Exploring the Congress Plaza Hotel - Chicago IL

Ever since briefly visiting with Jeff a few years ago, the Congress Plaza Hotel in Chicago really captured my interest. It's the strangest mix of past elegance, decent upgrades, and deterioration that I've ever seen in a hotel. The building has a storied past full of crazy tales and rumors, and even has an infamous reputation for being haunted. So when I next visited Chicago, I couldn't help but book a room and check it out in a lot more detail. This video is exactly what it sounds like... just me with a camera, walking around and exploring this vast property. I even convinced security to show me one of the beautiful historic ballrooms. Part 2 features a detailed review of my room in the south tower: • Room Review - Congress...
I really hope you all enjoy, and that you share my interest in this fascinating property.
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[@SPS8elevatorsoflakecounty]

As a Chicagoan I am very familiar with this hotel. Ive spent hours exploring it. It always gives me the creeps, and it really makes me wonder how on earth this place gets business.

[@joseph-od8ow]

i went twice and had no idea til after i got home after the second trip that it was so haunted

[@matte5552]

I feel like it would do better if a big company purchased it and rebranded it as a ‘soft brand’ like Hilton’s Curio Collection or Marriott’s Autograph collection.

[@kelisep_1547]

It gets buisness by annoying people like my grandma who don’t believe in ghosts and force their grandchildren to stay there for 2 days while on vacation because it’s cheap.

[@Idreallyrathernotthanks]

It's cheap.

[@thatpersonsmusic]

As someone who just booked a night here, it’s cheap, in a great location and is far more interesting than a Marriott!

[@gilmon43]

I’ve stayed at the Congress Plaza several times before while visiting Chicago. The building definitely shows it’s age in some areas, but the room was spotless and well appointed, the bed was comfortable and the shower was hot. And for usually $80 a night in the heart of downtown it’s hard to beat

[@michelinman8592]

The current state of the Congress Hotel is about what I saw in the entirety of Chicago when I visited in 2011. So sad to see a small piece of American history be let go a lot in some ways, not so much in others. Thanks for sharing with us!

[@jnako4361]

Nice video. I’ve stayed at the Congress a few times and while you captured a lot….there is so MUCH more to be explored! There our hidden narrow staircases off the 3rd floor across throw the gold ballroom and so many other hidden places like it. My husband and I sat on that couch on the third floor next to a off limits sealed up ballroom late at night and we had a scare of a lifetime. What sounded like a 4 x 4 clearly slamming into the door from the inside of the sealed ballroom, frozen in fear there were no sounds after that there was no way it was from somebody inside that room, a memory I will never forget.

[@VintageLiftLad]

This takes me back! I'm from England and this was my first trip to the US back in 2012 and I stayed in this hotel. I love vintage buildings so I definitely loved this, so glad to see the Touch Sensitive Otis' still there, they were absolute rockets as were the other banks. I'll have to return some day

[@pony053]

Great video....Open staircases, great for fire safety, and low smoke spread...

[@CityWalks]

I love that you go places you probably aren't supposed to but aren't explicitly blocked from. Kind of exciting. -Henry

[@thatpersonsmusic]

I’m staying here and got in trouble with security for walking the hallways of the hotel at night. Didn’t pass up any signs or anything, just stayed in the regular public hallways, but apparently I set off a lot of alarms. So yeah, you probably should not go to any of those places

[@22408aaron]

Thank you for making this video, I was really looking forward to seeing it, and can't wait for part 2. I have always noticed that a lot of really old buildings have "exit" signs that say "stairs". Perhaps that is a way to distinguish fire stairs from a regular stairwell, that probably does not meet the fire requirements for being a fire stairwell, and/or does not have a clear path to the exit. I suppose times were much different back then.

[@matte5552]

22408aaron I think Illinois has some weird codes about that. The Embassy suites north of the river was built in 2001 and also has ‘Stairs” signs. There’s also a code that all the exit/stairs signs have to be backlit, instead of the just the letters.

[@misterwint]

Amazing! I want to see more of that what looked to be an abandoned floor. Very creepy!

[@dkush2009]

The abandoned floor is super creepy.. love this hotel tho!

[@lilashleelexsyreyes]

im staying here tomorrow and this place gives me the creeps just from the pictures

[@nancydarling4918]

Really nice hotel. Good video. Thanks for filming.

