Olds Hotel, Downtown Lansing: 1926-1960

Lansing's Olds Hotel opened on July 12, 1926 with a "Builders Banquet" that was specifically for the 500+ construction workers who helped build the place.

The Olds had 300 rooms covering 13 stories and opened to the public two days after the Builders Banquet.

The hotel had a six-chair barber shop (which included manicure tables (followed by a beauty salon), a book store, dress shop, and gift/souvenir shop It took 25 years, but finally in 1951, a bar and grill opened up – The Fielder Room – with a 45-foot curving bar (“Fielder” was the name of the Irish Setter owned by the hotel's general manager/president).

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In 1960 the Hotel Olds was purchased by the Jack Tar Hotels chain, who installed the 'Gas Buggy Room' in 1961 - dedicated to early automobiles with fixtures and décor that included former auto lights and parts.

Ten years later (1970), the hotel was again purchased – this time by East Lansing's First of Lansing, Incorporated. They re-named the hotel 'Olds Plaza'.

Not able to get their bills paid, the company sold the hotel in 1977 and it went through another name change to the Plaza Hotel. The building went under reconstructions and renovation in 1988, and it was now used for offices for the State of Michigan.

Finally, in 1997, the building was renamed the Romney Building, which it has been called ever since.

Scroll down just a ways and see a gallery of some Hotel Olds memorabilia and a few old photos.