The Wheeler Mansion

I booked a room at the Wheeler Mansion for tonight for my daughter, who was going to be working tonight and tomorrow at a convention at the nearby McCormick Place. The room was booked through Expedia. I was excited for her because of the attractive but non-refundable price (the price had dropped significantly yesterday from the Wheeler Mansion's normal rate), the included parking and breakfast, the interesting looking property, and the proximity to McCormick Place. We understood that it is not a conventional hotel, but rather a converted mansion. I pointed out to my daughter that she would have to be there before 7 pm, as the front desk is only open from 7 am to 7 pm. She contacted me at 4:25 pm Chicago time to tell me she was at the Wheeler Mansion, but that Wheeler Mansion was not answering its phone, nor was the front door open, nor was there any response to knocking at the door. She found a number to call in case of emergencies, but that number was disconnected. There were some lights on in the building, but no sign of anyone present. Over the next 45 minutes, my daughter and I, and eventually Expedia, called the Mansion repeatedly trying to get through, but there was no response. I could understand if the person at the desk had to leave the desk for a moment, but when it is impossible to get through over 45 minutes during prime afternoon check-in time, the only conclusion possible is that nobody is there. Meanwhile, the minutes were ticking down until my daughter was due at McCormick Place, and she needed to change clothes and organize herself for the evening convention work. Fortunately, although it took some time to accomplish, Expedia came to the rescue and was able to book her in an alternate nearby hotel. Needless to say, this experience with Wheeler Mansion was very disappointing, and truly unacceptable. My daughter eventually made it to McCormick Place on time after checking into the other hotel, with little time to spare, but the added stress on the both of us was significant. I could not possibly recommend the Wheeler Mansion unless there is some explanation of what the heck happened.

Originally built in 1870, the Wheeler-Kohn Mansion is one of the last remaining stately survivors of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. The residence was among one of the earliest constructed in the South Prairie Avenue neighborhood, home to Chicago's early mercantile and industrial barons and Chicago's first "Gold Coast" during the last quarter of the 19th century. It was designated a Chicago Landmark in 1998 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. Today, the house serves as one of Chicago's few intimated bed and breakfast hotels, operating as the Wheeler Mansion. Located at 2020 South Calumet Avenue, the ornate mansion is a reflection of the opulence that abounded in Chicago during the late 1800s as the city transformed from a frontier city to an internationally recognized manufacturing and production giant. Calvin T. Wheeler, a successful banker and President of the Chicago Board of Trade, commissioned the house to be built by a local architect, Otis Wheelock. It was inspired by French architecture of the 19th century. Wheeler sold the house in 1874 to Joseph Kohn, a successful clothing wholesaler, who maintained its luxurious status for 34 more years. Later, the house was sold to a publishing company, then to the Murphy Butter and Egg Company in 1944 for use as a warehouse. Finally, in 1997, just as the property was about to be torn down to make way for a parking lot, it was purchased by Manor Home LLC. After two years of extensive renovation and restoration, the Wheeler Mansion opened as a bed and breakfast in 1999 in all of its new and reflective elegant glory.

My husband and I stayed here while visiting a friend in chicago, the place is really nice and very welcoming , the service is really great. The staffs are very accommodating and friendly. The manager, cecil is so nice and very approachable you can call her anytime if you need something and she will give you the specific location when you ask about directions. We really had a great stay, the place is near downtown too so its so convenient.

My friend and I recently stayed here. We made a reservation prior to staying. We stayed in a room on the main floor. Our room was incredibly dusty. So dusty that dust balls were hanging off the lampshades. The beautiful wood floors had dust balls moving around the floor when we would walk. I’m sure I don’t even need to describe the dust on the curtains and shades as we tried to let the light in our room. It looked as though no one has cleaned that room in quite some time. There is no denying that this place is a beautiful place. However, with all the places there are to stay in Chicago, you would think that every single place would do their very best to make your stay the best it could be. I feel that the room we stayed in has been neglected for a very long time. I guess we will have to find a different place to stay on our next visit.

This place gets all the big things right. This is really a perfect location- and a very unique one- if you are in town for a game or concert at Soldier field (walking distance) or a trade show at McCormick place. It’s a very cool and well restored mansion left over from when this neighborhood was the original “Gold Coast”. There are a handful of other surviving mansions around, but none you can stay in. I think the building itself is perfect, and the price was reasonable. In the morning, it’s an easy walk over the bridge for a nice run or bike ride along the lake. They even have bikes available at this B&B. But, the reason we gave it 4 stars instead of 5 was because of a few of the smaller details as previous posters mentioned. A simple change would be to offer eggs cooked to order in the morning. That would cost like $5. They had an attendant there, but she said they had no eggs available except the scrambled ones they had made 2 hours earlier. Or, just someone who knows a bit about the areas to recommend a good restaurant, or tell us how to get on the lake path, or simply have the bikes ready and clean and pumped up. Even conditioner in the shower would be a simple improvement. If there had been an actual owner or manager present at the facility during our stay, I’m guessing these smaller details would have been handled more professionally. Instead, they seem to have gone with the model to have lower paid and less trained staff handling the day to day, and the two we met seemed weak and confused. Again, they did the big things well, and the hardest part I’m sure was the big investment they put into remodeling the mansion. Too bad they don’t spend a bit more each year on hiring 5 star staff to keep it going.

We stayed here in June for the Shake Lake Country music festival. Nice cozy feel. Private backyard- patio to have BYOB cocktails. Sat on rod iron chairs and sipped drinks and brought cheese and crackers pre- festival fun. This hotel does not have a bar or restaurant so be prepared with your own provisions. Which was fine for us. Walked few blocks to the festival grounds. Nice safe and scenic stroll.

We stayed at this beauty of a place in October. The neighborhood is conveniently located by the convention center. It was beautiful antique furniture inside and well decorated. The beds were comfortable and the place was clean. It's right next to a well kept dog park. Quiet and peaceful. Breakfast was great. I would stay here again.

Do not let this B&B fool you, the rooms are infested with spiders and furniture that is in disrepair. The description online described a plentiful breakfast, but instead I was met with cold eggs, cold sausages, and customer service that did not remedy any of the issues we had during our stay. AVOID, AVOID, AVOID!

Fabulously decorated in period antiques, each room is an adventure of its own. This historic hotel books fast, has few rooms, and is in a quiet residential neighborhood only a six-minute walk from McCormick Place. You'll find excellent breakfasts (cooked on-site), and the quiet enjoyment of a terrace and two lovely gardens (in the warmer months). This is an experience you'll surely cherish for many years!