Al Capone: Haunted Hotspots & Ghost Hunting Tips

Al Capone is one of those historical figures who has become a magnet for ghost stories. And I get why. His legacy is violent, in your face, and intertwined with over a decade of bloody history. But here’s the problem with “Capone haunts” online: the history and the haunting claims often get mashed into one big spooky smoothie. Fusing with other local lore.

So in this Ghostly Spotlight, I’ll pick it apart based on:

• Verified history first
• Reported hauntings second
• My own field notes where I’ve actually investigated

And yes, I’ve investigated the Congress Plaza Hotel quite a few times and spent time in the orbit of Suite 800 in the North Tower, where Capone rumors never focus. (Congress Plaza Hotel)

Congress Plaza Hotel (Chicago) Field Notes

Let’s separate the building from the legend.

The verified history

The Congress Plaza started life as the Auditorium Annex in 1893, built for the World’s Columbian Exposition era (think of it as the World’s Fair). It was part of the campus to show Chicago had returned from the Great Fire that left the city burned to the ground. Over time, it expanded, changed names, and became one of those Chicago historic buildings that’s basically seen everything. Including (possibly) serial killers … but that’s a tale for another day. (Congress Plaza Hotel)

This history matters because old hotels create the perfect conditions for weirdness (or liminal spaces):

• long hallways that carry sound … and strange echoes
• layered renovations … revealing secrets from its past
• old wiring next to newer systems … pumping the air with EMF
• drafts, pressure changes, and mechanical “knocks” that happen at the worst possible moment … scaring the bejeezus out of guests

What reputable-ish sources actually claim about Capone here

You’ll see two common claims repeated:

1. “The Congress Plaza was Capone’s headquarters / hangout.”
2. “Capone (or his circle) stayed here and still shows up.”

Even mainstream travel writing frames this as rumor. One article flat-out says the hotel is rumored to have been Capone’s HQ, while the hotel’s GM dismisses the haunting claims as rumors tied to the building’s age. (Business Insider)

Some haunted-place writeups go further and claim Capone lived there, maybe even owned it, while also admitting he didn’t stay under his own name. Treat that as tour lore, not courtroom-grade history. (citypass.com)

Patch (local news-style coverage) also repeats the idea that the hotel was a Capone hangout and says Capone’s associates lived there, but again, without naming them in a documented way. (Patch)

My field notes: investigation activity near Suite 800 (North Tower)

I investigated near Suite 800, and I’m going to be blunt: the night had moments.

Here’s what I captured and experienced:

1) Wild EMF fluctuations on my MEL meter
The readings jumped hard enough to make me stop and re-check my position, the device, and the environment.

Here’s the reality check:
There was a Wi-Fi router not far away, a big power panel that was open, and the hotel was under renovation at the time. That is three bright, flashing arrows pointing toward “possible non-paranormal EMF causes.” I’m not saying that explains everything, but it absolutely explains a lot.

2) Strong cigar smoke smell (and I mean strong)
This one is harder to shrug off. The scent hit like someone had been smoking recently.

Now, the obvious objection is: “Chicago hasn’t allowed smoking indoors for ages.” That’s basically true in practice, but here’s the nuance I always like to keep in the record:

• Illinois’ Smoke-Free Illinois Act took effect January 1, 2008, banning smoking in most indoor public places and workplaces. (Illinois Department of Public Health)
• Hotels can still have limited designated smoking rooms (up to a capped percentage). (smoke-free.illinois.gov)

So, could a cigar smell still happen naturally? Yes. Through designated rooms, rule-breakers, ventilation pathways, old soft materials holding scent, or even a guest sneaking it near an entry. But I’ll say this: the intensity is what made it stick with me … and Suite 800 is a non-smoking room.

3) Knocking sounds near the door and walls
Sharp knocks, close enough that the first instinct is “someone is messing with me.”

Renovations can create knocks too. Temperature shifts, expanding materials, crews working elsewhere, mechanical systems cycling. But these knocks felt timed in a way that was … unfriendly. And, the knocks timed perfectly to answer questions about the hotel’s past.

4) Phantom footsteps approaching down the hall toward Suite 800
That classic hotel-hallway audio: footfalls that seem to walk right up to you, then… nothing.

5) Nausea
This can be paranormal folklore bait, but in real life, it can also be stale air, cleaning chemicals, stress, anxiety, or just your body not loving a long investigation in an old building.

