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Put-in-Bay Hotels And Resorts

Hotels And Resorts At Put-in-Bay

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Put-in-Bay, located on South Bass Island in Lake Erie, is a popular tourist destination known for its vibrant nightlife, water sports, and outdoor activities. Visitors flock to this small island for its natural beauty and relaxed atmosphere. One of the cool features of Put-in-Bay is its range of hotels and resorts that cater to different budgets and preferences.

Put-in-Bay has several accommodation options, ranging from budget-friendly motels to luxury resorts. One of the most popular options is the Edgewater Hotel which is located in the heart of downtown and offers a range of amenities such as access to swimming pools and swim-up bars, hot tubs, and tiki bars.

They have golf cart rentals on-site as well as Put-in-Bay Moped Rentals.  Located across from the park and waterfront, this hotel has long been considered the island’s best location. Edgewater offers standard-size rooms and large family suites.

For those looking for a more luxurious experience, the Put-in-Bay Resort and Conference Center is an excellent choice. This resort offers spacious rooms and suites with breathtaking views of Lake Erie, along with full-service conference and meeting facilities and a wide range of recreational activities. The famous Blue Marlin Bar & Grill is the island’s most popular pool and swim-up bar, voted Best Of  The Bay 8 years running.

Another noteworthy option is the Bay Lodging Resort, which offers a range of room types, from standard rooms to family suites with kitchenettes. This resort is located just a short 5-minute walk from downtown Put-in-Bay and offers easy access to local attractions such as Perry’s Monument and the Butterfly House. The Bay Lodging Resort is the island’s only indoor-outdoor pool.

For larger groups, the All-Star Ohio House is a 6-bedroom home with a full kitchen and two large social decks and is less than a two-minute walk from the main strip. This highly sought-after rental home accommodates up to 22 people.

The Put-in-Bay Villas are another popular option; location is key again! These four and five-bedroom rental homes all feature three bathrooms and are the only modern rental homes located downtown. No need to taxi back and forth, saving considerable amounts of money! Visit our Put-in-Bay Rental Homes page for more info!

Put-in-Bay offers various hotels and resorts catering to different budgets and preferences. Whether you are looking for a budget-friendly or luxurious experience, there is something for everyone on this charming island.

With its beautiful scenery, lively atmosphere, and excellent accommodation options, Put-in-Bay is the perfect destination for a weekend getaway or a more extended vacation.

 

Edgewater Hotel Downtown

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The Edgewater Hotel offers travelers the island’s best location in the heart of downtown Put-in-Bay. Convenient to all of the Put-in-Bay Restaurants, the Edgewater Hotel was recently remodeled in 2022 and features deluxe rooms with two queen beds and family / small group suites that sleep six adults each.

Guests of the Edgewater will enjoy the onsite food service from Lesters Taco Shop & The Put-in-Bay Pizza Company, both serving late-night food.

Across the street from the Edgewater is the beautiful DeRivera Park and the Put-in-bay Waterfront & Marina District. Pool and Swim-up Bar access and onsite golf cart rentals & moped rentals.

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Photo of Edgewater Hotel one of the Put-in-Bay Hotels And Resorts
Photo of Put-in-Bay Hotels And Resorts Edgewater

Put-in-Bay Resort & Conference Center

Put-in-Bay Hotels & Resorts flagship property is the new Put-in-Bay Resort. The island’s newest resort hotel is also the island’s only full-service conference center with rooms and facilities located on site. Put-in-Bay Resort was built in 4 phases and is the island’s largest resort.

Guests will enjoy the Put-in-Bay Resort’s close proximity to the downtown Put-in-Bay shopping, restaurants, and nightlife just one block away. The award-winning Blue Marlin Bar & Grill, with its swim-up bar and 40-person jacuzzi, has consistently been the island’s most popular swim-up bar since opening.

The Resort features family-style suites that sleep up to 6 people, rooms that sleep 2 and 4, as well as Jacuzzi rooms and wheelchair-accessible rooms. The Put-in-Bay Villas offers all the comforts of a home rental right downtown sleeping 8 or 12 people!

