Well over a century ago in Southern Arizona, the railroad industry arrived, and in 1907 the Southern Pacific Railroad Depot was built in Tucson. With the railroad came progress, an increase in population, and the need for accommodations for train travelers. By 1919, Hotel Congress had opened on Tucson’s Congress Street, and its Tap Room had become the epicenter of socializing for locals and travelers alike. But its history hasn’t always been filled with lighthearted fun. In fact, there were a couple of significant incidents and alleged hauntings that have occurred at Hotel Congress, one of the most historic hotels in Tucson, Arizona.
The Hotel Congress Tucson history is a storied one. It first opened in 1919 on Congress Street in downtown Tucson, and along with it, the Tap Room. During the time of Prohibition, the Tap Room shut down for a time, but it reopened in 1933 after the repeal. By 1934, a huge fire broke out. It had started in the basement, supposedly from the potentially lethal combination of a leaky furnace and old firewood. The fire spread up an elevator shaft before expanding to the hotel’s third floor.
While the fire devastated the hotel, it led to the capture of gangster John Dillinger and members of his gang who were staying on the third floor and tried to escape the fire via ladders on the outside of the hotel. The Dillinger Gang was captured, and John Dillinger was extradited to Indiana where he faced murder charges. Today, the annual Dillinger Days celebrates the capture of the infamous criminal John Dillinger at Hotel Congress in Tucson.
While the fire destroyed much of the hotel, it led to the capture of a dangerous criminal. The Congress was eventually rebuilt and reopened in 1940 with 40 rooms, down from the original 80.
Over the years, many other chilling events that had occurred at Hotel Congress were suicides and murders, some of which may account for the accounts of paranormal activity throughout the years. In fact, it’s considered one of the most haunted hotels in America and has become one of the most popular Arizona paranormal attractions.
Many guests have reported feeling like they’re being watched, which is enough to send chills down my spine! And everything from hearing strange noises to waking up only to find an apparition at the foot of the bed has also been reported. There is a ghost of a man named Vince in room 220. He had lived there for 36 years and worked as the hotel’s handyman. Rooms 212, 214, and 242 also have resident ghosts, and yes, you can request one of these rooms when making a reservation… if you dare! Spending the night in a supposedly haunted room is not for the faint of heart.
There’s little doubt that this hotel has a fascinating and even chilling history here in the Grand Canyon State. Have you ever spent time at Hotel Congress in Tucson, Arizona? I have been to its Tap Room before and had a great time in its historic setting, although I did not experience any paranormal activity. If you’d like to spend the night at the historic Hotel Congress, book a stay on Booking.com…