Right ahead stands the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, a place that’s worn many hats-and even a crown or two! When you glance up at the blend of grand old architecture and gleaming modern glass, you’re looking at over a century of stories stacked on top of each other. Let’s plunge right into its dazzling past.
It all began in 1913, back when silent films were new and Grand Rapids was growing like a sprouting beanstalk. That’s when the Pantlind Hotel opened its doors, welcoming travelers with marble columns, Beaux-Arts beauty, and one of the largest gold leaf ceilings in the world. Imagine the gasp as guests stepped inside-gold shimmering overhead and sunlight bouncing across Mediterranean arches, columns, and ornate terra cotta details. Designers Warren & Wetmore, inspired by Scottish architect Robert Adam, basically aimed for “opulence” and stopped just short of “palace.”
During peak years, the Pantlind was the place for visiting bigwigs and show-offs. Think fashionable furniture buyers and celebrities who wouldn’t be caught napping anywhere less than first-class. By 1925, the Pantlind was ranked among America’s top 10 hotels. Even Queen Juliana of the Netherlands chose to check in-along with her husband and 250 esteemed lunch guests. If you ever feel like your family holiday dinners are stressful, try hosting European royalty!
Over the years, the hotel changed with the times. The population of Grand Rapids boomed past 112,000 in the early 1900s, new wings were built, and the corner even held a swanky two-story bank. Meanwhile, Otto Seyferth, who would later become President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, carved the stonework on the hotel at a whopping 65 cents per hour. Not a bad gig unless you suffer from a fear of heights-or low wages.
Fast forward to the late 70s. The suburbs were stealing the spotlight, and poor Pantlind was looking a bit weary. Enter Amway, the local empire from nearby Ada Township. In 1979, Amway bought the hotel and invested a whopping $60 million in renovations-think demolition dust, jackhammers, and a lot of people trying not to trip over power cords. Marvin DeWinter & Associates worked their magic, and by 1981 the shiny reborn hotel re-opened, dazzling enough that President Gerald R. Ford and his wife Betty hosted the black-tie gala. You know you’re making a comeback when the President shows up for dinner!
But that’s not all. In 1983, the new 29-story tower shot up alongside the historic wing-ending McKay Tower’s decades-long reign as the city’s skyscraping champion. This beautiful glass giant stood watch over downtown, until 1991, when Plaza Towers grabbed the honor like a sibling calling shotgun.
The Amway Grand Plaza went on to host the famous and the fabulous-Margaret Thatcher, Queen Noor of Jordan, Norman Schwarzkopf Jr., Jerry Seinfeld, Cher, and more. A Chicago reporter once raved that dinner at the hotel’s Cygnus restaurant held up against the finest in New York or San Francisco-a pretty tall order for the middle of Michigan! One ballroom even honors President Ford, ensuring the hotel never runs short of presidential sparkle.
Not even the kitchens escaped the winds of change. The 1913 Room became Michigan’s one and only AAA five-diamond restaurant before giving way to Ruth’s Chris Steak House. Other favorites were transformed into Wolfgang Puck outposts, so even if your stay here was short, your dinner could be world-class.
Affiliated with Hilton’s Curio Collection since 2016 and inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2012, the Amway Grand Plaza is anything but stuck in the past. In fact, ongoing renovation has added floor-to-ceiling windows and chic updates-while making sure those famous gold ceilings keep their glow.
So as you stand here, soaking up a view that’s seen presidents, queens, comedians, and even the odd TV station (WZZM started out here!), keep your eyes open for the glow of history and maybe a hint of royal glitter. And don’t forget, the Grand River Promenade-the fancy skyway-links the action above, so if you hear laughter echoing above, you might just be catching the next chapter in this hotel’s grand saga.