A bountiful continental breakfast is included Monday thru Friday! For larger groups, be sure to check out the Put-in-Bay Villas, 4-5 bedroom rental homes with linens provided right downtown!

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Photo of Put-in-Bay Hotels And Resorts
Photo of Put-in-bay Hotels and resorts

Bay Lodging Resort

Put-in-Bay Hotels & Resorts Bay Lodging offers the island’s only indoor-outdoor pool with Jacuzzi! Bay Lodging Resort is located just a 2 block walk from the downtown Put-in-Bay nightlife and features the island’s only indoor-outdoor pool with Jacuzzi! The Bay Lodging Resort features SJ’s Hideaway, a full-service bar with a unique Ohio State University theme and a newly expanded pool deck.

Bay Lodging Resort guests enjoy a complimentary Continental Breakfast Monday Thru Friday, Convenient off-street parking, and VIP access to the Blue Marlin Bar & Grill with their famous pool & swim-up bar!

Located in a quiet neighborhood, the Bay Lodging Resort offers you all the excitement of downtown in a quiet, peaceful setting. The Bay Lodging Resort guests will enjoy numerous floor plans, including rooms for 2, 4, and 6 people and 2-bedroom suites with full kitchens!

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Photo of Put-in-Bay Hotels And Resorts
Photo of Put-in-bay Hotels and resorts

Additional Put-in-Bay Lodging Options

The All Star Ohio House!

Located in the heart of downtown Put-in-Bay, the All-Star Ohio House is a modern rental home that can comfortably accommodate up to 22 guests. This spacious house boasts six bedrooms and three bathrooms, making it the perfect choice for large groups and families.

The house features a large living room and social area, perfect for entertaining or relaxing with friends and family. The modern, well-equipped kitchen provides everything you need to prepare meals during your stay.

Additionally, the All-Star Ohio House has two private decks, one at the front and another at the back, providing excellent opportunities for people-watching or soaking up the Put-in-Bay vibe.

From the front deck, guests can enjoy a bustling view of Loraine Ave, one of the busiest walking streets in Put-in-Bay. The rear deck, on the other hand, opens to a large secluded private patio, complete with cornhole, a BBQ grill, and picnic tables. The patio is decorated with Ohio sports memorabilia, adding to the home’s unique and welcoming atmosphere.

If you have any questions about the All-Star Ohio House or would like to make a reservation, please do not hesitate to contact us.

With its prime location and modern amenities, this rental home is the perfect choice for those looking to experience all Put-in-Bay offers.

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photo of the All Star ohio House Hotels nd Resorts
Photo Of The All Star ohio House
Photo Of Hotels And Resorts at Put-in-Bay

The Put-in-Bay Villas

Experience the best that Put-in-Bay has to offer at the newest hotel on the island, located just one block from the main downtown strip and adjacent to the Put-in-Bay Resort & Conference Center.

Put-in-Bay Villas opened in 2010 and quickly became Put-in-Bay, Ohio’s premier group lodging facility. These twelve exclusive home rentals book up quickly, with weekend reservations often made a year in advance!

Each of our deluxe 3-story villas offers 4-5 bedrooms and three full baths, rivaling the best lodging found in Key West and other island vacation rental hotspots.

Our villas are fully equipped with a full-size refrigerator, freezer with ice maker, microwave, wet bar, kitchenette, 50″ flat-screen TV with cable, living room, four bedrooms with queen-size beds, and three full baths (one per floor).

For larger groups, we also offer 12-person villas with five bedrooms (four with queen size beds and 1 with three queen beds) and three full baths, equivalent to a rental home.

The first floor of each villa boasts an exterior villa-style patio, perfect for enjoying the warm summer air and the lushly landscaped courtyard. Guests on the second floor can enjoy a veranda overlooking the same courtyard.

Each villa offers a view of the award-winning Blue Marlin Tiki Bar & Grille pool area with a swim-up bar across the street and the world’s largest hot tub seating 40 people. Pool access is complimentary with your stay at Put-in-Bay Villas.

