Open House Chicago The Drake Hotel Tour

Explore The Drake Hotel in Chicago. This is a grand old historical hotel.

[@gregmccarter3243]

i worked there in 1985 when you were on the ground floor basement in the center elavator i talked to dr. saulk when we rode the elavator up..

[@gregmccarter3243]

and in 1985 all the elavators were run by ladys moving a gear....

[@hotelexploring]

That is awesome. What kind of gear was it? Thanks!

[@timward3116]

I can't put my finger on it - and maybe it was just the lighting - but the hotel looks tired, run down. I was expecting more glitz, more pizzazz, more wow.

[@hotelexploring]

It is a bit old. The bottom floor could use new carpeting and some renovation. The top floors look pretty good in my opinion. Although the elevators could use some refurbishing. This video was taken in 2015, so maybe they've fixed things up since then.

[@timward3116]

@@hotelexploring I think it is great that you made the video, though. I had always wondered what the hotel that hosted Princess Diana must have been like. I grew up in Chicagoland but have lived almost my entire life in Phoenix, which is famous for its non-downtown downtown. I did move back to suburban Chicago for a couple of years more than a decade ago - and Chicago really is a world-class city! I have seen videos of the Palmer House and had sort of thought that the Drake must be like that - but I guess I was wrong. I love a beautiful hotel. Wish my 863-ft condo (built in 1975, before glitz was required) looked like the Palmer House LOL. There are some first-rate hotels/resorts in the Phoenix-Scottsdale area, but few have much history. Thanks for sharing your video! I think I'll watch it again.

[@hotelexploring]

@@timward3116 I didn't realize that Princess Diana stayed at the Drake. We stayed at the Knickerbocker across from the Drake when we were there. If you like historical hotels, you should go to San Francisco some time. One of my favorites is the San Francisco Hilton. It's not historical but it does have an older section from the mid-80's and the dome is really cool.

[@timward3116]

@@hotelexploring Funny, when a person says "older section from the mid-'80's" to someone from Phoenix, the Phoenix resident would automatically assume mid-1980's - NEVER 1880's. Although Phoenix did exist in the 1880's. Unfortunately, we've destroyed most of our older architectural history. EVERYBODY loves San Fran and recommends that I go there. And maybe one day I will. And if I do, I'll be sure to check out the older section. Are you a Chicagoan or just someone who likes to go all over seeing different hotels and mechanical rooms?

[@hotelexploring]

@@timward3116 Yes I'm someone who enjoys going all over and seeing interesting architecture and mechanical rooms. I am also into elevators! I am respectful of property but like to explore. I was in Chicago for Open House Chicago 2015 when there were over 200 properties open to see, with guided tours sometime. I was born in Phoenix and Iive in Tucson. By the way, I did mean mid-1980's LOL!! Dated but not historical. I do like historical places as well.