Top 10 Haunted Places in Chicago Unveiling Eerie Tales

It was a night like no other – cold, dark, and hazy with an unsettled silence hanging over the streets of Chicago. As we wandered through the heart of Chicago, the streetlights flickered, barely piercing the heavy darkness, and the wind seemed to howl through the ancient buildings. The deeper we went, there was a strange pull towards the dark and forgotten corners of the city – the places where secrets of the past lay buried, places that carry the weight of the dead, places where shadows of unsolved tragedies linger. The haunted places in Chicago are not just a part of folklore but are based on real-life encounters with long-dead souls. And just then, a soft, almost imperceptible sound fell on our ears, which was more like a whisper of the air, only to find no one around. Yet, we were not really alone...

Haunted Places in Chicago That You Should Not Visit Alone

Chicago is a vibrant city with a modern skyline and high skyscrapers, where the line between the dead and the living often gets blurred. There are several haunted places in Chicago, from haunted hotels to shadowy alleyways, with their special stories frozen in time, each waiting to remind us of the other world that is surely not for the faint-hearted. And if it’s this mysterious side of the city that you are looking to uncover, here’s a list of renowned Chicago haunted sites, but be very cautious as these places will grip you with fear for many days to come or maybe give you the worst nightmares too!

• H.H. Holmes’ Murder Castle
• The Iroquois Theatre
• Couch Mausoleum and Lincoln Park
• Chicago Water Tower
• Congress Plaza Hotel
• The Drake Hotel
• Graceland Cemetery
• Jane Addams Hull House
• Fort Dearborn
• Wrigley Field

1. H.H. Holmes’ Murder Castle

Imagine stepping into a real haunted house where every corner screams of grisly dark history and uncanniness! Yes, it exists – and is none other than the Murder Castle, built by America's first serial killer H.H. Holmes, which happens to top the haunted places in Chicago. It is within the walls of this three-storey castle that Holmes murdered about 200 people, most of which were women.

During the 1893 World's Fair, he lured travelers from across the world to his hotel, where he ruthlessly tortured and killed them. Those who went in and never came out of this castle. It’s believed that the restless spirits of those who faced an untimely and merciless demise at the hands of Holmes continue to haunt the castle. Regular eerie sightings and unexplained sounds at the Murder Castle have further pushed it onto the list of most haunted places in the world.

Location: W. 63rd Street in Chicago, Illinois 60621

Visit Hours: 1 PM to 3 PM & 7 PM to 8 PM (Daily)

Nearby Attractions:

• Chicago History Museum
• Shedd Aquarium
• National Museum of Mexican Art
• Skydeck Chicago
• Clarence F. Buckingham Memorial Fountain

Nearby Hotels:

• The Allegro Royal Sonesta Hotel Chicago Loop
• Four Seasons Hotel Chicago
• Kasa Magnificent Mile Chicago
• The Drake
• The Peninsula Chicago

2.The Iroquois Theatre

Set in the heart of Chicago, the Iroquois Theater is one of the top haunted places in America! In December 1903, the theater caught a massive fire and burnt down, claiming 602 lives in less than 15 minutes. Although the site now has the James M. Nederland Theatre, the aftereffects of the devastating tragedy can be experienced even today. The ghosts of those who died here still wander at the site, including those who chose to die themselves by jumping from the balcony over being burnt alive. Paranormal activities at the theatre are also very common, including the smell of smoke.

Location: 26 West Randolph Street, Chicago, Illinois (IL) 60601, United States

Visit Hours: 9 AM to 9 PM (Except Friday to Sunday)

Entry Fee: $7 to $15

Nearby Attractions:

• Museum of Illusions Chicago
• Medieval Torture Museum
• Marshall Field and Company Building
• Christkindlmarket Chicago
• The Story Chair

Nearby Hotels:

• Cambria Hotel Chicago Loop - Theatre District
• Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel
• The Allegro Royal Sonesta Hotel Chicago Loop
• Swissotel Chicago
• Hyatt Centric the Loop Chicago

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3. Couch Mausoleum

Located at the south end of Lincoln Park, Couch Mausoleum is one of the notable haunted places in Chicago, where the dead are said to come alive! The cemetery is named after Ira Couch, a successful hotelier, who was supposedly laid to final rest in 1857. However, it's still a mystery if Ira is actually here or at the Rosehill Cemetery. But the scariest part is related to visiting the mausoleum at the stroke of midnight. It is believed that if you utter 'The graves belong to the dead, not the living' thrice while looking up at its nameplate with 'Couch' written on it during the night visit, the doors open suddenly, and a big white ghost appears before you.

