Dearborn Inn—originally opened in 1931 by Henry Ford and listed on the National Register of Historic Places—has officially reopened as part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection following a restoration led by Ford Land’s design and archival teams in collaboration with the Ford family.
Situated on 23 landscaped acres in Dearborn, Michigan, the 135-key property was originally envisioned by Ford and designed by Albert Kahn, the famed “architect of Detroit,” known for shaping the city’s industrial and civic fabric.
Considered one of the nation’s first airport hotels thanks to its proximity to the now-defunct Ford Airport, the refreshed inn revives its legacy through a design-forward transformation by AvroKO, Dash Design, Kraemer Design Group, Saguez & Dash, and restoration architect Quinn Evans.
A thoughtful revival
Lobby
Preserved details—like checkerboard marble flooring selected by Ford himself, a green marble fireplace, and a stately antique clock—anchor the interiors in history, while a curated collection of Ford archives and locally made furnishings breathe new life into public spaces. The lobby pairs bespoke artisan pieces with vintage bar carts that serve coffee by day and cocktails by night.
Guestrooms feature refined, residential touches: four-poster walnut beds, Eames seating, and Ford-blue tiled bathrooms adorned with archival artwork. In the corridors, carpet patterns nod to the textile work of Loja Saarinen and Cranbrook’s rich design lineage.
Dining at Dearborn Inn
Clara’s Bar
New dining concepts include Clara’s Table—a plant-filled, sun-drenched homage to Clara Ford’s love of hosting—and Four Vagabonds, a cocktail bar inspired by the legendary road trips taken by Ford, Thomas Edison, John Burroughs, and Harvey Firestone.
A private dining room outfitted with a mural by Detroit artist Ryan Herberholz further honors this legacy.
Dearborn Inn Colonial Homes
Colonial Homes exterior
In addition to the 135 rooms, the property features five colonial-style houses, reimagined with 18 additional guest suites inspired by former visitors and literary icons Edgar Allen Poe, Walt Whitman, Barbara Fritchie, Patrick Henry, and Oliver Wolcott.
Each of the Dearborn Inn Colonial Homes serve as replicas of the real-life residences of their namesakes, each with a distinct layout, from Henry’s grand estate with six guest units to Poe’s intimate single-suite home with a writer’s desk, paying homage to the cottage where the poet lived with his wife and mother.
Telling the story of each American icon, the design incorporates meaningful decorative touches to connect the stories of each figure, with a common palette of texture and color that unifies the homes and the main hotel building.
Living room inside the Patrick Henry Colonial Home
Walt Whitman covered patio
Four Vagabonds bar
Four Vagabonds fireplace seating
A landscape mural at Four Vagabonds
Standard king room
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