Biker-friendly hotel to open near Harley museum

[Bob]

Planning to visit the Harley-Davidson museum? Then why not stay at a hotel specifically aimed at “bikers and business travellers”.

The Iron Horse Hotel, currently being converted from a former warehouse just a short walk from the new museum, will be opening its doors from June 2008.

The 102-room, $22 million hotel will not be a motorcycle-themed hotel, said developer Tim Dixon, but will offer a mix of high-end amenities, along with biker-friendly features, such as shelves for helmets and strong hooks that can handle the weight of leather jackets, he said. There will be benches on which to sit while removing boots.

The Iron Horse will include an on-site bike wash and covered motorcycle parking. A hotel shop will sell rider accessories, and motorcycle maintenance kits will be available to guests.

And the bathroom showers will be oversize – a rather damning impression of US bikers!

[davereid]

Will there be room for my ute, so I can ride my harley from the hotel to the museum ?

[Bullitt]

...along with biker-friendly features, such as shelves...

Always something Ive found lacking in hotels

[Bob]

Always something Ive found lacking in hotels

I think what the guy is trying to say is shelves made specifically for helmets... but yes, it does all sound a bit like "My idea of bikers from looking at pictures", rather than from really talking to a genuine biker.

So... sort of 'biker-lite'.

It'll probably appeal to those guys who go to Daytona, buy the t-shirt, drive (not ride) home again without sticking around... and at the BBQ in the back garden the next weekend tell everyone else what a wild time they had.


Be nice to be proved wrong... but somehow I think I'm on a safe bet here.

[brigette]

Thought I'd jump in here since I'm one of those quoted in the article. The features and amenities of the Iron Horse Hotel have been designed over a 2 year period based on focus groups with riders and H-D dealership managers. The owner is a rider and he hired an architect and interior design that have designed many H-D dealerships who they understand the market. Features such as "shelves" reflect the simple yet often-overlooked needs of bikers. So when you enter a guest room, the floor and walls are tiled to receive dirty and wet boots. There's a bench to remove boots, a shelf for helmets and iron hooks to hang heavy leathers. Everything from rag bins near the covered bike parking, carts to get saddle bag contents to your room, packed lunch and ride maps are all planned. And as we learn more from our guests, we'll continue to offer the services and amenities riders needs. Bottom line, this is an authentic hotel for real riders. Check us out at www.theironhorsehotel.com -- comments welcome.