Craving a distinctive getaway that puts you alongside one of nature’s rambling creeks, but also envelops you in the finest of accommodations? Consider the Royal Park Hotel in downtown Rochester.
Located on the Paint Creek, hotel staff say they often spot anglers casting in the pretty waterway, a 16.9-mile-long stream that flows southeastward into the Clinton River. It’s one of two designated trout streams in Oakland County (the other is Trout Creek, a tributary of Paint Creek). Anglers typically catch brown trout, rainbow trout, and creek chubs.
Whether you’re packing nymphs, dry flies, and spinners, or just looking for a creekside getaway steps from a vibrant downtown, the Royal Park is your ticket to both a happening getaway and a peaceful sojourn.
Recently, I learned the hotel has turned over a bright, new leaf with a refreshing garden-themed vibe. It’s the first design overhaul since the hotel, now owned by Fairwood Capital and managed by Davidson Hospitality Group, opened in 2004.
“We wanted to bring an English garden feel to the entire property,” Sarah Osbourn, director of marketing for the upscale facility, told me during a tour. The refurbishment took about seven months to complete.
Guided by what designers are calling a “bud to blossom” concept, they’ve layered soft floral wallcoverings with a serene color palette throughout the hotel.
“It’s inspired by the original architecture of the building and the beautiful grounds surrounding the property,” says designer Chris McDonough, of Chicago-based Gettys Group, which led the undertaking. A light-filled, welcoming atmosphere reflects the property’s natural surroundings, including its location along Paint Creek.
“Our goal (with design) was to invite guests to slow down, take notice, and truly enjoy their surroundings,” adds Danielle Gilligan, general manager of Royal Park Hotel.
Each of the facility’s 143 guest rooms (including 15 suites) has been refreshed. A significant collection of spacious suites was designed to accommodate longer stays, celebrations, and group and family travel.
“Some suites have connecting doors and one suite has three balconies,” Osbourn notes. She says it was a smart decision to add sleeper sofas in many of the spaces, for those traveling with children.
Also complementing the new motif are guest room headboards that feature fabric with a floral pattern in light shades of gray, purple, and cream. The artwork in guest rooms and suites ranges from both modern abstract (an enlarged calla lily, for example) to a more classical botanical art style.
I was especially impressed with the glorious modern wallpaper (from MDC) in the lobby and hallways. Large-scale peony blooms in hushed grays and whites make up the pattern and pair well with the creamy, newly painted millwork.
McDonough says that upon entering, he wants guests to sense “a soft and airy arrival.” Special details, such as light fixtures with a petal motif, wow, while muted pink tones and an Art Deco appeal provide a relaxed ambience. The rooms/suites with balconies are especially alluring, as many look out to the calming waterway.
Soft, warm paint tones, such as Scuffmaster’s Mocha Cream on the lobby’s wood and Benjamin Moore’s Alabaster on the library walls and ceiling, create a soothing feel.
Meeting rooms also received a recharge. New televisions, chairs, banquettes, carpeting, wall treatments, and drapery adorn these inspiring spaces.
Photo Courtesy of the Royal Park Hotel
In the library, I was lured to the fireplace with a cup of coffee in hand, and browsed a collection of floral-themed books (such as “A Year in Bloom,” “Edible Flowers,” and “The Kinfolk Garden”) while savoring walls showcasing garden photography. A soft rug with an organic design (think deep maroon with cream and sage floral patterns) complements cream- and peach-toned furnishings. Bright ivory drapery, small marble-topped tables, and brass tabletop lights also adorn the airy room.
Nearby, the light-filled, garden-inspired conservatory, hand-constructed in Belgium and assembled on site, was untouched, and for good reason — it not only aligns perfectly with the new design concept, but it’s also a space that gets raves reviews, event after event.
The Royal Park Hotel offers formal afternoon teas, seasonal celebrations, and holiday events from Easter through Christmas. When the weather turns warm, an outdoor stage is set up near Paint Creek so guests and the community can enjoy ticketed performances for monthly outdoor concert offerings.
Finally, staff members are happy to hook visiting anglers up with a fishing guide. “Yes, we do make those connections; sometimes guests want to fish,” Osbourne shares. Or you can watch the anglers, with a beverage in hand, from the comfort of the hotel’s creekside Adirondack chairs. 
Plan It!
Royal Park Hotel
royalparkhotelmi.com
