Airport hotels rarely make much of an impression. But in 1931 when the Dearborn Inn first opened in Dearborn, Michigan, roughly 10 miles outside of Detroit, the concept was still novel. Henry Ford commissioned the hotel to serve passengers flying in and out of the Ford Airport, which once sat just across the road. Now part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, the Dearborn Inn reopened this year after a two-year renovation that refreshed the landmark hotel with a focus on luxury and heritage.
Photo: Bryan Shelmon
A Pioneering Airport Hotel Revamped, the Dearborn Inn Is an Aviator's Dream
I landed an opportunity to be one of the first guests to experience the hotel’s newly renovated guest rooms. Airplane-inspired decor, exhibited archives from the original Ford Airport, and a vintage phone booth that prints a souvenir flight ticket helped to create the hotel’s signature experience — and my room key officially became my boarding pass to a five-star stay.
Aviation history around every corner
Photo: Bryan Shelmon
My Dearborn Inn experience began the moment I arrived at the iconic courtyard. Entering the century-old building retraces the very steps of Walt Disney, Orville Wright (one of the Wright brothers), and Norman Rockwell, who were guests at the Dearborn Inn when it first opened in the 1930s.
I instantly felt like a VIP thanks to Jay, the Detroit-born and -raised doorman who motioned me into the updated hotel lobby. It was buzzing with guests raving about the signature marble floors and reenacting poses in front of the preserved fireplace from stays decades ago.
As a digital nomad, I was instantly enthralled by the coziness of “Dearborn’s Living Room” — a thoughtfully curated third space that served as a melting pot of laptop loyalists, newcomers checking in, and guests organizing for the next phase of their travel plans. Fast WiFi was the perfect touch for getting a few hours of work done every day next to a cabinet holding Walt Disney’s autograph and other relics from the past. No need for headphones — the hotel lobby provided the perfect ambiance, complemented by the faint sounds of Phil Collins’ “In The Air Tonight” (which instantly makes me think of flying).
Other communal spaces include various meeting and event spaces and the on-site fitness center. My early mornings were reserved for my gym sessions in a space fully equipped with both heritage and iron. I pumped out my set of hammer curls while staring at original hotel design sketches from famed architect Albert Kahn, whom Henry Ford enlisted to design the Dearborn Inn. My lap of walking lunges led me right past a vintage photo of the Ford Tri-Motor airplane and a news clipping spotlighting the early days of women in flight.
After a workout, guests can refuel with a Clif Bar from the gift shop, which also stocks munchies like candy bars, chips, and my favorite Haribo Goldbears.
First-class accommodations in colonial-style homes
Photos: Bryan Shelmon
Guests of the Dearborn Inn can choose between different accommodation options. My guest room was located in the Patrick Henry House, located a short walk from the main hotel building through the manicured courtyard. It’s one of the property’s five replica houses that weave in the stories of notable figures throughout American history. These colonial-style homes are modeled after those of writers Edgar Allan Poe and Walt Whitman, politicians Patrick Henry and Oliver Wolcott, and Unionist folk hero Barbara Fritchie.
These one-bedroom guest rooms feature a living room connected to a guest bathroom, which always gets the same reaction: “Oh, there are two bathrooms?” A separating door feels like flinging open the curtains to the first-class cabin, where I was enticed by a king-size bed topped with a Sackcloth & Ashes blanket. The partnership donates one responsibly made blanket to the Detroit Rescue Mission for every blanket purchased in the hotel gift shop.
The stylish seating corner was the perfect nook for reading my Flying magazine. The newly done en-suite bathroom was clad in marble and tile, exuding minimalistic elegance. I found a complimentary pen and pad on the table, inviting me to “let my mind wander.” The mini-bar was a constant reminder to “fuel up and soar.” It’s the attention to detail that does it for me, and this room instantly put me on cloud nine every time I walked inside.
Aside from these historical houses, the Dearborn Inn has 135 guest rooms, 19 suites, and one Presidential Suite, which I got to peek into as an option for jet-setting families. It comes with two bedrooms, a living and dining room, and a kitchenette. In the main hotel, guests can opt to stay in Pilots Row, featuring newly renovated rooms where pilots landing in Ford Airport would sleep.
Farm-to-table recipes and post-dinner drinks
Photo: Dearborn Inn
The Dearborn Inn features two dining and drinking venues — Clara’s Table and Four Vagabond bar — to keep you fueled up from breakfast to dinner. At Clara’s Table, guests can settle into the same seats where Detroit’s high society came to “dine with the Fords” every Sunday at the Dearborn Inn. Fast-forward to today, and the spirit of Clara Ford, wife of Henry Ford, still fills the space as guests are treated to her original recipes inspired by her travels and love for the garden.
Clara’s green thumb is intertwined with her cooking palette. Clara’s Table emerges as a farm-to-table restaurant serving fresh seasonal recipes. I experienced a specially prepared chef’s tasting menu designed to simulate every sense. Executive Chef Elliot Patti reimagined food that Clara herself would have served during 10-course culinary journeys.
During my meal, I heard the crunch of fresh greens in a pear and endive salad. I tasted wild mushrooms in an en croûte dish (meaning one baked in a pastry crust) that redefined the classic chicken pot pie. I smelled citrusy sorrel topping a celery root panna cotta. I saw the juicy pink insides of a medium-rare aged New York Strip, and I felt the fluffy whipped almond topping on a financier dessert.
My post-dinner plans awaited mere steps away as I walked across the hall to Four Vagabonds. This cocktail bar and lounge was designed with aviation enthusiasts in mind, with tasteful touches like a recycled propeller used as a fan hanging above the bar. I kept it local with the Hometown Blossom handcrafted with Traverse City Cherry Juice. However, the travel-inspired menu can satisfy any airplane enthusiast with cocktails like the Wanderlust Old Fashion, Runway Refresher, and the Aviator’s Mule.
Exploring Dearborn and nearby Detroit
Photo: Bryan Shelmon
From the Dearborn Inn, several sights are within walking distance or a short drive. My morning plans were reserved for the Henry Ford Museum to see the Heroes of the Sky: Adventures in Early Flight exhibit. Tim, the tour guide, masterfully detailed the story of the first flight while I stared at a re-created model of the first aircraft. You can walk the length of the first flight (120 feet) and stand beneath the full-sized 1939 DC-3 airplane suspended above the museum floor.
If there’s time, visit Greenfield Village to see the original Wright Brothers’ home and cycle shop, where they crafted the world’s first flying machines. For me, that was enough history for one morning, so I opted for lunch at Malek Al-Kabob in downtown Dearborn.
After recharging at the hotel with a second work session in the hotel lobby, I ventured into downtown Detroit. A 20-minute drive landed me at Michigan Central, a restored architectural gem propelling Detroit’s tech, innovation, and culture forward. I heard that on Fridays, there’s a free event featuring live music and good vibes. And, of course, my ears perked up when I heard that the neighboring building, Newlab, is organizing a program to fly drones between the airport.
Getting to the Dearborn Inn
Photo: Bryan Shelmon
The Ford Airport closed down in 1947, having only operated for 23 years, so don’t try to find the airport code (like I attempted) on your way to stay at the Dearborn Inn. The good news is that you won’t hear any airplanes flying overhead during your sleep.
Instead, set your destination to Detroit Metro Airport (DTW), servicing Metro Detroit. It’s less than a 15-minute drive from the hotel to the airport. Note that the Dearborn Inn doesn’t provide airport shuttle service, so guests must arrange their own transportation. 