About This Location
First opened in 1884 by Michael Ruebel, this hotel was abandoned for about 100 years before new owners purchased and reopened it in 1997. It wasn't long before they discovered a guest who had never left - the spirit of a little girl named Abigail.
The Ghost Story
The Ruebel Hotel in Grafton, built in 1879, is the oldest surviving hotel in the town and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Originally constructed by Michael Ruebel, the building burned down in 1912 but was rebuilt the following year with 32 rooms. For $1 a night, the rebuilt hotel sheltered weary river travelers, quarrymen, and dockworkers. The Ruebel was once a hotspot known for its premiere saloon, but the Great Depression and World War II devastated the town. By the 1980s, the hotel was completely abandoned, finally reopening in 1997 under new management. Mo Khamee purchased it in 2008.
The hotel is considered one of the most haunted in Illinois. Guests report encounters with a little girl named Abigail who roams the hallways at night. According to owner Mo Khamee, Abigail stayed at the hotel during the 1920s with her parents. Having a very hard time breathing due to tuberculosis, she passed away in the hotel. (Some accounts suggest she died in the 1912 fire that destroyed the original building.)
A medium who connected with Abigail became so stressed she couldn't stay the night. The owners began noticing strange occurrences: soft footsteps in the twilight hours, curious smells, and small items mysteriously vanishing as though a child had taken them.
"Hundreds and hundreds of our customers have reported incidents," Khamee says. When investigators examined the hotel, "there were lots of voices, hundreds of signs of haunting, orbs, voices saying hello, everything." Orbs of light commonly appear in photographs taken throughout the building.
In 2019, the owners opened Abigail's Tap Room, paying tribute to their resident ghost. The tap room features a rebuilt bar from the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair and offers a from-scratch menu using local ingredients.
The hotel continues to welcome guests who don't mind sharing their stay with spectral company.
Researched from 6 verified sources including historical records, local archives, and paranormal research organizations. Learn about our research process.