Investigator takeaway

If you’re asking me what I “proved,” the answer is: nothing conclusive.
If you’re asking what I experienced: enough to keep Suite 800 on my radar.

The most responsible way to write this is:

• EMF: interesting, but heavily contaminated by plausible environmental causes.
• Smell + footsteps + knocks + nausea: harder to pin to one simple source, especially when the cigar scent is that strong.

“Was it Capone, or one of his guys?”

Some sources claim Capone’s associates lived at the hotel, but names are rarely documented. One ‘Frank’ people sometimes bring up is Frank Nitti, who died by suicide in 1943, though I haven’t found reliable documentation linking him to residing at the Congress Plaza. (Patch)

Another thing: Capone lived and “worked” out of the Lexington Hotel, which was torn down in the 1990s. He didn’t have a good reason to haunt the Congress. Sure, he may have visited the Congress: It was THE luxury hotel in town with powerful people staying and playing there. The same goes with his gang. It wasn’t “home” to any of them. I’d say this is where the ghost lore fuses Chicago’s biggest mobster, the destruction of the Lexington, and a fuzzy link to the Congress as a new ghostly story.

Eastern State Penitentiary: Capone’s “Luxury” Lockup

Eastern State is one of the easiest Capone locations to write responsibly because the history is documented by the site itself. Eastern State’s materials describe Capone’s 1929 arrest in Philadelphia for carrying an unlicensed handgun, his sentence, his incarceration there, and how unusually comfortable his cell was compared to the standard conditions. (Eastern State Penitentiary)

Does that mean it’s haunted? No. But it does mean:

• people visit with a strong expectation of Capone energy
• the setting is inherently intense
• the Capone story is real, which makes every weird sound feel personal

If you include haunting claims here, I’d frame them as “reported legends” and keep the hard facts anchored in Eastern State’s documentation. (Eastern State Penitentiary)

Still, there’s a stronger case for Capone to haunt the prison versus the Congress Plaza Hotel.

Alcatraz: The Case of Capone’s Phantom Music

Capone’s Alcatraz era is also well documented in mainstream historical coverage, including how he spent time there and the fact that he played music while incarcerated. (HISTORY)

This is where the haunting lore gets specific: Visitors and ghost hunters love the idea that you can still hear a banjo in the cellhouse.

Whether or not you buy the haunting, the setup is perfect:

• cold acoustics
• echoing corridors
• a famous inmate tied to a very specific sound

At Alcatraz, Capone suffered just like all the other prisoners. He didn’t get any special privileges and spent four-and-a-half years there. In time, his untreated syphilis ravaged his brain, and he was transferred to Terminal Island for the rest of his prison term. Of all the locations in this article, Alcatraz has the best reason for a spectral anchor to keep Capone’s soul around. (HISTORY)

Bonus: The Lexington Hotel (Chicago): Capone’s Gangland HQ

If you want a Chicago Capone anchor that’s historically stronger than the Congress rumors, the Lexington Hotel is it.

The Encyclopedia of Chicago documents the Lexington as a major Chicago hotel and explicitly connects it to Capone’s gangland-era reputation. The building is gone now, but it’s still part of the Capone map. (Chicago History Encyclopedia)

You may recognize the Lexington Hotel. Let’s just a somewhat infamous televised show looked to open a vault in the basement. Things didn’t turn out so well on live TV. Anyway, the Lexington was torn down in 1995. At that point, the derelict building couldn’t be saved. In its place, a new apartment building stands. It’s called The Lex. I wonder if anyone has seen Capone roaming the halls, eh? (Wikipedia)

How to investigate ghostly claims about Capone

Build the history first. If the history isn’t real, the haunting claim becomes fan fiction.

Treat EMF like a smoke alarm, not a ghost detector. It tells you “something electrical is here,” not “a dead mobster is here.”

Smells matter. But document airflow, vents, open windows, and nearby doors.

Use a control pass. Walk the same hallway twice, once filming and once not. See what changes. You’d be surprised at what can happen when the cameras turn off.

Write what happened, not what you wanted. The clean log is the product. Remove emotions and feelings from your documentation.

Final thought

If Capone “haunts” anywhere, it’s probably because we keep dragging him back. The Living have a powerful way to bring the Dead back to us. Through tours, headlines, myths, and the fact that his name still sells.

