Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, the Barbee Hotel became a favored hideaway for both Hollywood stars and notorious gangsters. Legends tell of visits from screen icons Clark Gable and Carole Lombard, who found solace in the hotel’s secluded charm. The largest suite today bears their names in honor of their stays .

Equally infamous were the visits from Chicago mobsters like Al Capone, John Dillinger, and “Baby Face” Nelson. Capone was known to reserve Room 301, valued for its secret escape route, and would often book the entire hotel to ensure privacy. Tales persist of cigar smoke wafting from under the door of Room 301, and staff have reported sightings of mysterious figures, adding to the hotel’s haunted lore .