Entry No. 12 — the Indianapolis file — filed under: haunted places
Historic Roads Hotel
Built in 1893 during the Indiana natural gas boom, this Queen Anne hotel evolved from a railroad inn into a Prohibition speakeasy and brothel allegedly visited by Al Capone. Now operated for charity and public tours, it is widely investigated by ghost hunters for reports of moving antique dolls, shadow figures, and disembodied footsteps.
The story
Built in 1893 right as the Indiana natural gas boom was filling local coffers, this two-story building in tiny Atlanta started out as a standard railroad inn. But boomtowns have a way of cultivating off-the-books vices. Over the next few decades, the hotel quietly transitioned into a Prohibition-era speakeasy and brothel—a secluded Hamilton County hideaway allegedly frequented by Chicago mobsters like Al Capone when the city got too hot.
These days, the illicit booze and brothel rooms are gone, replaced by a charity-run preservation effort. But the hotel's second act relies entirely on who or what never checked out. Paranormal investigators routinely set up camp on the restored 1890s second floor, drawn by persistent reports of disembodied footsteps pacing the floorboards, shadow figures drifting through doorways, and a collection of antique dolls that refuse to stay in the positions staff left them.
What it's like
You are driving out to quiet Main Street in Atlanta, where the hotel looks like a unassuming brick artifact from the turn of the century. Step inside during a public tour or overnight hunt and the atmosphere shifts immediately: creaky floorboards, restored 1890s upstairs bedrooms, and shelves of old dolls watching your every move. It gets dark and exceptionally quiet out here late at night, so pack thermal cameras and EMF detectors if you're investigating, and confirm event schedules online before making the trip.
The move: Buy tickets for a public ghost hunt or overnight investigation event to explore the restored 1890s upstairs rooms with thermal cameras and EMF detectors.
- 📍 Atlanta
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 150 E Main St, Atlanta, IN 46031
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Historic Camp Chesterfield — Pair an evening ghost investigation at the hotel with a daytime visit to Indiana's historic 1886 Spiritualist community grounds in nearby Chesterfield.
- Museum of Miniature Houses and Other Collections — Contrast the hotel's creepy moving antique dolls with thousands of meticulously crafted, non-haunted scale miniatures down in Carmel.
- Connor Prairie (Modern Trades Shop) — Spend the night exploring an 1890s gas-boom hotel after taking an afternoon hands-on historic trades workshop down in Fishers.
Good to know
Can you book an overnight stay or investigation?
Yes, the hotel opens its restored upper floors for ticketed public ghost hunts and overnight paranormal investigations run for charity.
What equipment is allowed during ghost hunts?
Visitors typically bring their own investigative gear, including thermal imaging cameras, EMF meters, and audio recorders.
What is the history behind the hotel?
Constructed in 1893 during Indiana's natural gas boom, it functioned as a railroad inn, a Prohibition speakeasy, and a brothel before becoming a preserved historic site.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · visithamiltoncounty.com · fox59.com
last checked: 2026-07-21