Blog Layout

The Haunted Treehouse: Ghosts of Marina City

Ursula Bielski • March 24, 2023

Chicago has many "Strange Angles", those mammoths of modern architecture which--despite inspired intentions and innovative designs-- have somehow gone terribly wrong. The city can claim numerous such structures, including one of the most enigmatic on Earth: the John Hancock Center, known as the inspiration for "Ghostbusters," as a key element in the curse of the "Poltergeist" films, as the home of a colony of migrating spiders, and as the scene of almost a dozen unexplained and very dark deaths since its completion.



But the Hancock is hardly alone in its haunting of the city's skyline. While hosting a ghost tour for the Chicago History Museum, I was approached by a young woman who works near Marina City, the twin "corncobs" on Chicago's riverfront which have been an unmistakable part of the city since their completion in 1962. Like many who live or work in or near the complex, which includes hundreds of apartments, a rather unnerving parking garage, and the House of Blues music hall, the passenger on my tour wanted to know, "What's up with Marina City?" By her question, she was referring to the endless stream of reports of apparitions, shadow people, malfunctioning electronics, icy drafts, and feelings of depression or oppression which have plagued residents for decades--but only in the East Tower. Why the prevalence of phenomena . . . and why only in one of the buildings?

The Haunted Treehouse: Ghosts of Marina City

A visit to the Chicago Tribune Archives offers some chilling possibilities..During construction of the towers, in 1961, three workers were killed when a scaffold plummeted a full 43 stories. That same year, six men were badly injured when a workers' elevator plummeted; a seventh was injured trying to help them. The next year, in 1962, worker William Jones was stricken by a dizzy spell while working on a scaffold at the 40th floor. He plunged to his death on the State Street Bridge below.

The Haunted Treehouse: Ghosts of Marina City

Accidents at the construction site were joined by a long string of dark deaths between 1966 and 1976.  In August of 1966, Roy Holland, a real estate developer, was found to have been dead for three weeks when his body--and three suicide notes--were discovered in his 48th floor apartment. In May of 1967, 39-year-old June Fleck lept from her fiance's 50th floor apartment shortly before they planned to marry.  In January of 1969, a retired government worker shot his 88-year old mother and then turned the gun on himself in their 46th floor aparartment. In June of 1973, 42- year old Sandra Easton, a computer programmer, lept to her death from her 52nd floor apartment, crashing through the canvas roof of the complex's ice rink (today the site of Smith & Wollensky restaurant). Just two years earlier, Easton had been saved from an earlier attempt to jump. In 1972, 25-year-old Gloria Kirpatrick, 39th floor resident and manager of the Marina City Theater (now the House of Blues) was stabbed to death outside the building. In January of 1976, 25-year-old Kenneth Parvin fell to his death from a 57th floor apartment, landing between the two towers on Marina City Drive. Whether the death was accidental or intentional, or the result of foul play, was not known.

The Haunted Treehouse: Ghosts of Marina City

Every one of these incidents--accidents, murders and suicides--occurred, incredibly, in the East tower.

The Haunted Treehouse

 Paranormal theorists might be tempted to blame the architecture of the towers as a possible reason behind the dark actions of numerous residents here. Marina City apartments contain almost no interior right angles. The residential floors consist of a circular hallway wrapped around the elevator core, with 16 wedge-shaped apartments arranged around the hallway. Each wedge is trimmed with a semi-circular balcony outside a glass wall. Architect Bertrand Goldberg explained during construction that the design of each tower was meant to provide a widening vista to residents as they entered their apartments. 

The Haunted Treehouse

From the small entrance, at the narrowest part of the wedge, the apartments would open up to the wide glass wall and even wider balcony, offering the city and the lake outside--like living in a "treehouse" was how the architect described it. Could it be that this well-meant design has actually inspired some residents to take the widening vistas one step further? Could the contrast between the tiny apartment and the wide open space outside have caused an impulse for escape in more than one tenant?


But even if we venture to accept this, why have these incidents occurred in only the East tower? Though the jury may always be out on the answer, the established truth remains that the residue of these events--and their unfortunate victims--continue to make their home in their mysterious digs at 300 North State Street.





