Entry No. 7 — the Atlanta file — filed under: forgotten disaster

The Ellis Hotel (former Winecoff Hotel)

This boutique hotel occupies the shell of the 1913 Winecoff, advertised in its day as 'fireproof' because of its steel structure — but it had only one central stairway and no fire escapes. On December 7, 1946, a blaze there killed 119 people, including 30 teenagers in town for a YMCA youth conference, making it still the deadliest hotel fire in U.S. history. Crews restoring the building for its 2007 reopening reported tools going missing and turning up in other rooms overnight.

The move: Get a drink at the ground-floor bar or book a room, then look up the Pulitzer-winning photo of a survivor's fall from that night before you head up in the elevator.

• 📍 Downtown Atlanta
• 💸 $$
• ⚡ Up for anything
• 🌗 Indoors

Where: 176 Peachtree St NW, Atlanta, GA 30303

Hours: Added 2026-07-19 — confirm current hours before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Further reading: Wikipedia · atlantaghosts.com

last checked: 2026-07-19