But that doesn’t mean places like the Congress Plaza can’t surprise you.

Because they can. Believe me: That hotel has more than a few spirits roaming the halls and ballrooms.

And I’ve got the MEL meter spikes, the knocks, the footsteps, and that cigar smell burned into my memory to prove at least one thing:

Something about Suite 800 still wants attention.

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Bibilography

“Audio Tour Transcript.” Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site, n.d., https://www.easternstate.org/visit/plan-your-visit/audio-tour-transcript. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

Britannica Editors. “Frank Nitti.” Encyclopaedia Britannica, n.d., https://www.britannica.com/biography/Frank-Nitti. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

Cipollini, Christian. “Chicago Crime Boss Al Capone Transferred to Alcatraz 90 Years Ago This Month.” The Mob Museum, 16 Aug. 2024, https://themobmuseum.org/blog/chicago-crime-boss-al-capone-transferred-to-alcatraz-90-years-ago-this-month/. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

Congress Plaza Hotel. “History.” Congress Plaza Hotel, n.d., https://www.congressplazahotel.com/history/. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

Daugherty, Greg. “How Al Capone Spent His Time in Alcatraz.” HISTORY, 29 Oct. 2021 (updated 28 May 2025), https://www.history.com/articles/al-capone-alcatraz. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

Federal Bureau of Investigation. “Al Capone.” FBI, n.d., https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/al-capone. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

Harrington, Adam. “Chicago Hauntings: The Congress Hotel, The Home Of Presidents… And Ghosts.” CBS News Chicago, 1 Nov. 2021, https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/chicago-hauntings-the-congress-hotel/. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

“Chicago’s Most Haunted Hotel: The Congress Plaza.” CityPASS Blog, CityPASS, n.d., https://www.citypass.com/articles/chicago/chicagos-haunted-hotel-congress-plaza. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

McLean County Health Department. “Smoke-Free Illinois Act- Frequently Asked Questions.” McLean County, Illinois, n.d., https://www.mcleancountyil.gov/1987/Smoke-Free-Illinois-Act–Frequently-Aske. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

McLean County Health Department. “Smoke-Free Illinois Act- A Guide for Workplaces.” McLean County, Illinois, n.d., https://www.mcleancountyil.gov/1985/Smoke-Free-Illinois-Act–A-Guide-for-Wor. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

Mayo Clinic Staff. “What is Thirdhand Smoke, and Why is it a Concern?” Mayo Clinic, n.d., https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/nicotine-dependence/expert-answers/third-hand-smoke/faq-20057791. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

National Park Service. “Model Industries Building: Prisoners at Work.” U.S. National Park Service, last updated 2 Mar. 2021, https://www.nps.gov/places/000/model-industries-building-prisoners-at-work.htm. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

Olito, Frank. “Tour Chicago’s Most Haunted Hotel.” Insider (Business Insider), 20 Oct. 2021, https://www.businessinsider.com/most-haunted-hotel-chicago-stay-2021-6. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

Reynolds, Christopher. “Road Scholar: Revenge of the Capone.” Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2016, https://www.latimes.com/travel/la-tr-road-scholar-capone-20160508-snap-story.html. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

Solly, Meilan. “Here’s What Al Capone’s Philadelphia Prison Cell Really Looked Like.” Smithsonian Magazine, 6 May 2019, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/al-capones-philadelphia-prison-cell-complete-roommates-cot-opens-public-180972105/. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

World Health Organization. “Exposure (Non-Ionizing Radiation).” WHO, n.d., https://www.who.int/teams/environment-climate-change-and-health/radiation-and-health/non-ionizing/exposure. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

“Clean Indoor Air Ordinance: Frequently Asked Questions.” CHI 311 (City of Chicago), n.d., https://311.chicago.gov/s/article/Clean-indoor-air-ordinance-frequently-asked-questions?language=en_US. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

United Press International. “Chicago’s Lexington Hotel Was Al Capone’s Headquarters.” UPI Archives, 3 Aug. 1986, https://www.upi.com/Archives/1986/08/03/Chicagos-Lexington-Hotel-was-Al-Capones-headquarters/4305523425600/. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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Have you ever investigated Al Capone’s haunts? If so, what did you find? Tell me about it in the comments below.

Thanks for reading Ghostly Activities. Much appreciated and take care!