About This Location
The Shanley Hotel dates to 1845, when Thomas Ritch built the original structure. After a devastating fire in 1895, the hotel was rebuilt. James Shanley, an Irish immigrant who found success in the hospitality business, purchased it in 1906 and gave it its current name. Shanley added secret rooms during Prohibition to hide contraband and escape tunnels in the cellar to evade authorities. The hotel witnessed tremendous tragedy under his ownership.
The Ghost Story
At least 14 different spirits come and go at the Shanley Hotel. James Shanley and his wife Beatrice lost three infant children - Kathleen, James Jr., and William - all dying before their first birthdays. The hotel barber's daughter fell down a well on a nearby farm, and Beatrice's sister Esther died of influenza while pregnant in 1918. Guests report rocking chairs moving on their own, mysterious clock chimes, footsteps, piano music, and children's laughter. Beatrice appears in period dress, announced by her floral perfume. Frank, a bordello bodyguard shot in the pub, still patrols. Featured on Ghost Hunters and Ghost Lab, the hotel offers five-hour ghost hunts with overnight stays.