Dive deeper into the mysterious world of hauntings with our curated collection of paranormal investigations and ghostly encounters. Read more stories like this in “Ghosts of Lincoln Park: A Chicago Hauntings Companion” by Ursula Bielski, a book of downtown Chicago ghost stories written by our own American Ghost Walks team. Click here for more.



Dive deeper into the mysterious world of hauntings with our curated collection of paranormal investigations and ghostly encounters. Read more stories like this in “The Original Chicago Hauntings Companion” by Ursula Bielski, a book of Chicago ghost stories written by our own American Ghost Walks team. Click here for more.



Are you fascinated by the supernatural and craving more spine-tingling tales? Whether you're a skeptic seeking evidence or a believer looking for your next supernatural fix; "American Ghost Books" offers everything from historical haunted locations to firsthand accounts of paranormal experiences. Each book has been carefully selected to provide authentic, well-researched stories that will keep you turning pages well into the night. Don't let your curiosity about the supernatural remain unsatisfied – explore our collection and find your next ghostly adventure today! 


Find Your Next Paranormal Experience

Ursuline Convent New Orleans
March 4, 2025
Discover the haunting history of the Old Ursuline Convent in New Orleans—legends of vampires, ghostly nuns, and eerie secrets await. Dare to explore? #NewOrleans #HauntedHistory #AmericanGhostWalks
Muriel's Jackson Square
CREDIT to Flikr DBPerko
March 4, 2025
Experience Muriel's Jackson Square, a haunted restaurant in New Orleans. Enjoy delicious cuisine with a ghostly twist in the heart of the French Quarter!
A colorful postcard from NOLA
March 1, 2025
Explore the vibrant history and culture of Decatur Street in New Orleans. From iconic landmarks to thrilling ghost tours with American Ghost Walks, discover the city's most famous street!
Jazz and Voodoo
February 9, 2025
Explore the birthplace of jazz and the history of voodoo in New Orleans. Discover how music and mysticism shaped the city's unique cultural fusion.
A statue of a man with wings is sitting on a bench drinking a beer.
By Mike Huberty January 30, 2025
Join us for a haunting night of history, spirits, and spirits! Experience Chicago's most notorious gangster history on this unique Valentine's Day pub crawl that combines chilling tales, craft cocktails, and unforgettable sites from the city's bloody past. Event Details: Date: Friday, February 14th, 2025 and Saturday, February 15th, 2025 Time: 8:00 PM - 10:30 PM Starting Location: Chicago Oven Grinder (1850 N Lincoln Ave) Tour Highlights: - Start your evening at the historic Chicago Oven Grinder, built from the remnants of a building that once housed Al Capone's lookout spot - Visit the original site of the infamous St. Valentine's Day Massacre, where seven men met their tragic end in 1929 - See the Biograph Theater, where legendary gangster John Dillinger had his final showdown with the FBI 
A group of people standing in front of a building that says the vena
By Mike Huberty January 27, 2025
Lake Geneva Winter Ghost Walk - Winterfest Special Tour Experience the haunted history of Lake Geneva in its most atmospheric season during this special 45-minute Winterfest walking tour. Tour Details - Date: January 31, 2025 - Duration: 45 minutes - Times: 6, 7, 8, 9pm - Price: $12 per person - Meet at: Lake Geneva Public Library (918 W Main St, Lake Geneva, WI 53147)
A ghostly photo of a child looking downward
January 13, 2025
Master essential ghost hunting techniques with expert tips on equipment, safety, and investigation methods. Start your paranormal journey like a pro today.
Haunted in Illinois
January 13, 2025
Discover Illinois' eeriest locations, from Chicago's infamous Resurrection Mary to Aurora's haunted roundhouse. Explore real ghost stories and paranormal hotspots.
Bachelor's Grove Cemetery
By Scott Markus December 20, 2024
Explore Chicago's most haunted burial ground, where the mysterious Madonna of Bachelors Grove still walks. Uncover century-old paranormal encounters and ghostly tales.
Vampire lore in French Quarter, New Orleans
December 20, 2024
Uncover centuries of vampire lore in New Orleans, from blood-curdling tales of the French Quarter to haunting legends of immortal beings that still captivate the city today.
More Posts
Share by: