A re-entry in the luxury hotel market, the historic Dearborn Inn opened its doors today following an extensive restoration and renovation as part of Marriott Bonvoy’s Autograph Collection.
Originally built in 1931 by Henry Ford and designed by renowned architect Albert Kahn, the 135-key hotel has been restored by Ford Land’s design and Ford Motor Co.’s archival teams in collaboration with the Ford family.
Other partners included AvroKO, Dash Design, and Kraemer Design Group, along with restoration architect Quinn Evans. BasedOn in Detroit was the branding firm for the Dearborn Inn.
The renovation, which involved stripping the walls down to the studs, preserves Dearborn Inn’s historic grandeur, restoring original elements. and inviting today’s travelers to walk the same halls as the dreamers, disruptors, and dignitaries who came before them.
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 (today the Ford Proving Grounds).
The Georgian-style inn was inspired by the New England inns the Fords frequented. Early guests included Walt Disney, Orville Wright, Norman Rockwell, Eleanor Roosevelt, and President Ronald Reagan.
Set on 23 acres at 20301 Oakwood Blvd., just north of Rotunda Drive, the property features two signature dining concepts — a farm-to-table restaurant, Clara’s Table, named after Henry Ford’s wife, Clara Jane Bryant Ford, and a reimagined cocktail bar and lounge, Four Vagabonds.
In summer 2025, the Dearborn Inn will introduce five standalone homes with distinctive guest suites themed around creatives and notable former guests like Edgar Allan Poe, along with 17,000 square feet of event space.
“Since 1931, the Dearborn Inn has been a significant piece of Dearborn’s history, and an important place for my family and the Ford community. I could not be happier that the Inn is reopening in service of Ford employees, and our broader community,” says Bill Ford, executive chair of Ford.
“But even more important than its past, the Dearborn Inn is part of Ford’s broader commitment to building for the future. I am thrilled to include the Dearborn Inn on the growing list of buildings across Ford and the community that we are restoring, which will be critical to our long-term success.”
Meeting the Ford family’s request, the property’s most storied elements were preserved to maintain the character and integrity of the inn. Upon arrival, the main entry features checkerboard Italian marble flooring personally selected by Henry Ford.
Moving into the lobby space, the green marble fireplace has been restored and preserved, alongside an original antique clock.
Guests are invited to commemorate their journey by taking a vintage-style ‘passport’ photo inside a customized photo booth, an original phone booth that has been transformed to look like the historic Ford Tri-Motor airplane.
A collection of artifacts from the Ford Archives is displayed throughout the hotel, including a scrapbook featuring letters from guests who once honeymooned at the inn, and vintage Dearborn Inn menus, one with a signature from Walt Disney.
The lobby offers a mix of original local designs, including Platner chairs and bespoke pieces from local artisans. Vintage bar carts can be found roving in the lobby, serving coffee and tea in the mornings, and cocktails and refreshments in the afternoon.
As guests make their way to their rooms, they can find corridors lined with carpeting inspired by the famed tapestries of Loja Saarinen from the Cranbrook Academy of Art, a pillar of Europe’s craft tradition. She was married to Eliel Saarinen, who designed the Cranbrook Educational Community and was a professor in the Architecture Department at the University of Michigan
The rooms feature a stately, four-poster walnut bed and Eames chairs. Signature touches, such as Ford Pantone blue tiles in the bathrooms and artwork from or inspired by the company archives, are intended to weave the Ford legacy into every stay.
The inn also features 19 suites as well as the grand Presidential Suite, featuring a living room, a kitchenette, and a dining area.
The hotel’s signature restaurant, Clara’s Table, is Dearborn Inn’s Executive Chef Elliot Patti’s tribute to Clara Ford, a passionate horticulturist and gracious hostess. Drawing on his 15 years of experience in the food and beverage industry, including as a private chef and as executive chef at Atheneum Suite Hotel, the menu reflects what Clara herself offered guests at her home: Americana cuisine influenced by her and Henry’s travels across the globe.
Fresh herbs from the on-site chef’s garden highlight Clara’s love of gardening, while seasonal ingredients from Michigan producers brings about an ever-evolving farm-to-table experience for hotel guests and visitors alike.
The restaurant’s design complements the restored green marble throughout, with plants, fresh flowers, and herbs adorning the tables, all bathed in natural light from arched windows surrounding the dining room.
Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Clara’s Table offers house made pastries and a la carte classics like Royale Custard French Toast in the morning, simple yet refined dishes such as Rarebit at lunch, and dinner offerings including Cipollini & Pear Tatin, Short Rib Croquettes, and a Prime NY Strip with tallow and herb frites.
The hotel’s cocktail bar and lounge, Four Vagabonds, channels the spirit of the legendary road trips taken by Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, John Burroughs, and Harvey Firestone in the early 1900s.
The bar, designed to mimic one of Ford’s studies, serves small plates inspired by what the Vagabonds themselves may have enjoyed around a campfire, such as smoked meat plates and house-pickled vegetables.
Other offerings include local beers and craft cocktails named for the Vagabonds’ adventures, such as Georgia Bound, made with Fords Gin, Michigan honey, lemon, peach, rosemary, and orange bitters or Smoky Trail, a twist on a classic mule using Los Vecinos Mezcal.
The 20-seat private dining room at the Dearborn Inn pays homage to Clara Ford’s hospitality, as she was known for remembering guests’ preferences and ensuring everything was on hand to recreate cherished memories.
The room is adorned with a mural from Detroit artist Ryan Herberholz, depicting the Four Vagabonds amidst an autumnal landscape. Chef Patti will work with each guest to curate their private dining experience, creating bespoke menus designed to resemble leather-bound books for each occasion.
“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,” says Joleisha Bradley, general manager of the 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.”
Later this year, Dearborn Inn will unveil the next phase of its transformation: five colonial-style homes featuring 18 additional guest rooms, including suites inspired by the homes of literary icons such as Edgar Allan Poe and Walt Whitman.
The rooms are designed for groups or guests seeking spacious, elevated accommodations. In addition, the property will introduce 17,000 square feet of versatile indoor and outdoor event space for gatherings of up to 850 guests.
Dearborn Inn joins Marriott Bonvoy’s Autograph Collection, which includes more than 300 independent hotels across the world.
Nearby attractions include The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation and Greenfield Village, the Ford Rouge Factory Tour, and the Automotive Hall of Fame.
Rates start at $350 per night. For more information or to book a stay, visit marriott.com/dtwdk or call 313-271-2700.
