Escapes: Intercontinental Pool

A hidden hometown escape. A historic gem of a pool is located on Michigan Avenue in the Intercontinental Hotel...and for a $15. day rate, you can lounge poolside (and work out in the fitness center). Sometimes this is the exact escape you need - just a single day at the pool, with a pile of magazines, squishy towels and a dip every hour or so.

The grand pool was built in 1929 on the 14th floor (an engineering feat for the time) of the Medinah Men's Athletic Center (Tarzan swam here!) and is quite impressive - it is one of the only areas of the hotel to retain its original use and design - an over-the-top Roman Bath.

In addition to the luxurious pool, the fitness center has dry saunas, spacious showers and, naturally, exercise equipment.

If you are interested in escaping here, the day pass can be arranged through the Fitness Center, cash (exact change requested) or credit cards are accepted.

The Intercontinental is located at 505 N. Michigan Ave., 312.944.4100.

Comments (5)

Woah! Who knew? It's gorgeous!

posted by Tiffany on August 16th 2007 at 9:09am
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This is sooooo going to be my new hangout spot. No crowds, no heat, no cancerous sun....ALL PLEASURE!!!

posted by Keisha Kornbread on August 16th 2007 at 10:30am
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As soon as I saw that item on the pool at San Simeon over on the LA board, I thought of this place, which is as close as we get to old-Hollywood glamour here in Chicago. These days, the pool's overlit--I preferred the old decor, the one with the ceiling's beams finished to resemble polychromed-&- gold-stenciled wood, the upper walls glazed to look like ancient stucco & the antique light fixtures cranked down to a dim, romantic glow--but even in its current spotlit & Botoxed condition, the place is still a knockout. Thanks for posting this Janel.

[PS:I looked for you after the Metropolis event at Room & Board so I could tell you how funny your Google-as-Decorator post was. But who would have guessed that the results would only need a little bit of judicious editing to actually work out?]

posted by magnaverde on August 16th 2007 at 12:00pm
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When I posted this "secret spot" on Yelp...no one knew of it..
I posted these pictures on flickr.com
back in February....
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/182/409246353_f339236837_o.jpg
&
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/183/409246364_e8a4055f41_o.jpg
&
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/181/409246355_25e21b1d50_o.jpg

an AMAZING space...

posted by ManofSteel on August 16th 2007 at 4:55pm
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Magnaverde - the San Simeon post is what reminded me of this as well! (and thanks re: Google Decorator)

posted by janel on August 17th 2007 at 11:46am
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