[@FloridianElevators]

VERY AWESOME HOTEL!!! Glad you got to go back and stay here!! This place is definitely pretty strange.... Several of the stairways and room hallways literally looked like service corridors or sketchy NYC Style apartment halls, and the narrow doors to the stairs make you think you're entering a closet!!!! This is definitely a really unique hotel!! It kind of reminds me of the place I stayed at in Vancouver last year, however, that place was built in 1975, so it's a lot newer, and the pool area, elevators (which were also Otis Touch), Top Floor and Service Corridors were straight out the 60s/70s, Hallways on the other hand looked very 80s/90s, and then the lobby and the bathrooms of the rooms looked ultra modern, and the rooms themselves look fairly modern, but not the latest and greatest, so it was a time warp too, but this is MUCH COOLER since it's actually a Historic Building!!! Some areas of this building look super beautiful and historic and original, others look historic and old but in a sketchy and dingy kind of way, then some areas scream the 60s such as the elevators and signs, and the hallways for the most part look like those of an 80s hotel. This place definitely does seem rundown, but if I ever make it to Chicago, I would happily stay here. For the Chicago area, the place seems to be fairly reasonably priced, and it has much more character than a luxury hotel or a high Rise business hotel, and enough character to the point I'd almost spend a quarter to half of my time exploring the place LOL!!!! GREAT VIDEO, and I can't wait to see Part 2!!!

[@TheElevatorChannel]

Floridian Elevators So glad you enjoyed. This property has loads of potential. I’d be willing to bet there’s old tile under those dingy hallway carpets and plenty of other gems that could be uncovered and restored. With the amazing location, it’s just crazy to me that a big investor hasn’t snatched this place up and renovated/restored it more fully. But it’s really interesting to explore in its current state and the rooms are actually pretty decent if you end up staying here

[@504RoadTrips]

Those little hallways that lead to the corner rooms probably were a single corner suite at one time, and they've been divided into separate rooms. The Ace Hotel in New Orleans has a similar setup. There was a door that you'd open with the magnetic key, and then inside was a small hallway with doors to two non-connected rooms. The magnetic key would only open one of them. The odd thing was that the door to the little hallway had the same lock as the room door, and it had a mechanical deadbolt that could be locked, thereby locking the people of the neighboring room out. That abandoned floor looks like the murder floor.

[@Dana_Danarosana]

I've seen that at the Roosevelt Hotel Hollywood. That setup is designed so the rooms can be used as connecting rooms if needed. The inner doors open with the hallway door closed allows access between the rooms w/o going into the main hallway... similar to when rooms have a door between the rooms side-to-side...

[@504RoadTrips]

Dana Danarosana that’s obviously the reason for the outer door, but I question why that door can be dead bolted when the rooms are rented to different people. It seems like it would be very easy for the tenants in one room to lock the people out of the other room.

[@Dana_Danarosana]

@@504RoadTrips Ah. I misunderstood. Are you sure the deadbolt works all the time? Some of those "deadbolt" handles are only an electronic switch. Perhaps, if so in this case, it is disabled unless the rooms are rented together...

[@504RoadTrips]

Dana Danarosana yes. Standard mechanical deadbolt.

[@n_dee_vee]

Just stayed there last night, it is unique to say the least, I love to snoop also! It definitely needs a hug. I hope some entity can find a way to reconcile all its wildly varying features! I had the pleasure of going to a wedding in the 90’s in the Gold Room. Epic night!

[@thewildeeper]

This place is so wack. Glad you got to check up on it again, it was nice to see. Especially the ballroom.

[@dantx4545]

That sure is a mix of nice/ok/neglected/ugly but that hotel has a lot of character very nice of Security to show you the closed ballrooms

[@TheElevatorChannel]

Dan T Such a fascinating time warp of a hotel. The staff here was really friendly and seemed eager to show me around

[@NathanDavisVideos]

Also if I could recall; I believe both the 13th and 14th floors at this hotel was probably the most haunted part I believe.

[@dkelevators3723]

I agree !

[@Jrazzz]

Nathan Andrew Davis and plus he was supposed to do the elevator game at 3am

[@NathanDavisVideos]

@@Jrazzz Oh that would make great for a video on this channel! After all... It is called *The Elevator Channel* for a reason...

[@timothypierce5303]

@Lukas Morkunas I stayed two nights on the 12th floor last August and had nothing happen.

[@mariashelly6392]

I attended a 1982 ComicCon there when they combined it with a Dr. Who convention. That was a fantastic hotel.

[@AlphaRaptor2k6]

It's sad to say that things got really weird in the 60's as the new Brutalism style took hold and old buildings has to update or be torn down, some did this whole heartly, others like this hotel tacked on a wing and changed it's signs. Nowadays old buildings get gutted for apartments or again torn down for more of the same. True, most of them that go are too rotted from neglect and mismanagement or overzealous refitting over the years rendered them unfit for any purpose without extensive and costly reconstruction. Most see a building as an equation of cost to fix vs cost to knock down and start anew, only seeing the land value before any value in what sits atop. Chicago has ripped allot of it's classic buildings out for modern infastructure, glad to not all was lost.

[@isaac24]

So there's 2 elevator banks in the south tower, and 1 in the north tower?

[@tkefan29]

I'm glad to see those Peelle escalators are still there. Hopefully they'll be running next time I'm in town.

[@pony053]

Peelle Motorstairs!!!

[@Dana_Danarosana]

I've been in here a few times but never stayed here. I can't wait for your room tour. Based on the reviews, I think the rooms might be as varied as the public areas. A side thought... I've always thought the Buckingham Wing should have a constant loop of Lindsey Buckingham's "Holiday Road" (Natl. Lampoon's Vacation) playing rather loudly 24/7.

