The hotel has hosted presidents, dignitaries, and America's first serial killer, H.H. Holmes, who was known to meet young women in the lobby only to lure them to his nearby Murder Castle.

Room 441 in the South Tower is considered the most haunted room in the hotel. Countless guests have reported calling security after seeing a woman standing or hovering over their bed, pushing or tugging on the covers, or emerging from the bathroom. Strange voices, cold spots, and poltergeist activity—including objects launching themselves across the room—have been documented repeatedly. The woman's identity remains unknown, but her presence is undeniable.

"Peg Leg Johnny" is a notorious spirit encountered throughout the South Tower. This haggard, one-legged man appears to guests before mysteriously vanishing when approached. Some believe he was Conway, a one-legged killer clown arrested for murder near the hotel in 1912, while others claim he was a homeless vagrant murdered on the property. His spirit reportedly turns room lights and electronics on and off, causing havoc for unsuspecting guests.

On the 12th floor, staff have encountered Karel Langer, a ghostly little boy wearing vintage, torn clothes. A security guard with over 30 years at the hotel, initially skeptical of ghosts, received a noise complaint about a child running on the floor. When he confronted the boy, the child responded with only a stare and grin before slowly disappearing.

Another permanent resident, known as the "Prankster Judge," allegedly continues his mischievous ways from beyond the grave. In life, he would walk the hallways with TV remotes, standing outside doors and changing channels. Death, it seems, hasn't stopped him from having fun.

The hotel's dark history includes mysterious deaths, Prohibition-era secrets, and connections to Chicago's most notorious criminals, making it a paranormal investigator's dream destination.