The Woman In Red At The Drake Hotel

The building of the Drake Hotel in Chicago was a monumental endeavor. The hotel, which is located at 140 E. Walton Place was conceived by architect Benjamin Marshall and financed by John and Tracy Drake. Construction began in the early 20th century, and the hotel finally opened its doors on New Year's Eve in 1920. The building's architecture reflects the grandeur and elegance of the Jazz Age, making it a prominent landmark on Chicago's Magnificent Mile. Since its opening, the Drake Hotel has hosted numerous distinguished guests, from celebrities to royalty, adding to its rich history and reputation.

A Pink Neon Beacon on Michigan Avenue

The iconic pink sign of The Drake is a beacon that lights up Michigan Avenue. But beyond its architectural grandeur, it stirs up a chilling tale that adds an intriguing layer to its history. This tale begins on a festive New Year's Eve in 1920 and involves a beautiful woman in red, a proposal, a grand gala, and a tragic end.

The Fateful New Year's Eve of 1920

On New Year's Eve, 1920, the Drake Hotel hosted a lavish gala in the Gold Coast Room to celebrate its grand opening. Among the attendees was a woman, known to us as the Woman in Red. She was there, brimming with joy, having been proposed to by her boyfriend just a week earlier on Christmas Eve. Her happiness, however, was short-lived. She discovered her beloved fiancé in the arms of another woman. Devastated, she fled to the hotel's rooftop and, in her despair, ended her life.

Haunting Sightings of the Woman in Red

Since that tragic night, guests and staff have reported sightings of the Woman in Red at various locations throughout the hotel. From the Gold Coast Room where the gala was held to the Palm Court tea parlor, the top floor, and the rooftop, her presence is said to linger, a poignant reminder of the tragic events of that fateful New Year's Eve night. Some say that she killed herself off the tenth floor instead of the rooftop, and that's where her ghost can be seen. 

But a photograph, taken by a guest named Becky during a ghost hunt with our own guide Tony Szabelski, purportedly shows the silhouette of a woman sitting in a chair in one of the hotel's ballrooms. This eerie image provides a tangible link to the tragic tale of the Woman in Red. It seems to suggest that her spirit still resides within the hotel, forever entwined with its history.

The Drake Hotel: More Than Just a Landmark

The sad death of The Woman in Red seems to have left a spectral imprint on the Drake Hotel, transforming it from a mere architectural marvel to a haunting monument of love, betrayal, and despair. Even today, over a century later, the Woman in Red remains an integral part of the Drake's legacy, her story a chilling reminder of the human dramas that unfold within the hotel's grand walls.

Learn more of the secrets of Chicago’s haunted history on our Original Chicago Hauntings Ghost Bus tour, starting at 7pm every Saturday night at the Congress Plaza, another one of Chicago's most haunted hotels. Ready to embrace the eerie? Reserve your spot today!

Check out our Chicago ghost tour reviews on Google to see why this tour is a must-experience.

Dive deeper into the mysterious world of hauntings with our curated collection of paranormal investigations and ghostly encounters. Read more stories like this in “Ghosts of Lincoln Park: A Chicago Hauntings Companion” by Ursula Bielski, a book of downtown Chicago ghost stories written by our own American Ghost Walks team. Click here for more.

Dive deeper into the mysterious world of hauntings with our curated collection of paranormal investigations and ghostly encounters. Read more stories like this in “The Original Chicago Hauntings Companion” by Ursula Bielski, a book of Chicago ghost stories written by our own American Ghost Walks team. Click here for more.

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