Dearborn Inn has reopened its doors with new interiors as it joins Marriott’s Autograph Collection.
The renovation carefully preserves Dearborn Inn’s historic grandeur, restoring original elements while integrating thoughtful design and upscale amenities.
Originally built in 1931 by Henry Ford and designed by Albert Kahn, the 135-key hotel has been meticulously restored by Ford Land’s design and Ford Motor Company’s archival teams in collaboration with the Ford family, as well as a host of partners including AvroKO, Dash Design and Kraemer Design Group, along with restoration architect Quinn Evans.
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 and quickly became a beloved retreat for notable changemakers, inventors and creatives who came into town to collaborate with Ford, such as Walt Disney, Orville Wright, Norman Rockwell, Eleanor Roosevelt and President Ronald Reagan.
Nestled on 23 serene acres, 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 cocktail bar, Four Vagabonds. In Summer 2025, Dearborn Inn will introduce five standalone homes with suites themed around notable former guests like Edgar Allan Poe, along with 17,000ft² 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 Motor Company. “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.”
In line with the Ford family’s request, the property’s most storied elements were preserved to maintain the character of the inn. Upon arrival, guests are greeted with checkerboard Italian marble flooring selected by Henry Ford. A stately green marble fireplace has also 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 customised photo booth – an original phone booth that has been transformed to look like the historic Ford Tri-Motor airplane.
A collection of artefacts from the Ford Archives – curated by art advisory firm Farmboy – are 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’s design honours Michigan’s legacy of craftsmanship and furniture production, featuring an eclectic mix of original Michigan-made 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.
Corridors leading to guestrooms are lined with carpeting inspired by the famed tapestries of Loja Saarinen from the Cranbrook Academy of Art, a pillar of Michigan’s craft tradition. Rooms themselves balance refined elegance with warm comfort, each featuring 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, subtly weave the Ford legacy into every stay.
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. The restaurant’s design complements the restored green marble throughout, with lush plants, fresh flowers and herbs adorning the tables, all bathed in natural light from arched windows surrounding the dining room.
An intimate 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 eponymous bar, designed to mimic one of Ford’s studies, serves small plates inspired by what the Vagabonds themselves may have enjoyed around a campfire.
The private dining room at the Dearborn Inn can accommodate up to 20 guests, and is designed for a fully bespoke experience. The space is adorned with a mural from Detroit artist Ryan Herberholz, depicting the Four Vagabonds amidst an autumnal landscape.
“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 Dearborn Inn. “The hotel is both a welcoming retreat and living museum, with historic artefacts woven throughout the property. We look forward to continuing the tradition of hospitality that has made Dearborn Inn so beloved.”
