Hotel Pontchartrain opened its doors in 1965. The hotel, located at 2 Washington Blvd., was built on the land of Detroit’s first permanent French Settlement, Fort Pontchartrain, later known as Fort Detroit.

The Pontch was dedicated on the 264th anniversary of Detroit’s Founding, July 24, 1965. The hotel, designed by King & Lewis, was knownfor the angular bay windows that provided every guest with beautiful views of Detroit and Canada.

Hotel Pontchartrain was also home to Chuck Muer’s Top of the Pontch, a notable restaurant located on the 25th floor of the hotel. The floor to ceiling windows that overlooked the Detroit River allowed for a dining experience like no other.

After years of operating as Hotel Pontchartrain, the building was sold. Throughout the years, the property experienced many changes in ownership and branding, until 2013 when the hotel re-opened as the Crowne Plaza Detroit Downtown Riverfront, today Fort Pontchartrain a Wyndham Hotel.

The Crowne Plaza® Detroit Downtown Riverfront re-opened in July of 2013, after sitting vacant for almost 4 years. The hotel underwent a multi-million dollar renovation after the new ownership group acquired the property and began operating under the Crowne Plaza® Brand. The building was formally the Hotel Pontchartrain, which opened in 1965.

The current hotel proudly operates 367 guestrooms, each with exquisite views of the city and International Riverfront. There is around 32,000 square feet of meeting and event space, including a 10,000+ square foot ballroom that opened in the summer of 2018. The hotel offers on-site catering options, a full restaurant and bar, in-room dining, a lobby level cafe that serves Starbucks coffee, and a team of dedicated individuals to make each stay an enjoyable one.