What a Night in a Converted Gilded Age Club Actually Costs

A Business Insider reporter booked a one-night stay at the Chicago Athletic Association for $250 in February, describing the price as a strong value for the experience, according to the outlet.

The hotel occupies a building that operated as an ultra-exclusive private club from 1893 to 2007, where professional athletes and other high-profile members trained and socialized. After closing, the property underwent a lengthy transformation before reopening as a hotel in 2015.

The Venetian-Gothic-style building was designed by architect and club member Henry Ives Cobb, who drew inspiration from Venice's Doge's Palace, according to the hotel's website as cited by Business Insider.

The reporter noted that parts of the hotel feel frozen in the Gilded Age era, while other details reflect a more modern update, making the $250 rate feel notably luxurious for a first-time visitor to the city.