[@idl3k_elev]

16:52 It looks like they're going to install a new governor for one of the two service elevators.

[@sheseesdarkness]

How would they let you explore instead of stay?

[@SPS8elevatorsoflakecounty]

16:52 so we’re all just gonna sleep on the fact that there’s an elevator governor sitting right there

[@Jowevator3219]

I noticed that too!

[@matiasblanco4300]

I don't see no one

[@egtravel]

I stayed here in September 2015...not the best hotel, but very interesting and great location. Also I didn't experience any 👻 s!

[@Elevatorboy886]

Cool

[@gtavstepfordcounty1733]

Oh Beno Lifts, You must come to this hotel, cause you will love it

[@thesomething6771]

The master of Benoist/Benoism is not welcomed in the United States.

[@thatpersonsmusic]

So I’ve learned now don’t go exploring the hotel when it it’s late. I booked a room here but wanted to explore as it’s an interesting building, but apparently got in trouble with security for setting off a bunch of alarms just by walking through the regular hallways of the hotel. So for anyone else who may be thinking of visiting, keep this in mind.

[@halleluyur]

r kelly's 'happy people' video was filmed in the ballroom. the decor really made 4 a memorable backdrop 💨

[@Waberner]

The up / down buttons are for attendant service... But Idk how the'yre to be used.

[@shawnriggan1873]

I’m staying there in a couple of weeks. Boy it sure looks creepy. Hope my room isn’t on the abandoned floor

[@shanestockton3871]

Interesting place when's part 2

[@ebob1967]

It does seem to be sort of a mixed bag. I have only eaten at one of the restaurants -- and that was a long time ago (as in before they went on strike).

[@jocelynrivera568]

This building is haunted for real.

[@monikute21]

Jocelyn Rivera it is

[@isaac24]

They did away with our favorite elevator music!!

[@KyleHartley_crazybangles]

The Elevator World thst really sucks as I enjoyed listening to the rather cheesy, hideous and classic music

[@thetravelchannel7671]

Great video

[@NathanDavisVideos]

So I guess you say that back-lit signs were such a '60s look (maybe '70s or even '80s) right?

[@etan...]

How

[@allisonkrueger8330]

10:14 I hear a weird faint scream as you turn away from the escalator. 10:17 again but louder not sure if there are kids screaming or what 10:43 more screams 11:03 sounds like a female giggle

[@isaac24]

I visited here yesterday. The Buckingham wing was easily my least favorite part. Oh and the comment about the cigarette smell still applies, lol.

[@isaac24]

Did you interact with any ghosts?

[@dkelevators3723]

I don’t think so but it is hautend!

[@hildagaray3298]

I stayed there a 2 years ago and nothing happened. It is a very old hotel though.

[@drewaguilar173]

That’s the hotel i’m staying at

[@MacMurka]

I’m staying there in a couple days. Didn’t know it was haunted lol

[@Jrazzz]

Ur suppose to do it at 3am btw

[@monikute21]

to catch ghosts

[@etan...]

You

[@BrandondHasty]

Part 2 not coming up

[@TheElevatorChannel]

Brandon Hasty Will be live next weekend

[@BrandondHasty]

Ok thanks and how r u doing? I saw ur part 2 that u went by train but part 3 didn’t come up yet idk why

[@FloridianElevators]

And unfortunately, those Otis Touch Elevators here have since been modded since this was taken.

[@NathanDavisVideos]

Are you talking about the elevators at this hotel, or the elevators at that hotel you stayed at in Vancouver?

[@FloridianElevators]

@@NathanDavisVideos These. These were modded just late last year. However, the place I stayed at in Vancouver is currently in the process of being modded...

[@alpaljl]

Damn it! I was gonna get to them this year most likely. :( Haven't seen square touch in person since 2006.

[@FloridianElevators]

@@alpaljl Check out WI Sirens and Elevators and NW Indiana Elevators. They have videos of them post mod. And yeah, I wish more of these were still around....

[@NathanDavisVideos]

@@FloridianElevators Ahh great... WHY?!!!

[@colinwillis3392]

I, being a doctor, don't believe in ghosts and am absolutely baffled about people's beliefs about ghosts. I stayed here in 2009 in the south tower on the 14th floor, and it was just like how people say. There is past elegance, nice modifications, but the hallways are its weakest spots. They are very dingy, and the carpet looks very dirty and soiled. I do like the rooms though.

[@etan...]

Doing?

[@thetravelchannel7671]

Cool hotel! what were you staying there for?

[@misterhat5823]

Nacho Cheese Sauce Festival. I was there too, but YT gave me a copyright strike and took down the video.

[@monikute21]

This place is haunted

[@arseniclullaby87]

WHERE DEM GHOSTS AT?

[@etan...]

Are

[@monikute21]

ghost at 8:28 there also more