There are haunted places all over the city of Chicago, and some of them where you least suspect it!
- Haunted Places in Chicago: Discover the Most Haunted Places in the Windy City
- Haunted Places in Chicago: Haunted Hotels
- Haunted Places in Chicago: Theaters
- Chicago’s Haunted Zoo
- Haunted Places in Chicago: Churches and Cemeteries
- More of the Most Haunted Places in Chicago
- Plan Your Ghost Tour of Haunted Places in Chicago
Haunted Places in Chicago: Discover the Most Haunted Places in the Windy City
Chicago, with its rich history and storied past, is no stranger to ghostly tales and haunted legends. From infamous crime scenes to eerie cemeteries, the city is home to numerous spooky spots that are sure to send shivers down your spine.
Choose Chicago for your ghost tours and dive into some spooky Chicago history as you explore the city, from historic theaters to iconic hotels. Discover ghost stories of paranormal activity, tales of haunted houses and more as you explore the most haunted spots in Chicago.
Join us on this chilling journey as we explore 20 haunted sites in Chicago, and scroll down for an interactive map of these spooky spots in the city. Click on the map to start planning your visit, if you dare!
Chicago history is filled with grizzly tales that naturally give rise to a Chicago haunting or two. Remember poor Bobby Franks, the young victim in the infamous Leopold and Loeb trial that gripped the nation in the 1920’s? Or how about gangland crime sprees of Bugs Moran and Al Capone? Read on to learn about hauned spots throughout the city from Prairie Avenue to MIchigan Ave; from Marina City to Lake Shore Drive.
Haunted Places in Chicago: Haunted Hotels
Congress Plaza Hotel – 520 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60605
The Congress Plaza is reputed to be one of the most haunted hotels in Chicago, with numerous ghostly sightings reported over the years. The Congress Plaza Hotel is rumored to be haunted by several spirits, including that of a ghostly bride. Guests have reported strange occurrences and unexplained noises in the hotel’s halls. Have you stayed there yet? Let us know in the comments if you’ve met the “otherworldly bride.”
The Drake Hotel – 140 E Walton Pl, Chicago, IL 60611
The Drake Hotel is said to be haunted by the Lady in Red, the spirit of a woman who tragically took her life by jumping from a window. More than a century has passed, but the crimson-wearing apparition of woamn who jumped from the 10th floor of the hotel after discovering her husband’s infidelity still walks the halls here.
She’s also been seen in the hotel’s famous “Palm Court,” and”Gold Room” areas. Have you seen her yet?
Haunted Places in Chicago: Theaters
Iroquois Theater (Now the Nederlander Theatre) – 24 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601
If you’ve ever traveled down the Couch Place Alley in Chicago’s Loop (also known as the Alley of Death), you might have felt a cool breeze or tingle up your spine. You weren’t imagining it: Couch Place once ran behind the Iroquois Theater (now the Nederlander Theater), the site of a tragic fire in 1903.
More than 600 people were killed in this tragedy, and it took over five hours for the bodies to be recovered. Couch Place was used as a temporary morgue as the recoverry efforts continued. It is believed that some of the victims still linger as spirits, making it one of the most haunted places in the city.
Biograph Theater – 2433 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
Now the Victory Gardens Theater in Lincoln Park, the Biograph Theater is infamous for being the site where John Dillinger, the notorious bank robber, was shot dead by FBI agents. His ghost is said to haunt the area.
Depression-era gangster John Dillinger was the head of the Dillinger Gang. He and his cronies robbed 24 banks (and four police stations) throughout the Midwest, and was at the top of the FBI’s most wanted list before he was shot and killed as he exited the Biograph Theater after catching a showing of “Manhattan Melodrama.” Set up for capture by a lover, Dillinger is said to still visit the theater, no matter what the name on marquee reads.
Chicago’s Haunted Zoo
Lincoln Park Zoo – 2001 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614
Once occupied by the Chicago City Cemetery (circa 1850s), the Lincoln Pakr Zoo sits on grounds that were the final resting place for over 35,000 individuals.
It is said that a substantial number, possibly around 12,000, of these individuals still rest beneath the zoo, contributing to the majority of the reported paranormal phenomena that occur in the area.
The zoo has become a site of eerie happenings, including ghosts wearing Victorian-era clothing meandering through the park. These phantoms materialize suddenly, only to swiftly vanish.
One particular female ghost often appears near Lion House, strolling without apparent awareness of passing visitors. This same otherworldly presence has manifested within a women’s restroom adjacent to this exhibit. Witnesses have observed her reflection in mirrors, only for it to dissolve upon turning around. Others have reported flickering lights and autonomously shutting doors throughout the zoo.
Haunted Places in Chicago: Churches and Cemeteries
Resurrection Cemetery – 7200 Archer Ave, Justice, IL 60458
One of Chicago’s most well-known ghosts haunts this southwest Chicago cementary.
This cemetery is famous for the ghostly hitchhiker known as “Resurrection Mary,” who is said to be a young woman who died in the 1930s after a hit-and run accident. According to legend, “Mary” was attending a dance at the Oh Henry Ballroom in Willow Springs, Il, when she abruptly left on her own after arguing with her date.
Since her death, many people said they saw a young woman’s ghost hitchhiking on Archer Avenue. Even though the stories are a bit different, they all have some things in common. The ghost appears at night, wearing a white dress, and can be seen on Archer Avenue, at the ballroom, or in the cemetery. Some folks also say they saw her in dance halls and nightclubs in Chicago’s Southside.