As a guest of Put-in-Bay Villas, you can enjoy full access to all amenities at the Put-in-Bay Resort, including a complimentary continental breakfast every day except for Weekends.

Our deluxe villas offer a level of comfort and luxury that rival the island’s best hotels, homes, and luxury condos. With our prime location and excellent amenities, Put-in-Bay Villas is the perfect choice for families, groups, and anyone looking to experience all that Put-in-Bay has to offer.

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Photo of Put-in-Bay Hotels And Resorts Villas
Photos Of The Put-in-Bay Villas
Photo Of the Put-in-Bay Villas
Photo of The Living Room Of The Put-in-Bay Villas

The History Of The Put-in-Bay Hotels And Resorts – The Victory Hotel The Largest of All

 

If you’re making a list of important Put-in-Bay historical treasures, you would probably top the list with the Battle of Lake Erie, the building of Perry’s Monument, and the tale of the Put-in-Bay Hotels History, namely the Hotel Victory. The famous battle was won, the Monument still proudly stands today after more than 100 years, and the Hotel Victory story most remembers Put-in-Bay Hotels History.

It is often a topic of island conversation despite the fact it burned to the ground 100 years ago this month. So here’s the story of Hotel Victory, billed at the time it was built as the largest summer hotel in the world!

Put-in-Bay Hotels And Resorts History – Hotel Victory – Once the largest Summer Hotel in the World!

In the late 1880s, Put-in-Bay saw two businesses thriving…grape growing and winemaking, plus the island’s development as a tourist destination. Islanders were approached by John Tillotson, from Toledo, with a visionary proposal to build the Hotel Victory, an opulent 625-guest-room hotel in the woods on the south end of the island. He recruited enough investors that on September 10, 1889, the anniversary of the Battle of Lake Erie, a cornerstone laying ceremony took place with a reported 8,000 people in attendance at Put-in-Bay.

Hotel Victory Construction

A 100-acre site overlooking Stone’s Cove on the island’s southwest side was chosen for the location. Twenty-one of the acres would be used for the hotels and grounds, while the rest were subdivided into small cottage lots. Prominent Toledo architect E.O. Falls designed a Queen Anne-style three-story building with multiple dormers, towers, and turrets, planning the hotel’s facade to create a favorable impression as tourists approached the hotel via steamer.

The primary building measured 600 ft. by 300 ft., a three-story building with high corner towers around an enclosed courtyard. Attached was the large dining, kitchen, and employee housing structure. Workers had to install 16.5 acres of flooring, 16,000 sq. yards of carpeting, 7 acres of shingles, 7.5 miles of baseboard, 1 mile of wainscoting, 1,700 doors, 2,500 windows, and a steam heat system.

New electric power from the hotel’s own generating station supplied the power for three elevators, individual call buttons in each room, and 6,000 incandescent light bulbs to light the hotel. George Feick of Sandusky was awarded the construction contract, and work began with a sawmill and planing mill right on the resorts site. A tent city with a dining hall and dormitories was set up for hundreds of workers. When the first guests arrived in 1892, workers were still busy in some of the areas of the hotel.

Besides the guest rooms, there was a sizeable 1,200-person dining room (115 ft. by 85 ft.) to date the largest of any of the Put-in-Bay Restaurants, the 10-table billiard hall, the assembly room for conventioneers, a ladies’ lounge, a lobby, private parlors, a wine cellar, shops, a greenhouse, a barbershop, a 30-ft.-long bar, a soda fountain, bell boy stations, a newsstand, and even a photo darkroom.

There were hundreds of tables, chairs, nightstands, beds, and other furnishings. The kitchen was equipped with the most modern equipment of the time. Plus, the hotel was heated with steam heat. Outside, the grounds were attractively landscaped. A boardwalk with areas to stop and enjoy the view ran the length of the shore. Paths, one with a rustic bridge spanning the ravine that runs through the property, were built.

