Hotel Baker

Opened in June 1928 as a premier honeymoon destination on the banks of the Fox River, this elegant hotel quickly became a favorite of newlyweds. However, tragedy struck when a chambermaid was jilted at the altar and took her own life.

Hotel Baker in St. Charles opened in 1928, built by Colonel Edward J. Baker on the west bank of the Fox River in the heart of downtown. Baker envisioned a luxurious escape with modern amenities including an operating hydroelectric facility, phone system, parking garage, radio station, and rose garden. The hotel was constructed on the site of an old mill destroyed by fire. Now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it ranks among the most haunted hotels in Illinois.

The sixth floor is said to be haunted by a former employee whose tragic story has become local legend. According to accounts, a young chambermaid was left at the altar on her wedding day by her fiancé, who was also a hotel employee. In despair, she walked into the cold, rushing waters of the Fox River and was swept away to her death. Some versions suggest her lover abandoned her after a night of poker.

The chambermaids' quarters were originally on the sixth floor, now converted into a penthouse suite. Guests who have checked into this suite report hearing strange voices and having their bedding pulled by unseen hands. The penthouse is filled at times with a feeling of deep regret, and an inexplicable cold breeze permeates the room even on hot summer days. Most disturbing are the sounds of a woman weeping inconsolably, echoing through the suite late at night.

Colonel Baker's wife, Harriet Rockwell Baker, died of a heart attack in 1940. Some believe she haunts the balcony on the top floor of the hotel, still watching over the establishment her husband built.

The Baker has been ranked the seventh most haunted hotel in Illinois by Haunted Halloween Ball and the third most haunted place in the state by Haunt. Numerous ghost hunters have investigated and reported their findings in recent years, documenting the supernatural activity that continues to draw curious visitors to this elegant riverside landmark.