
(WWJ) Ford, and the city of Dearborn, celebrating an historic site, and preparing it for the future. Dignitaries cutting the ribbon to reopen the Dearborn Inn, after a lengthy renovation.
“You know you see it in the train station,” says Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford. “You see it here. We’re repurposing wonderful buildings. It’s not just a trip down memory lane, but leading into the future.”
The Dearborn Inn is still owned by Ford, but is managed by Marriott. With the updates, it will become a part of Marriott's exclusive Autograph Collection.
“We think of the Autograph Collection not just as a branded collection, but as a collection of unique brands,” says Marriott Vice President Greg Lattin. “That means hotels each with their own distinct location, their luxury upscale positioning.”
The Dearborn Inn was the brainchild of Henry Ford. It was designed by Albert Kahn, and opened in 1931. Henry’s great-grandson Bill says it holds a special place in his heart.
“I joined Ford 46 years ago. This is where I came for lunch and to meet people. It’s great to see it being redone.”
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, the Dearborn Inn was one of the country’s first airport hotels, built across from what was once the Ford Airport. The Georgian-style inn was inspired by the New England inns that the Fords frequented. Ford historians say the Dearborn Inn hosted a number of high profile guests over the years, including Walt Disney, Orville Wright, Norman Rockwell, Eleanor Roosevelt, and President Ronald Reagan.
Many of the Dearborn Inn’s well known design cues were preserved, including the checkerboard Italian marble flooring in the main lobby, chosen by Henry Ford himself.
Artifacts from the Ford archives are displayed throughout the hotel, along with tapestries from the Cranbrook Academy of Art.
“From the moment guests step through our doors, we want them to feel inspired by the history that surrounds them and by the trailblazers who once walked these halls,” said Joleisha Bradley, General Manager, Dearborn Inn.
“The hotel is both a welcoming retreat and living museum, with historic artifacts woven throughout the property. We look forward to continuing the tradition of hospitality that has made Dearborn Inn so beloved.”
The Dearborn Inn’s signature restaurant, Clara’s Table is a tribute to Clara Ford. The cocktail bar and Lounge, Four Vagabonds, is meant to channel the spirit of the road trips taken by Henry Ford, and his friends Thomas Edison, John Burroughs and Harvey Firestone. Both have been totally redone, along with public spaces and rooms.
Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud says the renovation will elevate the Dearborn Inn as a centerpiece of his community.
“This hotel will set the standard, not only for this region, but for your experience across the country.”