Benches were placed, and there was even a “Trysting Place,” which served as a rendezvous for romantic couples. Although not part of the construction, developers realized there was a need to transport the hotel guests arriving on steamboats in the downtown harbor to the hotel a mile away. A trolley line was built from the docks to the hotel’s front door. There was a half-way stop at the caves.

Put-in-Bay Hotels And Resorts History- THE HOTEL VICTORY OPENS

As with many projects, cost overruns shot the hotel’s price to one estimate of $28,000,000 in today’s dollars, but that didn’t stop the hotel from opening. A courtyard-view room for two on the third floor with a shared bath down the hall was the equivalent of $957. If you wanted a lake-view room with a private bath on the first floor, it would cost just over $2500 for a couple for a week in today’s dollars. The hotel opened on July 12, 1892, and by September, the hotel was bankrupt and had to close.

It reopened in 1893 but closed again in early August due to financial problems and remained closed for the next two seasons. In 1894, a Toledo News reporter wrote, “The immense structure is not simply a hotel, but a home for bugs, rattlesnakes and June bugs. The windows are so thickly covered with June bugs that it is impossible to look through them, and Victory Park – J.K. Tilloston’s dream – is today a cow pasture. A match or cigar stub is carelessly thrown near the structure could start such a fire as was never seen before on the island.”

In late 1895, the hotel and its contents were sold at a sheriff’s auction. The hotel and grounds sold for just over a half-million dollars, and the furniture sold for just over two hundred thousand dollars in today’s dollars. Without the huge debt load, the hotel opened again on July 20, 1896. The hotel was promoted on a large scale to attract new customers and conventioneers.

One of the guests was the widow of Confederate President Jefferson Davis. The unfinished interior work was completed, and the hotels entered their glory years. In 1898, a 30-ft wide and 100-ft. long, covered, lake-water-filled swimming pool called the “Natatorium” was built. It was the first pool in the country that allowed both men and women to swim together.

Another exciting thing happened in 1898. Five mild cases and one serious case of smallpox were discovered among the hotel’s mostly “colored” help. Dr. John Bohlander, a physician from the island, quarantined 200 guests and 250 employees at the hotel. The quarantine was successful, spreading the disease to only 27 mild cases. Unfortunately, when one of the hotel’s employees was diagnosed, he ran screaming from the building and jumped off one of the cliffs along the shoreline, where he died on the rocks below.

He was the only fatality. Interestingly, several years later, a Hotel Victory brochure advertised “All White Servants.” In 1899, brothers and hardware merchants C.W. and J.W. Ryan, purchased the Hotel Victory and brought in T. W. McCreary as the hotel’s general manager. McCreary went about revitalizing the troubled hotel. He had a genius for promotion and was also the “perfect host.” Visitors found Hotel Victory’s main dining hall. The “Natatorium” at Hotel Victory.  An advertisement for the hotel reads “where dew is unknown” and “the hay fever sufferer’s haven.

A visibly revitalized and refreshed Hotel Victory as the 1900 season began. McCreary became the longest-running manager at the Hotel Victory, which experienced the peak of its popularity and success during his 1899-1907 tenure. McCreary’s unceasing publicity efforts established the Hotel Victory as THE PLACE to stay, making it worth the higher rates the hotel charged to meet its costs and offset the fact that it had a short season.

He was also great at attracting group meetings to supplement the usual crowd of tourists. He also touted the many activities, entertainment, and safety measures taken to ensure the comfort and entertainment of guests.

Hotels & Resorts Amenities

To keep guests happy, hotels and resorts had a house physician, a dentist, a tailor, a dark room for amateur photographers, a manicurist, a ladies’ shop for fancy goods and toilet articles, an ice cream parlor (soda fountain), a barbershop, and public baths, a livery with “pleasure wagons,” a telegraph office and long-distance telephone access, a stenographer, a newsstand, a laundry, a pool room, a lounge for the ladies, a conference room and more.

