If you’ve ever strolled down Chicago’s Magnificent Mile and caught a glimpse of gilded grandeur rising skyward, there’s a good chance you’ve stumbled upon the elegant, mysterious, and staunchly iconic Drake Hotel. Standing as a proud emblem of Chicago’s rich past, this luxury retreat isn’t just known for opulent architecture and crystal chandeliers. No, the Drake Hotel is also draped in a veil of mystery, drawing both history buffs and ghost hunters alike. From presidential guests to spectral sightings, the walls of the Drake have stories to tell—some whispered in marble corridors, some still echoing through the glamorous Gold Coast hallways. Pack your EMF detectors and curiosity as we delve into the decadent yet ghostly legacy of one of Illinois’ most iconic hotels.
The History
A Grande Dame is Born
The Drake Hotel first opened its opulent doors on New Year’s Eve in 1920. Financed by brothers John B. Drake and Tracy Corey Drake—second-generation hotel magnates whose father, John Burroughs Drake, had been one of the most respected hoteliers of the nineteenth century—the hotel was envisioned as a symbol of ultimate luxury in a rapidly growing city. The brothers acquired the land from the Palmer family (owners of the famed Palmer House) in 1916 and laid the cornerstone on January 17, 1920, what would have been their father’s 94th birthday.
Located between Lake Michigan and the posh Gold Coast district, the hotel was strategically positioned where elegance met the energy of urban Chicago. Designed by famed architect Benjamin Howard Marshall, of the architectural firm Marshall and Fox—who had also designed Chicago’s Blackstone Hotel a decade earlier in 1910—the Drake featured Italian Renaissance architecture, grand ballrooms, and panoramic lake views. The opening night was attended by over 2,000 of Chicago’s most distinguished citizens, demonstrating just how anticipated and admired the hotel already was.
An Icon of Society
Throughout the early and mid-20th century, the Drake Hotel established itself as the place for high society to stay, dine, and socialize. The hotel hosted royalty, Hollywood stars, and political elites. Notable guests have included Winston Churchill, Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Diana (who stayed during her only visit to Chicago in 1996), Elizabeth Taylor, Walt Disney, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Charles Lindbergh, and numerous U.S. Presidents including Herbert Hoover, Dwight Eisenhower, Gerald Ford, and Ronald Reagan. Its famed Palm Court (originally called the Fountain Court) became a beloved destination for afternoon tea—a tradition that continues to this day, and one that both Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Diana made a point of experiencing.
The Cape Cod Room, which opened in 1933, became one of Chicago’s most celebrated seafood restaurants and a regular haunt for celebrities and dignitaries. Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe famously carved their initials into the wooden bar during their honeymoon visit. The hotel’s elegant ballrooms continued to host prestigious galas, political dinners, and high-society events throughout the decades.
Modern-Day Preservation
In 1980, Hilton International assumed operation of the hotel and undertook restorations to return it to its former glory. The hotel was placed on the National Register of Historic Places that same year. Major renovations occurred between 1998 and 2003, with approximately $45 million invested in restoring the property while adding modern amenities. Today, the Drake Hotel operates under the Hilton umbrella, continuing its legacy as one of Chicago’s grandest establishments—a seamless blend of vintage charm and modern luxury with 535 rooms, including 74 suites.
The Haunt
As magnificent as the public history of the hotel is, the private and unspoken stories are what draw the attention of paranormal investigators. Few locales combine such rich history and ghostly lore quite like the Drake Hotel. The hotel has been featured in television documentaries, paranormal investigations, and podcasts exploring Chicago’s most haunted locations. Ghost tour companies regularly include the Drake on their routes, and the hotel itself has embraced its supernatural reputation by hosting events like the “Masquerade Ball: A Nightmare on Walton Street” in the Palm Court.
Here are some of the most enduring tales and documented experiences that send shivers down seasoned ghost hunters’ spines.
The Lady in Red
Perhaps the most iconic ghost story tied to the Drake is that of the Lady in Red. Legend has it that during the hotel’s grand opening gala on New Year’s Eve in 1920, a woman dressed in a stunning red gown discovered her fiancé with another woman. Some versions say she spotted him dancing with another woman in the Palm Court; others say she found him in a more compromising situation. Distraught and humiliated, she allegedly fled to the upper floors and either jumped from a 10th-floor window or from the rooftop to her death.
It should be noted that despite extensive research by Chicago historians, no newspaper accounts from the era have been found to corroborate this suicide actually occurred—making this a true legend in every sense. Nevertheless, the Lady in Red has become the Drake’s most famous specter.
