Montgomery Bell State Park Inn and Conference Center

After designing the Montgomery Bell State Park Inn and Conference Center in 1997, EOA was given the opportunity in 2019-2020 to re-visit the site and help rejuvenate the Inn for the next generation of guests.

Rebranded as The Lodge at Montgomery Bell, the entire building underwent a $12m renovation including all 117 guest rooms and suites, the 8,500 sf conference center, full commercial kitchen, and main entry lobby and dining areas which provide guests with a view out to Acorn Lake. A bar and lounge area as well as a new elevated outdoor dining deck were added to the lobby to expand the Lodge’s serving capacity, and new patios off the pre-conference area created more space for guests to spend time outside. A new stair was added to bring light into below-grade corridors and creates a direct connection from the lobby to the pool area. The outdated indoor pool was converted into an outdoor event space with a fire pit and the building’s amenities (retail area, fitness, guest laundry) were upgraded to be consistent with the redesign.

Taking advantage of the site’s natural setting in the 3,700 acre State Park, the renovation put a focus on connecting with the outdoors and highlighting the Park’s unique history with its namesake’s influence on the Iron Industry. Finishes were chosen to relate to the site’s natural setting as well as the transformative nature of iron as an evolving material, including custom patina-finished steel elements used throughout the design. Furniture was also chosen with a focus on natural materials. Artwork includes many historical images from the Park’s past as well as an abstract 3-dimensional interpretation of a historical map of the Park.