Drury Plaza Hotel Cleveland Downtown
DBA Approved: Y
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1380 E 6th St
Cleveland, OH 44114
Phone: (216) 357-3100
Open to the public: Yes
https://www.druryhotels.com/locatio...
Lat: 41.5022819
Lon: -81.6918905
PANICd#: 2245
Publication date: 03/30/2026The building that now houses the Drury Plaza Hotel Cleveland Downtown began its life in 1931 as the Cleveland Board of Education headquarters
Database Summary:
Demographic Rank: 0
History: 1
Stories: 2
Claims: 5
Evidence: 0
Resources: 1
Retrievals: 62
Vistor Rating: 0.0
Votes: 0
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History
History information is some background and history about the location. This is meant to be a basic summary. Below the history records you will find sources in which you can click on to find out more information. There may be multiple history records per location.
The building that now houses the Drury Plaza Hotel Cleveland Downtown began its life in 1931 as the Cleveland Board of Education headquarters. Designed by the well-known architectural firm Walker and Weeks, the structure was part of the city ambitious Group Plan, which aimed to create a grand civic center in downtown Cleveland. Its placement along the Cleveland Mall connected it to other important municipal buildings, symbolizing the importance of education in the growing industrial city.
Constructed in the Beaux Arts style, the building featured grand architectural elements, including arched windows, symmetrical design, and decorative stonework. Inside, the structure was just as impressive, with marble columns, expansive spaces, and artistic details meant to reflect the importance of public education. Murals painted in 1931 celebrated the progress and branches of education, reinforcing the building role as a center of learning and administration.
For decades, the building served as the administrative heart of Cleveland public schools. Within its walls, important decisions affecting generations of students took place. However, as operations shifted to other locations, the school district's needs evolved over time, leading to the underutilization of much of the building. Eventually, the once prominent structure fell into partial vacancy, reflecting broader changes in the city and its institutions.
Drury Hotels purchased the historic property in 2013, intending to restore and repurpose it. A large-scale renovation project followed, carefully preserving many of the original architectural features while adapting the building for modern use. The project required significant investment and attention to detail, ensuring that the historic character of the structure remained intact while transforming it into a functional hotel.
The Drury Plaza Hotel Cleveland Downtown officially opened in 2016 after years of restoration work. Today, the building blends historic elegance with modern hospitality, offering guests the opportunity to stay inside a piece of Cleveland history. Original murals, architectural details, and even portions of former meeting spaces remain, allowing visitors to experience the legacy of the building while enjoying its new purpose.
Added by: sdonley on 03/30/2026
DB#:836
Source(s):
Various Sources
Stories & Folklore
Stories & Folklore are just that. Stories and personal accounts that have been reported about the location and passed down from generation to generation. This section could also contain research notes as well.
Unlike many older buildings in Cleveland, there are no widely documented or confirmed ghost stories directly tied to the Drury Plaza Hotel Cleveland Downtown. However, its origins as a government building from the early twentieth century naturally invite speculation among visitors and paranormal enthusiasts. The age of the structure and its long history of public use create an atmosphere that many describe as quietly haunting.
Some guests have noted an unusual stillness in certain areas of the hotel, particularly in the hallways and older meeting spaces that once served as offices for the Board of Education. These spaces, preserved during renovation, retain a sense of the past that can feel almost frozen in time. While not definitive evidence of paranormal activity, the ambiance alone often sparks curiosity.
The preserved murals and historic architecture have also contributed to a sense of lingering presence. Art from the early 1930s depicting themes of education and progress adds a human element to the building history. Some visitors report feeling as though they are being watched while viewing these pieces, though such experiences are subjective and not widely documented.
Occasional informal claims of unexplained noises, such as footsteps or distant echoes, especially during quieter hours of the night, have also surfaced. These sounds are often attributed to the building age and structure, but they still add to the mystery for those staying overnight. Large historic buildings often produce such effects due to settling materials and acoustics.
Overall, while the hotel does not have a strong reputation as a haunted location, its history and preserved architecture make it an intriguing setting for those interested in the paranormal. The lack of documented hauntings leaves room for interpretation, allowing visitors to form their impressions of the building atmosphere.
Added by: sdonley on 03/30/2026 DB#: 1799
Source(s):
Various Sources
Guests who stay at the Drury Plaza Hotel often admire its preserved history—especially the old boardroom areas and hallways that date back to when the building served as Cleveland’s Board of Education in the 1930s.
Late at night, when the hotel quiets down, those same spaces feel… different.
One story passed quietly among overnight staff tells of a guest who couldn’t sleep and wandered the halls near the old meeting rooms. As they passed one of the preserved boardrooms, they noticed the door slightly open—despite remembering it being closed earlier.
Inside, the lights were off.
But the long conference table—still original to the building—looked like someone had just been sitting there.
The guest swore they heard a faint sound. Not footsteps. Not movement.
Whispering.
They stepped inside, expecting to find someone—but the room was empty.
As they turned to leave, they noticed something that stopped them cold.
One of the chairs… slowly shifted.
Not dragged. Not pushed.
Just… moved slightly, as if someone unseen had adjusted their seat.
The next morning, the guest reported the experience. Staff brushed it off politely—old building noises, they said.
But one employee later admitted something unsettling.
That room?
It used to be where major decisions about Cleveland’s schools were made—decisions that affected thousands of lives.
And more than one staff member has said that late at night…
It sometimes feels like the meetings never ended.
Added by: sdonley on 03/30/2026 DB#: 1800
Source(s):
Various Sources
Paranormal Claims
Here are the paranormal claims for this location. These have been found through Internet research, reports from members, or reports from personal interviews. To add a claim, please contact PANICd.com, and we will review and add your information.
| Claim # | Added | Added By | Claim |
| 4517 | 03/30/2026 | sdonley | Reports of unexplained footsteps in hallways late at night |
| 4518 | 03/30/2026 | sdonley | Guests describing a feeling of being watched near historic murals |
| 4519 | 03/30/2026 | sdonley | Occasional unexplained noises such as echoes or distant movement |
| 4520 | 03/30/2026 | sdonley | Unusual stillness or heavy atmosphere in preserved meeting spaces |
| 4521 | 03/30/2026 | sdonley | Cold spots reported in certain areas of the building |
Additional Resources
This is a collection of Internet resources for this location. This section will house links to other websites that contain information related to history, claims, investigations, or even the location's website.
| History of Drury Plaza Hotel Cleveland Downtown
Added: 03/30/2026 By: sdonley |
Information on the history of the building. |
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