For activities, guests could take a “constitutional” on the grounds, swim in the natatorium, ride the water toboggan, go on moonlight hayrides and trolley parties, watch the sunsets, go fishing (and have your catch cooked for your dinner), and enjoy the benefits of “Strontium Spa Water” directly at the spring, reported to be in the lobby. The water, claimed to be the greatest of all the hotel’s attractions, was touted as one of the best remedies ever discovered for all forms of brights disease and help with Paddock disorders, whatever they are.

The Victory had a symphony orchestra and a band of musicians employed throughout the season. In addition, there were children’s parties and dances in the ballroom. Guests could also “get behind the scenes” and visit the hotel kitchen, pantry, storeroom, cold storage, wine cellar, or laundry and investigate the other workings of the “great hotel.” Guests could also leave the grounds and enjoy all the other tourist attractions of Put-in-Bay and Middle Bass.

Put-in-Bay Hotels And Resorts History – The Winged Statue

McCreary hired the German sculptor, Alfons Pelter, to design the Victory Monument for the hotel grounds. Twenty-two feet high, the bronze monument featured a winged woman holding a wreath in one hand and a staff in the other. The “Winged Victory” monument was surrounded by a stone balustrade, the ruins of which can still be seen today. The Vice-President of the United States, Charles W. Fairbanks, attended the unveiling ceremony in 1907.

Unfortunately, McCreary also died in 1907, and Colonel B.G. Doyle took over the management. Two years later, the hotel closed again.

Put-in-Bay Hotels History – The Final Years

By 1911, a Chicago newspaper reported that neglect and decay caused the hotel to look like a “haunted” place. Meanwhile, rumors had circulated about the hotel reopening or getting new ownership; however, a short-lived remodeling effort quickly halted because money was again a problem. During World War I, the E.M.T. Automobile Company in Detroit purchased the hotel and began yet another remodeling effort before the Flanders Realty Company of Detroit eventually bought the hotel.

Flanders spent a reported $40,000 on the hotel and another $100,000 on remodeling it before opening it in 1918. The owners sought convention traffic and marketed the hotel as a great getaway for Army and Navy men on leave during World War I. Rooms cost $1.50 and up, and crowds started to arrive at the hotel again.

In 1919, a Chicago group headed by Charles J. Stoops purchased the hotel and obtained a $250,000 mortgage on it. There were great hopes for the hotel with the predicted post-war economic boom, but business was less than brisk, and rumors of closure again surrounded the Hotel Victory.

Put-in-Bay Hotels History –  The Hotel Victory Burns

On Thursday night, August 14, 1919, shortly after the dinner hour, a fire started in the northwest corner of the third floor of the reopened hotel. The fewer-than-40 guests were able to escape unharmed. Looters, meanwhile, stole many of the personal belongings left behind by fleeing guests, pieces of the hotel’s furnishings, and anything else of value they could cart off.

An hour later, the entire building was an inferno and no match for the island’s fire department, which concentrated on saving nearby structures. The flames, shooting more than 75 feet in the air, lit up the sky and could be seen as far away as Sandusky, Toledo, and Detroit. Ashes reportedly landed on Kelleys Island. The next day there was nothing left, but foundation ruins. Damage was estimated between $500,000 and $1,000,000, or $7,400,000 to $14,8000,000 today.

There was much speculation that the fire was purposely set to collect the insurance on the building, but it was later learned there was little insurance and that the fire was probably due to an electrical problem. In any case, it was the end of Hotel Victory and another mark in Put-in-Bay Hotels History.

The Last 100 Years of Put-in-Bay Hotels History

The Hotel Victory site lay fallow and underdeveloped until the State of Ohio purchased the acreage in 1938 to build a new public park. The park site became part of the Ohio State Park System in 1951. One hundred years later, there are a few hints that something once graced the land now occupied by campers. The remains of the natatorium are most prominent, now fenced in for safety concerns.

Nearby is the stone base of the bronze Winged Victory statue. The actual statue was carted off the island during the scrap metal drives of World War II. For many years, you could find small charred items such as pieces of broken plates, silverware, pottery, and artifacts, but after 100 years, such finds are now rare.

