John Lennon’s Final Home Is Now a Fortress of Fame With a Haunting Past

The Dakota Hotel, New York City

In 1884, The Dakota was too far uptown for most New Yorkers. Now it’s one of the city’s most famous spots. This grand building has seen it all: movie stars, ghost stories, and sadly, John Lennon’s final days.

Here’s more of the story.

65 Apartments Sold Out in 1884 Before Construction Finished

The Dakota became fully booked before completion, after a 2,500-word New York Times article generated a lot of interest.

Each residence featured a unique layout (between four and twenty rooms), with tall Gothic-style gables, deep sloped roofs, and arched entrances.

Edward Clark purchased the land for $250,000, with construction costs reaching $2 million during the four-year build from 1880 to 1884.

Fictional Horror aand Real Life Tragedy Cemented in its Roots

The exterior of the Dakota served as the fictional “Bramford” building in Roman Polanski’s horror film “Rosemary’s Baby,” following a strong of horrifying events.

It’s thought to be cursed and there’s plenty of conspiracy theories revolving around the hotels involvement in the occult. Original owner Edward Clark reportedly conducted séances in the building, attempting communication with the dead.

Composer Krzysztof Komeda fell into a coma mirroring events in the book, while producer William Castle suffered hallucinations from kidney stones on set.

Director Roman Polanski’s wife, Sharon Tate, developed heightened interest in the occult during filming before she was murdered by the Manson Family.

John Lennon Owned Five Dakota Apartments Simultaneously

While most people struggle to secure even one unit, Beatles legend, John Lennon and Yoko Ono acquired five separate apartments within the building.

The couple maintained two seventh-floor apartments for living, plus three additional units dedicated to entertaining guests, workspace, and storage.

Their main residence featured four bedrooms, heavy brass light switches, and exquisite mahogany and oak woodwork with cherrywood paneling.

The couple initially sublet from actor Robert Ryan before purchasing their units. Rumors persist that an early tenant buried $30,000 under the parquet floors.

Mark Chapman Shot Lennon After Getting His Autograph

On December 8, 1980, Mark David Chapman obtained John Lennon’s autograph as the musician left for a recording session with Yoko Ono.

Later that evening, Chapman fatally shot Lennon four times in the shoulder and back at the Dakota’s 72nd Street entrance.

Chapman removed his coat and hat to show authorities he carried no additional weapons, then calmly sat on the sidewalk holding “Catcher in the Rye” while awaiting police.

The Dakota’s doorman wrestled away Chapman’s gun and asked if he realized what he’d done, receiving the chilling response: “Yes. I just shot John Lennon.”

Strawberry Fields in Central Park, directly across the street from the Dakota is a peace memorial to Lennon (named after the Beatles song).

Security Tightened After Lennon Assassination

Visitors passed through a security booth on 72nd Street, but the assassination led to significantly restricted access.

Following Lennon’s death, the Dakota underwent restoration of its recessed areaway in the mid-1980s. In 2002, the board announced plans to restore the interior courtyard, hiring Higgins & Quasebarth for the works.

By 1974, the building had deteriorated significantly under Clark family ownership, requiring a $500,000 renovation.

Beatles Song Played When Lennon Pronounced Dead

When John Lennon was pronounced dead at 11:15 p.m. at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital, the Beatles’ song “All My Lovin’” was playing on the hospital sound system.

Lennon’s death triggered worldwide grief, with a special ten-minute silent prayer period observed on December 14, 1980, at Yoko Ono’s request.

Yoko Ono Witnessed the Ghost Of Lennon

Yoko Ono encountered her husband’s ghost sitting at his white piano in their apartment, where he looked at her and said, “Don’t be afraid. I am still with you.”

But Ono continued living in their Dakota apartment for decades, reportedly bringing sushi to the building’s annual potluck gatherings.

Musician Joey Harrow, who lived near the Dakota, claimed to see Lennon’s ghost standing in the archway, surrounded by an “eerie light.”

Before his death, Lennon himself had paranormal experiences in the building, including sightings of what he called the “crying lady ghost” in the hallways.

After Becoming a Co-Op in the 1960s, Everything Changed

Documentary filmmaker Albert Maysles sparked controversy in a 2005 New York Times interview which highlighted NYC’s gentrification.

What once rented for $1,500 to $5,500 a year in 1884 has now become $3.6 million and $23.5 million in 2025 in terms of raised estate values.

Former board president Alphonse Fletcher Jr., a prominent Black Wall Street investor, alleged the process bordered on racial discrimination.

This observation came after the board rejected actors Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith when Maysles attempted to sell them his apartment.

Lawsuits Exposed Racism On Dakota Selection Committee

Legal challenges against the Dakota’s selection practices have revealed troubling discrimination beyond financial qualifications.

Critics cite racism, sexism, and arbitrary prejudice in board decisions, with one rejected buyer suing in 2015 after being blocked during a move.

Former board president Alphonse Fletcher Jr. filed a landmark lawsuit in 2011 when denied permission to buy an adjacent unit for his family.

While most co-ops require only 20-25% down payments, exclusive buildings like the Dakota may demand up to 50% upfront.

The ongoing legal battles have tarnished the building’s prestigious reputation, raising questions about one of New York’s most famous addresses.

Football Coach John Madden Bought Gilda Radner’s Apartment

Football coach John Madden purchased his two-bedroom unit from Saturday Night Live star Gilda Radner, for a whooping $625,000.

By 2011, the same apartment listed for $4.9 million, it’s most valuable sale being the second-floor apartment, once owned by composer Leonard Bernstein.

More recently, biographer Ron Chernow, who wrote the book that inspired the musical “Hamilton,” bought an apartment with 13-foot ceilings and three fireplaces.

Supernatural Occurences Predate Lennon’s Death

Construction workers in the 1960s reported seeing “a man with the face of a young child” who felt as though they were being watched.

A frequently sighted apparition of a woman walking the hallways while crying, is believed to be Elise Vesley, a property manager from the 1930s to 1950s.

Another recurring spirit appears as a beautiful blonde child wearing a yellow taffeta dress, bouncing a red ball before vanishing.

Current occupants report inexplicable phenomena including furniture moving on its own, mysterious footsteps, and strange noises at odd hours.

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