Stay Overnight At Hotel Baker, An Allegedly Haunted Hotel In Illinois
By Benjamin Clancy|Published October 20, 2020
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Benjamin Clancy
Author
Benjamin Clancy is the Illinois and Indiana writer at Only In Your State, a doctoral candidate at UNC Chapel Hill in Communication, and an artistic type who has attended the Vermont Studio Center residency in poetry writing and makes something like music as "little other." They grew up in Austin, Texas and currently live in Chicago, IL with their partner, two dogs, and a cat. Get in touch by emailing bclancy@onlyinyourstate.com.
As local travel experts, we know what travelers are looking for when it comes to finding the perfect accommodations for their next trip. To compile our lists, we scour the internet to find properties with excellent ratings and reviews, desirable amenities, nearby attractions, and that something special that makes a destination worthy of traveling for.
Most hotels advertise themselves as places to get away and get a good night’s rest. But for those who like a little bump-in-the-night with our overnights, or prefer getaways you might need to escape from, Hotel Baker is the place for you. With a lovely location on the bank of the Fox River in charming St. Charles, this allegedly haunted hotel in Illinois may play host to poltergeist, but you’re sure to leave as pampered as you do haunted.
Hotel Baker is located at 100 W Main St, St. Charles, IL 60174.
In our experience, there are three main kinds of haunted houses: those that appear seasonally in otherwise un-haunted places, those that cater to their haunted side and charge for tours, and those that pretend they're definitely not haunted. The last category is where Hotel Baker belongs. A massive resort hotel, old and famous enough to count JFK as one of its many famous guests, this is a place where you'll have a great haunted hotel experience even if the boos are a bust.
Since the Baker Hotel's website makes no mention of hauntings, we'll take their word for it. The Baker Hotel is full of examples of definitely-not-haunted things that people, for no good reason, keep thinking are haunted. From the first photo, you can see why many people find Hotel Baker welcoming rather than sinister. In this second shot, however, is it so absurd to get the impression that the whole area is under the watch of a prison tower patrolled by a spectral warden?
Similarly, this an engraved placard commemorating the hotel's founders and the near-century it has spent catering to guests and making them feel welcome. I don't know why you would think it's a list of unsettled spirits who roam the halls of the hotel.
The hotel also charms with its artistic touch. Take, for instance, this totally normal bird made from stained glass that in no way should be taken as a cryptic and ominous symbol.
The hotel, perched on The Fox River, offers a lovely view of the water, which is definitely not where, according to legend, a hotel maid bereaved over the death of her child drowned herself. This is also definitely not the most-reported ghost sighted on the property.
And this is clearly a beautiful ballroom and not at all a gathering place for occult rituals. In fact, this gorgeous ballroom is what makes the Hotel Baker such a great wedding venue!
It's a very charming place to get married...that definitely won't curse you because you took wedding photos next to the supposed site of these aforementioned tragic events.
I guess, like beauty, spooky often in the eye of the beholder. The Hotel Baker is the ideal place for those who want to vacation among spirits in style. If you’re a lover of fright, don’t let the polished presentation scare you off. This is one of the most famously haunted hotels in Illinois. Learn more or book a stay on the hotel’s website.
What are your favorite places to sleep over and get spooked? What’s the Illinois getaway that left you most on edge? We love to see your photos and hear your stories. Get in touch!
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