McMenamins Kennedy School
4.6(8.9K)google
FamilyYouth-FriendlyIndoorLocal LifeQuirkyHistoric BuildingFolk Culture
Overview
McMenamins Kennedy School is a brilliantly reimagined historic attraction, transforming a 1915 elementary school into a unique, whimsical lodging and entertainment complex. Located in northeast Portland, the venue preserves the original chalkboards, school desks, and historic class photographs throughout its hallways and guest rooms. Visitors can enjoy craft beer in the Detention Bar, watch a movie in the old auditorium-turned-theater, or soak in a steaming outdoor saltwater pool. It represents a quintessential Portland experience, blending neighborhood history, artistic murals, and creative hospitality into an unforgettable destination.
Practical Info
Suggested DurationAbout 2-4 hours
Best TimeYear-round, with late afternoons or evenings being the ideal time to visit. You can grab a local craft beer in an old classroom-turned-pub, look at quirky history-lined hallways, and soak in the outdoor heated soaking pool under retro neon lights.
Getting ThereLocated in Northeast Portland. Take Bus Line 17 or Line 72 from downtown directly to nearby stops, followed by a 3-minute walk. The converted school complex features a large, complimentary on-site parking lot for self-driving guests.
Travel Tips
- Soaking Pool Booking: This historic 1915 schoolhouse campus allows non-guests to browse corridors for free. However, accessing the legendary heated outdoor courtyard soaking pool requires purchasing a timed-use ticket online in advance if you aren't staying overnight.
- Navigation Hint: The property houses multiple hidden bars inside old boiler rooms and detention quarters. Grab a complimentary printed 'school map' at the front desk or gift shop to avoid getting lost in the labyrinth of hallways.
- Parking Solution: The on-site complimentary parking lots fill up entirely on weekend evenings. Look for free curbside parking along the surrounding residential side streets, but ensure you do not block neighborhood driveways.
Reviews
Positive
- A unique hospitality resort converted from a 1915 historic elementary school, preserving chalkboards, desks, vintage photos, and corridors. The nostalgic visual impact lives up to its legendary name.
- The experience is wonderfully eccentric. You can drink craft beer in the old boiler room, lounge on sofas to watch movies in the former auditorium, or soak in a plant-lined outdoor saltwater pool.
- The facilities and maintenance are kept to a high standard. Despite the historic building, ADA ramps and elevators are present. The staff are warm and witty, providing great order management.
- It is open to the public daily; even non-guests can walk in and explore for free, making basic convenience great. While commercialized, the in-house dining and gift shop prices are fair for the unique vibe.
Heads up
- During Friday and Saturday evening rush hours, the crowd density gets overwhelming. Packed with multiple bars, corridors get flooded with rowdy patrons and loud talk, breaking any historic peace.
- As a highly sought-after resort, secondary spending is quite steep. Restaurant food and house-brewed craft beers are premium-priced, leading budget-conscious guests to feel the dining value is overrated.
- The dedicated outdoor parking lot is tight and fills up fast during peak dinner slots. Self-driving visitors are often forced to hunt for street parking in the surrounding residential grid, limiting convenience.
- For non-driving or non-English speaking international tourists, the labyrinthine layout is confusing, and the historic directional signs use cursive English or vintage graphics, lacking clear multilingual text.