Visitors to Marietta, Ohio have a variety of lodging options to choose from. The historic Lafayette Hotel stands out as a unique choice that is rich in history and character, with the best location for exploring the historic district of downtown Marietta.
Lafayette Hotel Location
The Lafayette Hotel sits at the confluence of the Muskingum and Ohio Rivers. I had a lovely corner room with windows on two sides where I could see barges gliding past in the morning.
The hotel is at the end Greene Street, which is the heart of the historic district, where you’ll find many shops and restaurants. I was able to park my car (free parking!) and walk most places during my visit. I love walkable towns, and there is even a CVS within walking distance if you forgot something at home. The location makes this a great place to stay, especially during festival weekends. See if you can snag one of the rooms with a balcony!
Lafayette Hotel History
Upon our arrival, we were given a tour by the manager, Sheila, who showed us many different rooms and gave us the history of the hotel. This site dates back to the Bellevue hotel in 1892, while the current building dates back to 1918. Here and elsewhere throughout the town, you will find flood markers showing the various historic floods in the region. As someone who grew up along the Mississippi River, I found this particularly interesting and am now wondering if my hometown has flood markers.
The Lafayette has taken great measures to maintain a historical appearance, and one neat feature is the hidden safes built into the furniture. In my room, the antique desk hid two spots for valuables. In the photo below, you can see the decorative column piece slides out to show the hidden compartment. Without a tour from the manager, I definitely would not have found these secrets!
The Lafayette would be of particular interest for ghost-hunters, as there are quite a few ghosts roaming the halls of this hotel. You can get all the details on a ghost trek with Hidden Marietta, who also runs an old-time photo shop in the ground floor of the hotel.
Everywhere you look, there is a piece of history with a story behind it.
Lafayette Hotel Amenities
The Lafayette Hotel is not a luxury hotel, but an affordable historic hotel. However, the rooms are surprisingly comfortable, given the age of the property. The hot water was instantly hot, great water pressure and nice bath amenities.
The hotel has two restaurants, the Gun Room and the Riverview Lounge. There’s also a very nice rooftop deck where you can take a drink from the bar to enjoy a relaxing summer evening overlooking Greene Street.
And last but not least, the Lafayette Hotel is dog-friendly! During my visit, Bailey stayed nearby at Boxer’s Beds and Biscuits but the front desk at the Lafayette Hotel assured me she would be welcome on our next trip, with no dog fees and no size restrictions!
Stay tuned next week for details on all of the fun outdoor adventures I had while visiting Marietta, including hiking, biking and kayaking!