Location: Chicago, IL 60614, USA

Visit Hours: 10 AM to 5 PM (Last Ticket at 4 PM)

Entry Fee: Free

Nearby Attractions:

• Navy Pier
• Riverwalk
• Lincoln Park Zoo
• Lincoln Park Goose and Angels Fountain
• Millennium Park

Nearby Hotels:

• Hotel Versey Days Inn by Wyndham Chicago
• Hotel Lincoln - JDV by Hyatt
• The Drake
• The Allegro Royal Sonesta Hotel Chicago Loop
• Swissotel Chicago

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4. Chicago Water Tower

Built in 1869, the Chicago Water Tower is a key Chicago landmark known for surviving the Great Chicago Fire in 1871. The tragic and heartbreaking incident remains the talk of travelers and locals even today. And with the share of disaster the building has witnessed comes a creepy tale, making it one of the famous haunted spots in Chicago. The night the fire broke out in the city, a man working at Chicago Water Tower chose to complete his job of maintaining the pumps rather than fleeing from there. Before the fire could reach him, he hung himself to death in the building. Many centuries later, the restless spirit of the heroic man continues to haunt the tower, whose figure is frequently seen swinging from the windows. Don't panic when you spot the hanging ghost while on your shopping spree at Chicago Water Tower!

Location: 806 Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States

Visit Hours: 10 AM to 7 PM (Open Till 5 PM on Saturday & Sunday)

Entry Fee: Free

Nearby Attractions:

• The Magnificent Mile
• Riverwalk
• Clarence F. Buckingham Memorial Fountain
• Navy Pier
• Millennium Park

Nearby Hotels:

• Park Hyatt Chicago
• The Peninsula Chicago
• The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago
• Sofitel Chicago Magnificent Mile
• Omni Chicago Hotel

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5. Congress Plaza Hotel

A premier name on the listing of most haunted places in Chicago is the Congress Plaza Hotel, which continues to house guests who never checked out! Opened in 1893, the Congress Plaza Hotel is among the prominent luxurious places to stay in Chicago, but with it also has a dark side that not everyone is aware of. The hotel has witnessed many deaths, suicides, and murders in the past, and the dead never left the place. American gangster Al Capone (also nicknamed the Scarface) roams around his suite on the 8th floor of the hotel.

Moreover, a little boy named Karel Langermet, who met with an untimely horrific death in 1939, haunts the 12th floor to date. There's a female ghost residing in Room 441, who kicks guests awake while sitting at the foot of the bed. Many have also claimed to spot Dr. H.H. Holmes, the famous serial killer, in the hotel lobby searching for new victims. Besides this, the hotel is home to the mischievous ghost of Peg Leg Johnny, who loves causing havoc to trouble the guests by turning on/off room lights and other electronic items. So, if you ever stay at Congress Plaza Hotel, remember there are invisible eyes always watching over you!

Location: 520 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60605, United States

Visit Hours: 24/7

Nearby Attractions:

• Voyage College Church - Chicago
• Museum of Contemporary Photography
• Fine Arts Building
• Clarence F. Buckingham Memorial Fountain
• Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park

Nearby Hotels:

• Hotel Blake, Ascend Hotel Collection
• Travelodge by Wyndham Downtown Chicago
• Hilton Chicago
• The Blackstone Autograph Collection
• Sentral Michigan Avenue

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6. The Drake Hotel

Opened in 1920, the Drake Hotel is also among the well-renowned haunted places in Chicago. Among its inhabitants is a Lady in Red, who supposedly discovered her husband's infidelity as he attended a New Year's Eve gala with another woman. Overwhelmed by the hurt of being cheated on by her partner, she jumped out of the window from the 10th floor, leading to her tragic on-the-spot death. Even after about 100 years, she wanders through the hallways of the 10th floor and the Palm Court even today.

A Woman in Black, who killed socialite Adele Born Williams in 1944 in self-defense, also roams this 10-floor hotel. Moreover, the grieving ghosts of Bobby Franks' parents continue to linger in the hotel, where they spent their last moments away from gawkers after his murder in 1924. The couple is often seen mourning the loss of their son, further strengthening its reputation as among Chicago’s haunted locations with a dark, enigmatic history!

Location: 140 E Walton Pl, Chicago, IL 60611, United States

Visit Hours: 24/7

Nearby Attractions:

• 360 CHICAGO Observation Deck
• Water Tower Place
• The Exhibit House of Chicago
• Honorary Hugh M. Hefner Way
• Fourth Presbyterian Church

Nearby Hotels:

• The Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago
• Four Seasons Hotel Chicago
• The Whitehall Hotel
• Millennium Hotel Knickerbocker Chicago
• Sofitel Chicago Magnificent Mile

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7. Graceland Cemetery

It goes without saying that Graceland Cemetery, built in 1860, is among the scariest places in Chicago! This 121-acre site is the final resting place for many, including some notable personalities of Chicago and America. Due to several legendary ghostly stories associated with it, the site has gained popularity as one of the most haunted cemeteries in Chicago and across the country. One such story is of a little girl named Inez Clarke, who died at the young age of 6 due to a lightning strike upon being locked outside by her parents in a bad storm. She roams around the cemetery even after 150 years of death, and her statue disappears during the rain. Moreover, the ghost of an early 20th-century dog named Ludwig Wolff also haunts the cemetery and has been encountered by many staring at them with its glowing red eyes.

