Skip to main content

Detroit’s Abandoned Wurlitzer Building Is Reborn as The Siren Hotel

The Siren Hotel

Detroit may be down, but she’s not out. Over the last two years, the city’s seemingly abandoned downtown core has shown signs of serious revitalization. This month, the historical Wurlitzer Building — an abandoned, century-old architectural masterpiece that many believed would never reopen — is finding new life as a beautiful boutique hotel.

The Siren Hotel is working hard to live up to is namesake inspiration — to call people back to the city of Detroit. In stark contrast to the building’s 18th- and 19th-century architecture, all 106 rooms feature thoroughly modern appointments. Flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and custom furniture and lighting are all standard.

Recommended Videos

The lobby is home to Populace Coffee, a gourmet coffee stand with in-house roasting and fresh pastries baked on-site. Candy Bar, a destination-worthy gin joint in its own right, stays true to the hotel’s swanky, sophisticated history with playful accents like disco balls and a candy pink ceiling. There’s even a hyper-exclusive, eight-seat chef’s counter, Albena, headed by James Beard nominee Garrett Lipar. There are even more concepts in the works, including an upscale diner; a high-end, two-chair barbershop; and a rooftop bar with panoramic views of Comerica Park and downtown Detroit.

The Siren Hotel

The original Wurlitzer Building opened in 1926 to house the burgeoning musical instrument company for which it was named. Built in the Renaissance Revival style, it was a symbol of the city’s elite status as a hub for U.S. business and industry. The 14-story building beautifully blended steel and concrete, wrapped in a terracotta facade with granite trim and intricate detailing. The Detroit Times hailed it as “a structure complete in every detail and entirely worthy of the art to which it will be devoted.” They concluded the building’s “sheer beauty scarcely can be excelled.” Thankfully, all of that original detailing remains.

The Siren Hotel

The Wurlitzer Building was abandoned in 1982 and suffered serious decay in the ensuing decades. Beginning in 2015, ASH NYC, the design development firm behind The Siren Hotel and some of our favorite boutique hotels, meticulously refurbished the structure to maintain its classic feel. To that end, the lobby is adorned with century-old Italian antiques, and locally sourced vintage furniture and accents dot the interior. At a time when the city desperately needs, and is starting to finally see, more hotels downtown, it’s a sign Detroit is moving in the right direction.

The Siren Hotel is now open for reservations with nightly rates starting around USD $139.

Mike Richard
Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South…
Seeing bear poop on the trail? Here’s what you should do
Bear poop: what it looks like and what to do about it
what to do if you see bear poop daniele levis pelusi wxmzt3sie4g unsplash

While hiking in the woods, it's not uncommon to come across a pile of animal waste. It's gross, to be sure, but identifying scat is actually one of the easiest ways to keep yourself safe from dangerous wild animals. These telltale signs can mean the difference between you charging through into a bear's territory or not, so knowing what to look for can help keep you safe. Here is everything you need to know about bear poop and what it means if you come across it in the middle of the woods.
What does bear poop look like?

Bear poop can vary in appearance. This is because bears may have different diets, or they might even be different kinds all together. Generally, bear scat is larger and more cylindrical than human or dog feces. Segments can be several inches long and about 1-2 inches in diameter, but the size of the scat does not always directly correlate to the size of the bear. The contents of the bear’s recent diet play a larger role in determining scat size and appearance. For instance, a bear that recently ate a lot of berries may produce more, but smaller, scat compared to a bear that consumed a large animal or fish.

Read more
National parks nationwide waive entrance fees for Veterans Day
Now's the time to visit your favorite national park
West ridge of Amphitheater Mountain at Yellowstone National Park in the winter

This Veterans Day, national parks across the United States invite all visitors to enter free of charge in honor of the service and dedication of America’s veterans, who have played a significant role in protecting and preserving our cherished national park system. From rescuing stranded hikers to neutralizing old explosives, these veterans have gone above and beyond to serve our nation and the land we hold most dear. Today, more than 4,000 veterans are employed in the National Park Service, and they account for about 20% of the park rangers across the nation.

If you're planning on visiting one of our gorgeous national parks on Monday, November 11, keep in mind that fees for camping and other special activities will still remain in effect. It's bound to be crowded, so make sure that you make any reservations well in advance.

Read more
Deck the stalls: Exploring Germany’s most magical Christmas markets
Grab some Glühwein and head to one of these markets.
Christmas market

If you’re looking to get into the holiday spirit, there’s nothing quite like a German Christmas market. With Oktoberfest in the rearview mirror, it's time to get into the Christmas spirit and think about the best places to visit in November and December. Imagine strolling through charming stalls, sipping on a steaming mug of Glühwein (that’s German mulled wine!), and taking in the twinkling lights, festive tunes, and delicious smells of spiced treats in the air.

From handmade ornaments to artisan gifts, German Christmas markets are a one-stop wonderland for holiday shopping. And with plenty of rides and activities for kids, they’re perfect for a family outing, too. So, grab a cozy scarf, warm up with some Glühwein or hot cocoa, and let’s dive into the best German Christmas markets you don’t want to miss this season.
Essen International Christmas Market

Read more