Over the decades, guests and staff have reported seeing a beautiful woman in a red evening dress wandering the hallways, particularly near the 10th floor, the Gold Coast Room where the gala took place, and the Palm Court. Some say she gazes out windows overlooking the lake, while others have witnessed her silently drifting through the corridors. Paranormal investigators have noted cold spots and unexplained EMF spikes in these areas.
During one ghost hunt, a participant reported being drawn into a darkened ballroom where she photographed what appeared to be a silhouette of a woman seated in a chair. The image has become part of Drake Hotel paranormal lore and continues to fuel debates among ghost enthusiasts. The witness described not feeling threatened, but rather sensing that the spirit simply wanted to be seen and recognized.
The Woman in Black: A True Crime Mystery
Unlike the Lady in Red legend, the story of the Woman in Black is rooted in a well-documented and still-unsolved murder case.
On January 19, 1944, Chicago socialite Adele Born Williams—the 58-year-old wife of U.S. State Department attaché Frank Starr Williams—was returning to her eighth-floor suite with her adult daughter, Patricia Goodbody. They found the door unlocked and slightly ajar. Upon entering, they discovered a gray-haired woman wearing a black Persian lamb fur coat hiding in the bathroom.
Without a word, the woman pulled an antique pistol from her purse and fired two shots at Patricia, missing both times. She then turned and fired at Adele, striking her in the head. The fur-coated assailant walked calmly out of the room and was seen by other guests in the hallway before Patricia could cry for help.
Adele Williams died the following day. The murder weapon—a gun traced to a convicted criminal whose sister worked as a desk clerk at the Drake—was mysteriously found days later at the bottom of a stairwell that police had already thoroughly searched. A spare key to Adele’s suite that had gone missing also mysteriously reappeared at the front desk. Despite multiple suspects and theories, including the possibility of a botched jewelry robbery, no one was ever charged.
Today, the Woman in Black—believed to be the unidentified killer rather than the victim—is said to haunt the eighth floor. Guests have reported an unsettling presence in that area, and some claim to hear what sounds like a sharp, sudden noise reminiscent of a gunshot echoing through the hallways.
The Mourning Parents
A third ghostly presence at the Drake connects to one of Chicago’s most infamous crimes—though the crime itself did not occur at the hotel.
In 1924, 14-year-old Bobby Franks was kidnapped and murdered by Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb, two wealthy University of Chicago students who attempted to commit the “perfect crime.” The case became a national sensation. After the trial, Bobby’s grieving parents, Jacob and Flora Franks, sold their Kenwood estate to escape the constant attention and moved permanently into the Drake Hotel.
Jacob Franks died at the hotel in 1928, just four years after losing his son. Flora Franks remained and died there in 1937. According to paranormal accounts, the spirits of the Franks have never left—forever mourning the tragic loss of their child within the hotel’s walls. Their presence is described as one of profound, lingering sorrow rather than menace.
Elevator Anomalies and Other Phenomena
Beyond the three main ghostly residents, guests and staff have reported various unexplained occurrences throughout the hotel:
- Elevator disturbances: Multiple patrons have reported elevators stopping at floors with no one waiting, doors opening and closing repeatedly in the early morning hours despite no mechanical malfunctions being found, and the sense of an unseen presence riding alongside them.
- Unexplained cold spots: Certain areas of the hotel, particularly on the upper floors, are said to have pockets of intense cold even during summer months.
- Whispers and footsteps: Guests have reported hearing whispers or footsteps in hallways when no one else is present.
- Electronic interference: Some visitors claim their electronic devices malfunction or batteries drain rapidly in certain areas of the hotel—phenomena often associated with paranormal activity.
- Fleeting apparitions: Dark figures have been reported appearing briefly at the end of corridors before vanishing into rooms.
Hotel staff, while professionally discrete, have been known to acknowledge the Drake’s storied supernatural reputation with a knowing smile.
The Spirits Await
Whether you’re a dyed-in-the-wool paranormal investigator or a curious traveler with a taste for mystery, the Drake Hotel in Chicago offers the perfect blend of luxury and legend. Its towering walls hold over a century’s worth of societal elegance—plus a few haunting secrets that seem unwilling to fade into history.
Consider staying a night on the 10th floor if you’re brave enough, or visit the Palm Court for an elegant afternoon tea, perhaps catching a glimpse of the Lady in Red from the corner of your eye. With its appearances in documentaries, paranormal investigations, and ghost tours, the Drake has cemented its place as one of Chicago’s—and America’s—most haunted hotels.
There’s no telling what you’ll find, or what—or who—might find you. Bring your cameras, your EVP recorders, and an open mind. The Drake Hotel is more than just five-star hospitality—it’s an adventure into the past, and possibly, the beyond.
Are you ready to check in… and maybe never truly check out?