Because so many people have seen her and because the people who say they saw her seem believable, Resurrection Mary is known as one of the most famous ghosts in Chicago.
Holy Name Cathedral – 735 N State St, Chicago, IL 60654
This stunning cathedral is believed to be visited by the spirit of a young girl named Inez Clarke, who tragically died in a fire in the late 1800s. Whispers of ghostly apparitions and spectral encounters have swirled around this venerable place of worship, and among the most famous tales is the legend of the “Resurrection Mary.”
As the story goes, a young woman named Mary perished in a car accident near the cathedral in the early 1930s. To this day, her spirit is believed to wander the streets, seeking rides from unsuspecting motorists. Explore the hallowed halls of Holy Name with reverence and a hint of curiosity, for you may just uncover the secrets that lie beyond its hallowed walls.
Bachelors Grove Cemetery – 143rd St & Midlothian Turnpike, Midlothian, IL 60445
The oldest cemetery in Chicago, the first burial here was around 1834. Located just outside of Chicago, this cemetery is known for its ghostly apparitions and mysterious phenomena.
Often hailed as one of the most haunted places in America, the cemetery draws paranormal enthusiasts from all corners of the globe. This eerie burial ground, nestled amidst the dense foliage of Rubio Woods Forest Preserve, is shrouded in legends and ghostly tales. The haunting aura surrounding Bachelors Grove can be attributed to the numerous reported apparitions that have sent shivers down the spines of brave souls who dare to venture there after dark.
Among the most famous specters witnessed in the cemetery is the “White Lady.” She is said to be a melancholic spirit, draped in a flowing white gown, who floats near the cemetery’s lily-covered pond. Another chilling encounter involves the “Phantom Farmhouse,” an elusive house that materializes in the woods, only to vanish into thin air.
Mysterious orbs of light, shadowy figures, and unexplained sounds further contribute to the cemetery’s eerie reputation.
Graceland Cemetery – 4001 N Clark St, Chicago, IL
This uptown city cemetery is home to the final resting place for the over 600 victims of the Iroquois Theatre.
More of the Most Haunted Places in Chicago
The Red Lion Pub – 2446 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
This quaint English-style pub in Lincoln Park is rumored to be the most haunted pub in the city, and also one of my favorite haunts! Don’t let it scare you, though: this fun-loving ghost simply likes to play pranks on staff and customers.
It is true that over the years, people have reported seeing various ghosts in the Red Lion. The “cast of characters” include a man with a beard, a girl named Sharon who likes to play tricks, a woman wearing clothes from the 1920s, and even a cowboy.
There have been stories of patrons being trapped in bathroom stalls, and plates suddenly falling from servers’ hands. The tales of ghosts are as widespread as the spirits themselves, and even if it is said to be the most haunted pub in Chicago, at least they’re friendly, right?
Hull House – 800 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60607
Hull House, founded by Jane Addams, is said to be haunted by the spirits of former residents and patients who sought refuge there. A favorite stop on Chicago ghost tours, stories about the mysterious “Lady in White” and the “Devil Baby” that haunt Hull House (now the Hull House Museum) have been around since the time of Jane Addams in the early 1900’s. Each year, the Hull House Museum invites visitoes to explore these stoes with a series of planned events around the hauntings.
Water Tower – 806 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
Located across Michigan Avenue from the John Hancock Building, the Chicago Water Tower, a survivor of the Great Chicago Fire, is rumored to be haunted by the ghost of a victim from that historic event.
Eastland Disaster Site – Chicago River, Chicago, IL 60605
The site of the tragic SS Eastland ship disaster in 1915 is said to be haunted by the souls of the victims still roaming the makeshift morgue.
“Murder Castle” – 611 W. 63rd St., Chicago, IL 60621
An infamous and must-see haunted attraction for any “Columbian Exposition Worlds Fair” enthusiast. Serial killer H.H. Holmes murder castle is a historic three story building on the south side of the city, widely regarded as one of Chicagos most haunted destinations.
The Rookery Building – 209 S LaSalle St, Chicago, IL 60604
This historic building is said to be haunted by the Chicago ghost of Nathan Leopold, one of the infamous murderers of the 1920s.
The Site of the St, Valentine’s Day Massacre – 2122 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614
This haunted attraction found at a former garage on clark street was the site of the infamous St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, and it is believed that the spirits of the victims still linger.
The Site of Fort Dearborn – 401 S Wells St, Chicago, IL 60607
The site of the historic Battle of Fort Dearborn is rumored to be haunted by the ghosts of soldiers who perished in the conflict..
The Site of the Eastland Disaster – Chicago River, Chicago, IL 60605
The site of the SS Eastland ship disaster is believed to be haunted by the souls of the victims who perished in the tragic event.
Plan Your Ghost Tour of Haunted Places in Chicago
PRO-TIP – For those looking to visit more than one haunted place in Chicago, be sure to check out some of the local Ghost Tours for classic ghost stories and fascinating Chicago history.
From historic landmarks to eerie cemeteries to the historic water tower, Chicago is a city with a haunted past and a present filled with ghostly tales. These 20 spooky spots are just a glimpse into the rich supernatural history of the Windy City. Whether you believe in the paranormal or not, a visit to these haunted locations is sure to leave you with a sense of mystery and intrigue. So, if you’re brave enough, embark on a journey to explore the haunted side of Chicago and uncover the secrets that lie within its ghostly past.
Watch out for cold spots and happy haunting!
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