Speculation-One can only speculate what would have happened with the Hotel Victory had it not burned. Mackinac Island’s majestic Grand Hotel opened a few years before Hotel Victory. Although it also went through some hard times, it still stands today a proud survivor of an era that started 130 years ago. Over the years, it has been visited by U.S. Presidents and First Ladies, Thomas Edison, Mark Twain, celebrities, and dignitaries worldwide.

There have even been movies made at the Grand. Had the Hotel Victory not burned, would it have enjoyed a similar glory? With its financial troubles, Prohibition and the Great Depression may very well have been too much for Hotel Victory to weather. Although if it had survived, could you imagine today’s golf carts parked in front of the glorious structure, with visitors wanting to tour the grounds or have lunch in the huge dining room? Like the Grand on Mackinac, it would have been a glorious attraction for Put-in-Bay and a special part of Put-in-Bay Hotels History.

For More Information If your interest has been peaked and you want to know more about the hotel, there is a binder with photos and more information about the Hotel Victory in the office at the South Bass Island State Park; you can also visit the Lake Erie Islands Historical Society Museum downtown behind the Put-in-Bay Town Hall where there is a special display this season with loads of Hotel Victory memorabilia, photos, furniture, and other items and hotel history.

The museum is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. State Park Ranger Renee Market will be marking the anniversary as part of Green Week activities in the State Park on Wednesday, August 14th, from Noon to 6 p.m. Plans call for outlining the hotel’s exact location so one can get a feeling for what was there. There will be food, refreshments, and beer and wine available.

Everyone is invited to come out to this event. There are also island history books that help tell the story and articles and photos on the internet. Islander Barbara Allen Cooper also wrote a booklet about Hotel Victory—22-foot high “Winged Victory” statue.

Alfred M.

Put-In-Bay in the Village has something for everyone. With its harbor, it has the feel of a seaside town, making it a popular destination. The views are stunning, and it's worth taking a stroll around the harbor. There are plenty of restaurants to choose from, including sit-down restaurants, grab-and-go, ice cream and sweet shops, and bars. De Rivera Park has a range of activities for all ages. Perry's Monument is an educational and interesting attraction, and the Rangers there are welcoming. Kids can also enjoy the Junior Ranger program. Gift shops can be found throughout the town, and there is even a carousel. Hotels and resorts are all very nice.

Brandy F.

Most of the parking in town is for golf carts, which can be rented near the ferry docks or in town. Hotels and resorts are reasonably priced. Golf carts are a popular way to get around the Island. Alternatively, visitors can drive their cars in, but parking is limited and often has a maximum time limit or is specific to businesses. At night, the village is known for its party atmosphere, with many bars. However, as a family vacation spot, it may be best to avoid the village during the early evening.

Michael C.

Our first visit to Put-in-Bay was successful due to proper research and planning. We were prepared for the "Key West of the North" vibe and visited during the week to avoid excessive partying. We stayed in one of the lovely hotels and resorts just outside of the village, rented a golf cart to tour the Island, and enjoyed a few afternoon drinks at various bars. Most other vacationers were around our age (50-60ish) and well-behaved. We cannot comment on the nightlife, as we preferred to relax on our porch after dinner. If you're looking for a peaceful island getaway, Put-in-Bay can be a great option if you avoid weekends and know what to expect.

Teresa P.

For 13 years now, my annual visits to Put-in-Bay have revolved around staying the various hotels and resorts. Although I don't partake in the drinking culture of the town, I still find it amusing to observe. The camping experience is the highlight of our trip. However, I do have a minor grievance with the early morning trash dumpster emptying by the park staff. It would be great if they could wait until 9 AM to do this. Despite this small issue, I always look forward to my yearly visit, and so does my black lab, who adores the beach at the state park.

Alex C.

We have always enjoyed staying at put-in-bay hotels and resorts. After getting off the put-in-bay ferry we drop our luggage and head out for fun! There is no shortage of things to do in put-in-bay. Put-in-bay rentals (also known as Edgewater hotel put-in-bay is our favorite place to stay.