# A Gilded Age club becomes a luxury hotel

> The Chicago Athletic Association reopened as a hotel in 2015, preserving its history as a private club for athletes and high-profile individuals from 1893 to 2007.
- Title: A Gilded Age club becomes a luxury hotel · Business Insider
- Summary: The Chicago Athletic Association reopened as a hotel in 2015, preserving its history as a private club for athletes and high-profile individuals from 1893 to…
- Keywords: chicago athletic association, chicago, hotel, gilded age, private club, luxury travel, business, technology, Gilded, Age, club, becomes
- Source: Business Insider — https://businessinsider.com/chicago-athletic-association-hotel-review-2026-9
- Author: Joey Hadden
- Published: 2026-09-20T12:10:01.291+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: chicago athletic association, chicago, hotel, gilded age, private club, luxury travel, business, technology
## Why a non-athlete chose this hotel
The author booked the Chicago Athletic Association despite never being good at sports or fond of exercise. The draw was stepping back in time to a Gilded Age property with deep historical roots.
## A century as a private club
The Chicago Athletic Association was a private club where professional athletes and high-profile individuals trained and socialized from eighteen ninety-three to two thousand seven, spanning over a century.
## Closure and transformation
The club closed in two thousand seven. Following a lengthy transformation project, the Chicago Athletic Association reopened as a hotel in twenty fifteen, preserving its historical character.
## One night for two hundred fifty dollars
The author spent one night at the hotel in February for two hundred fifty dollars. It felt extremely luxurious for the price point, offering unexpected value for a historic property.
## History revealed in surprising ways
Parts of the stay felt like a time warp, but the hotel's history also came out in ways the author did not see coming. Playful details throughout the property made her certain she would book it again.
## Key takeaway

The Chicago Athletic Association, a historic Gilded Age private club, reopened as a hotel in 2015 and offers luxury accommodation at accessible prices with playful period details.