Gangsters And Ghosts Minibus

Empire Tours & Productions (Chicago Gangsters and Ghosts Tours) also runs this 2-hour minibus option, pairing ghost stops with gangster sites. From $60.

Overview

This two-hour minibus tour starts and ends at the Palmer House on Wabash Street, covering Chicago's crime history and ghost legends with a live guide on board. The narration begins with Al Capone's rise through the underworld alongside Johnny Torrio and the escape doors he reportedly used to flee the hotel's Empire Ballroom during its speakeasy days.

From there the bus rolls past the Congress Hotel, where the guide covers Room 441, the 12th-floor Ghost Boy and the lore around Capone's 8th-floor suite. Grant Park brings the story of H.H. Holmes and the 1893 World's Fair, then Chase Tower marks the spot of gangland rivalries between competing syndicates. Along Death Alley and the LaSalle Bridge the tone shifts to tragedy, with the Iroquois Theatre Fire, the fire safety codes it produced, and the SS Eastland disaster.

Two stops stand out. At Harry Caray's Italian Steakhouse, once Frank Nitti's apartment building, riders get off the bus to inspect hidden tunnels and a vault found beneath the building. Holy Name Cathedral in River North is the other walk-off stop, with bullet marks on the stone facade from Prohibition-era standoffs, before a Chicago River photo break and the drive back, finishing with Capone's fall from the St. Valentine's Day Massacre to prison. It suits travellers who want history and hauntings in a seated format, and the reviews suggest the delivery leans playful rather than strictly academic.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at Palmer HouseMeet the guide and minibus at the Wabash Street entrance of the Palmer House, 124 S Wabash Ave, for the departure.
2. Congress Plaza HotelRide past the hotel and hear the reported ghost stories, including Room 441, the 12th-floor Ghost Boy, and lore around Capone's 8th-floor suite.
3. Grant Park and H.H. HolmesThe guide covers the 1893 World's Fair, Holmes's schemes and downfall, then moves into the backstory of Prohibition-era organized crime.
4. Death Alley and LaSalle BridgePass the Iroquois Theatre Fire site and learn about the fire safety codes that followed, plus the SS Eastland disaster at the bridge.
5. Harry Caray's Italian SteakhouseGet off the bus at Frank Nitti's former apartment building and go inside to see the hidden tunnels and vault discovered beneath it.
6. Holy Name CathedralStep off in River North near the site of Prohibition-era standoffs and inspect the markings left on the cathedral's stone facade.
7. Chicago River photo stopTake photos, hear ghost stories and the Great Chicago Fire account, with views of Tribune Tower and the Jewelers Building, formerly home to the Stratosphere Lounge speakeasy.
8. Return to Palmer HouseRide back while the guide recounts Capone's downfall, from the massacre to his prosecution, prison sentence and final years. Drop-off is back at the Palmer House.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical things shape how this tour plays out, from the minibus format to the amount of time spent off the vehicle.

• Pace and walking. Most of the tour is seated on the minibus, with walk-off stops at Harry Caray's, Holy Name Cathedral and the river. Expect short stretches on your feet rather than a long walking route.
• Weather and comfort. The bus offers shelter, which one reviewer appreciated on a chilly, rainy night. Dress for the weather anyway, since the photo stops are outdoors.
• Photos. Photography is encouraged, especially at the outdoor locations. The river stop is the natural place for skyline shots, with Tribune Tower and the Jewelers Building in view.
• Guide style. Reviews describe guides as enthusiastic and entertaining, with a ghost-hunting flavour to the delivery. One reviewer wanted more straight history and less camp, so expect storytelling rather than a lecture.
• Getting there. Hotel pickup is not included, so travellers make their own way to the meeting point at the Palmer House. The tour ends back at the same spot.
• Young children. Infants aged 0 to 3 travel free on a parent or guardian's lap, without an individual seat. No ticket is required for them.

Common issues. Gratuities and hotel pickup are not included in the ticket. One reviewer enjoyed the tour but would have preferred less camp and more history, while the other reviewers were positive about the delivery. The meeting point is a fixed location at the Palmer House, so anyone staying farther out needs to arrange their own transport there and back.

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