Ruebel Hotel

Ruebel Hotel: Step Back in Time
Along the Great Rivers

The historic Ruebel Hotel in Grafton, Illinois, greets visitors near the western terminus of the Meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway.

The Ruebel sits on the south side of the byway, also known as the Great River Road or Illinois 100, in Grafton, a small riverfront community.

More than 120 years old

The hotel, now on the National Register of Historic Places, was built in 1884, and served travelers and the town of Grafton until 1912 when the building was destroyed in a fire. It was rebuilt, and a restaurant and dance hall were added.

As times changed, so did the prosperity of Grafton. Eventually, the Ruebel closed, and sat empty and decaying until the 1990s.

The Ruebel Hotel was purchased privately in 1996 and reopened in 1997 after an extensive restoration.

Unique bar in the saloon

The Ruebel's saloon and restaurant features a burled walnut bar that originally was part of the Bavarian Exhibit at the 1904 World's Fair in St.Louis. It arrived in Grafton on a packet boat and found its new home in the saloon.

A pair of antique tin ceiling panels, discovered when the hotel was renovated, are displayed behind the bar and add to its historic splendor.

Ask for a room with a view

When Susan and I visited in 2006, we stayed in what the hotel owners describe as a cozy, basic hotel room. It was indeed that, and, with the exception of modern amenities, it felt like we were indeed sleeping in a 120-something-year-old room in a historic hotel.

The best part of this particular room, though, was the deck that overlooked the Illinois and Mississippi rivers at their confluence.

We spent the evenings on the deck, watching the Grafton Ferry slowly work its way back and forth from the banks of Illinois to the Missouri side of the rivers while gulls flew gracefully over the water, occasionally swooping down in search of dinner.

As far as the sunset over the rivers ... well, you probably can't find a better view than the one we had on that second-floor deck at the Ruebel.

The hotel also offers larger rooms with two full-size beds, fold-out futon sofas and full baths. And for the romantics, the Rendezvous Room has a whirlpool tub for two.

Eat here, too

The Ruebel Hotel restaurant and saloon offers a full menu featuring catfish fillet and fritters, as well as buffalo and walleye.

We enjoyed the complimentary breakfast in the saloon while we stayed here. We had the place to ourselves at that time of the morning -- perfect for exploring without interruption.

Of course, it's haunted

It just wouldn't be a historic hotel worth visiting if there weren't a ghost story or two associated with it, now would it?

Apparently, shortly after the hotel reopened in 1997, several guests reported encounters with the ghost of a child who called herself "Abigail." In the years since, other guests also have seen Abigail in the upstairs hallway.

The Ruebel Hotel in Grafton, Illinois, seems to have the complete package: comfort, scenery, good food and drink, history and a haunting. What more could you ask for?