Location: 4001 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60613, United States

Visit Hours: 8 AM to 4 PM (Opens at 9 AM on Saturday & Sunday)

Entry Fee: $35 Per Person

Nearby Attractions:

• Music Box Theatre
• Wrigley Field
• Belmont Harbor Dog Beach
• Inez Clark statue
• Montrose Beach

Nearby Hotels:

• Hotel Zachary Chicago (Tribute Portfolio Hotel)
• The Chicago Hotel Collection Wrigleyville
• Best Western Plus Hawthorne Terrace Hotel
• Majestic Hotel
• Swedish American Museum

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8. Jane Addams Hull-House Museum

Founded in 1889, Jane Addams Hull-House Museum is not just a national historical landmark of Chicago but also a popular stop for ghost tours. The Devil Baby, a demonic child with a tail, pointed ears, cloven hoofs, and profane language, haunts the attic even today where he was locked in after Jane Addams attempted to baptize him. The ghost of Millicent Hull (referred to as the Lady in White), the wife of Charles J. Hull, resides in Jane Addams’ bedroom to date where she died in 1860.

Addams herself had seen the apparition of Mrs. Hull many times in her room at the Hull-House Museum, one of the most prominent haunted places in Chicago. Spirits of children, who are also named as the fountain girls, run through the hallways of the museum and the courtyard, and many have also claimed to see monks wanking around the building. The circular concrete slab in the courtyard once featured a fountain, which served as a portal to hell.

Location: 800 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60607, United States

Visit Hours: 10 AM to 4:50 PM from Tuesday to Friday (Opens at 12:10 PM on Sunday; Monday & Saturday Closed)

Entry Fee: Free

Nearby Attractions:

• National Hellenic Museum
• Skydeck Chicago - Willis Tower
• Maxwell Street Market
• The Art Institute of Chicago
• Millennium Park

Nearby Hotels:

• Holiday Inn & Suites Chicago-Downtown, an IHG Hotel
• Hyatt Centric the Loop Chicago
• The Blackstone, Autograph Collection
• Hotel Blake, Ascend Hotel Collection
• Hilton Chicago

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9. Fort Dearborn

Fort Dearborn, one of the oldest haunted places in Chicago, has a brutal past that's not very pleasing to learn about. The site witnessed the killing of 148 soldiers by tomahawks during the 1812 Battle, which included 12 children and 74 women. Even over two centuries later, visitors claim to have seen ghostly figures and apparitions of the victims of the horrific event, dressed in their attire dating back to the 19th century. They run around the site screaming with terror as if they are going to be killed at any time, showcasing the sight of the bloody massacre. Try to avoid taking pictures at this historic monument, as you might also capture the image of some of these victims which you likely would not wish for even in your wildest dreams!

Location: London House, E Lower Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60601, United States

Visit Hours: 24/7

Entry Fee: Free

Nearby Attractions:

• Riverwalk
• Chicago Children's Museum
• The Chicago Theatre
• The Wrigley Building
• Marina City Goldberg

Nearby Hotels:

• LondonHouse Chicago, Curio Collection by Hilton
• Pendry Chicago
• L7 Chicago
• citizenM Chicago Downtown hotel
• Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago

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10. Wrigley Field

Another major name among the scary places in Chicago is Wrigley Field, which was under a curse for many decades until 2016. As per a legend, Wrigley Field was condemned by William Sianis after his pet goat (Billy Goat Tavern) was ordered to leave the stadium. Although the curse is gone, the ghosts refuse to leave the place. The restless soul of legendary announcer Harry Caray roams in the press box and bleachers, whose presence has been felt through the sudden strange mist and other unexplainable occurrences. The famous songwriter Steve Goodman, who died on the site, has been often spotted sitting on the stands. You can also hear Charlie Grimm, the former Cubs manager, announcing pitching changes and calling security officers by their names.

Location: 1060 W Addison St, Chicago, IL 60613, United States

Visit Hours: 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM

Entry Fee: $25 Per Person

Nearby Attractions:

• Wrigleyville
• Willis Tower
• Millennium Park
• Field Museum of Natural History
• Art Institute of Chicago

Nearby Hotels:

• Hotel Zachary, Chicago
• The Inn at Wrigleyville
• The Whitehall Hotel
• Millennium Hotel Knickerbocker Chicago
• Hotel Versey Days Inn by Wyndham Chicago

Chicago's iconic attractions and hidden gems attract travelers from worldwide, but the city is equally appealing to those intrigued by ghostly tales. The haunted places in Chicago carry an uncanniness of the rich and shadowy past with spine-tingling incidents. So, if you are interested in uncovering the dark side of Chicago, then without any wait, book one of our bestselling Chicago tour packages. Crafted meticulously to cater to every traveler's desires, our packages include convenient flights to Chicago, luxury accommodations, guided tours, and a lot more to make your visit comfortable and memorable.  

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