Lakeside Chautauqua

Hotel Lakeside Celebrates 150th Anniversary

As guests have traveled to Lakeside for the past 151 years, they have sought a place to stay as they immerse themselves in the enriching Chautauqua experiences. Hotel Lakeside has been a place for them to call home while they nurture mind, body and spirit on our shoreline.

As individuals arrived by steamboat to Lakeside’s dock, they made their way to Hotel Lakeside with their trunks ready to begin their journey of spiritual, intellectual, cultural and physical growth. Imagine what the lobby of Hotel Lakeside was like, bustling with visitors, making new friends and gathering in community.

In 2025, Hotel Lakeside celebrates its 150th Anniversary. This GivingTuesday, on Dec. 3, you’re invited to give a special gift to support the work of the Hotel Lakeside Anniversary planning team and help us honor the legacy of the Hotel during the celebration next summer.

Your gift to the Hotel Lakeside 150th Celebration this GivingTuesday will support the work of this team and help us honor this milestone next summer with celebratory events and Hotel Lakeside upgrades!

Hotel Lakeside History

Taking a leap of faith, this iconic structure was built in 1875 and opened to provide guests with an overnight stay on the shores of Lake Erie. Along with the Methodist Episcopal Chapel (Heritage Hall), it is one of Lakeside’s two original public buildings.

The original structure housed 37 sleeping rooms, a dining room and an attached two-story outhouse. In 1879, an annex was built south of the main building. It consisted of 32 small rooms, for the purpose of housing the servants of hotel guests and hotel staff. In 1890, a hotel wing was added along Maple Street and nearly tripled the hotel’s capacity by adding 77 guest rooms. Indoor plumbing and electricity was added about that same time. In 1914, the front porch was enlarged, and a concrete floor was installed, along with a fireplace in the lobby.

The Friends of Hotel Lakeside

By the mid-twentieth century, deferred maintenance and neglect began to take their toll and the south annex was razed in 1963. In the 1960s, the second floor porches were removed for safety. By 1972, more than half of the rooms were unusable and the hotel was scheduled for demolition. A group of concerned Lakeside residents, determined to save and restore the hotel, formed the Friends of Hotel Lakeside to accomplish those goals. Lakeside’s Board of Directors later changed course and resolved to save and preserve the hotel.

For more than 40 years, The Friends of Hotel Lakeside were dedicated to preserving and upgrading the facility. The most important improvements included complete rewiring, new plumbing, installation of a sprinkler system, elevator access, new kitchen, foundation repair and restoration, as well as air conditioning of the dining room, lobby and all guest rooms. All of this has been completed with the help and cooperation of the Lakeside Chautauqua staff and the Lakeside Board of Directors.

Hotel Lakeside Today

Today, the hotel’s long porch offers a commanding view of the lake and is a very popular gathering space for guests and visitors. The Victorian grace of the refurbished lobby invites guests and visitors to sit and reflect on times gone by. Just off the lobby is Artist N Cahoots, a shop featuring the work of local artists. Sixty-nine hotel rooms are available in a variety of sizes from traditional to luxury suites, all with private baths.

For more than a century, this timeless treasure has been central to a good night’s rest, dining on the waterfront and relaxation on the front porch. It’s been a home away from home for thousands of Lakesiders.

Hotel Lakeside 150th Celebration

The goals for Hotel Lakeside’s 150th Celebration are:

  • To honor the work of our past leaders in building Hotel Lakeside;
  • Steward this precious piece of history, Lakeside hospitality and people who have worked and been connected to this treasure;
  • Educate the community about the importance of historic hotels; and
  • Anticipate the future of continuing to welcome the next generation of individuals and families to the shoreline.

This planning team started their work this fall by touring the hotel with Lakesider and Hotel Lakeside historian George McCormick. The team has also been meeting regularly to plan the celebration.

A team of community members, Board members and staff have come together to plan this milestone anniversary next summer. The planning team consists of:

Additional community members serving in focused areas are: Christina Grindley, Celeste Williams, Laurie Beam and Pamela Rausch.

Hotel Lobby Refresh

One of the major focus areas of the planning team’s work is the Hotel Lakeside Lobby. They have been investigating how to refresh this space and restore it to an inviting and bustling hub of community. They are looking into fresh paint, inviting furniture and other upgrades that allow visitors to gather and socialize in this special space.

Save the Date: Hotel Lakeside 150th Celebration Week

From Friday, August 1 through Saturday, August 9, we will be celebrating the Hotel’s 150th Anniversary and its longstanding history as an icon in our community through a variety of activities and events. Save the date and stay tuned as the planning team announces details for these celebrations!

To Book A Room

To book a room for your upcoming visit, click the links below.