Bavarian Inn Lodge

Bavarian Inn Lodge
Interactive map of Bavarian Inn Lodge
LocationOne Covered Bridge Lane, Frankenmuth, Michigan
Coordinates43°19′33″N 83°44′12″W / 43.325876°N 83.736763°W / 43.325876; -83.736763
ThemeBavaria
OwnerMichael Keller Zehnder[1]
General managerJoanna Nelson[2]
Opened1986[3]
Operating seasonYear-round
Websitewww.bavarianinn.com

Bavarian Inn Lodge is a 360-room[4] resort and indoor water park in Frankenmuth, Michigan. It is one of the attractions in Frankenmuth, a major regional tourist destination, and features the largest indoor water park in Michigan.[5] With about one thousand employees, it is the eighth largest employer in Saginaw County.[6] The lodge hosts about 200,000 overnight guests each year.[7]

History

The name Bavarian Inn originally referred only to a nearby restaurant that is owned by the same family, the Zehnders. Originally called the Bavarian Inn Motor Lodge, the lodge was a spinoff from the nearby Bavarian Inn Restaurant.[3]

Since 1929, the Zehnder family has owned and operated Zehnder's, a colonial-style restaurant in Frankenmuth.[8] In 1958, William “Tiny” Zehnder Jr., son of the founder of Zehnder's Restaurant and a prominent figure in Frankenmuth's business community, purchased the former Fischer Hotel. During renovations to transform the building into the Bavarian Inn Restaurant, his architect proposed incorporating traditional Bavarian architectural styles, an idea that Zehnder embraced.[3] Zehnder subsequently helped encourage other local businesses to adopt Bavarian-themed architecture and branding, contributing to the development of Frankenmuth's tourism industry.[9][10][11]

The lodge opened across the Cass River in May 1986 with 100 rooms. The lodge continued the Bavarian architectural theme.[3] In October 1988, construction began on a 98-room addition that included a 55-foot tower topped by an onion dome. The addition opened in June 1989.[12] By 1990, “motor” had been dropped from the resort's name.[13]

On June 1, 1995, the third expansion opened, adding 156 rooms and additional swimming pools and activities.[14] Three years later, an addition brought the total capacity of the conference center to 800.[15] In 2000, two pools were added, bringing the total number to five.[16] Water slides were added in 2012. By that point, the hotel had 360 rooms.[4]

The Bavarian Blast indoor water park, an addition to the lodge building, opened in March 2025.[5]

Description

The building is inspired by the traditional architecture of Bavaria. It incorporates towers, decorative timber framing, colorful pastel-shaded stucco walls, and carved wood details.[3][17]

The hotel's 360 rooms are each named for a German family that settled in the Frankenmuth area.[3] The downstairs family entertainment center offers additional restaurants, a miniature golf course, laser tag, arcade, and an indoor ropes course.[18] Prior to the opening of the water park, the resort featured five pools and two waterslides.[4]

The Bavarian Blast water park added a wave pool, toddler pool, lazy river (called a “not-so-lazy” river by the park), 16 waterslides, 20 private cabanas, an activity pool with basketball hoops, a restaurant and Michigan's first swim-up bar. A tall glass roof and walls allow for tanning.[19] At 170,000 square feet, it is Michigan's largest indoor water park as of 2025.[5][20]

Design of the water park was a collaboration between Aquatic Design Group (engineering) and Adirondack Studios. Adirondack Studios provided art direction and fabrication services for themed features throughout the water park, such as playful animal sculptures and colorful decorative structures and buildings.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 Knowles, Becci (June 3, 2025). "Bavarian Inn Lodge: Ein Prosit!". In Park Magazine.
  2. ↑ Williams, Candice (February 20, 2026). "New generation steps up in Frankenmuth". The Detroit News.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Sanford, Dave (May 1, 1986). "Motor lodge newest tourist twist in Frankenmuth". Flint Journal. p. C1.
  4. 1 2 3 Knake, Lindsay (August 16, 2012). "Bavarian Inn Lodge expanding Family Fun Center". Bay City Times. p. A3.
  5. 1 2 3 Boomer, Kaytie (April 27, 2025). "Indoor waterpark is making waves in 'Little Bavaria'". Bay City Times. p. A2.
  6. ↑ "Top Employers". Saginawfuture.com. Retrieved March 26, 2026.
  7. ↑ Jordan, Heather (March 19, 2016). "Inside Frankenmuth's Bavarian Inn". MLive.
  8. ↑ Winter, Christine (May 11, 2025). "Zehnder's celebrates 96 years of Mother's Day meals". WNEM.
  9. ↑ Wyche, Paul (May 28, 2006). "'Visionary' left legacy of tourism". The Flint Journal. p. 11.
  10. ↑ Bavarian Inn. "Historical Story" (PDF). Retrieved March 27, 2026.
  11. ↑ Rossiter, Joe (May 26, 2006). "William Zehnder Jr." Put heart into Frankenmuth". Detroit Free Press. p. 6B.
  12. ↑ "Bavarian Inn Motor Lodge adds dome on new addition". Bay City Times. April 24, 1989. p. 4B.
  13. ↑ Bavarian Inn Lodge (March 6, 1990). "Win a weekend in Frankenmuth" (Advertisement). p. C2.
  14. ↑ Miel, Rhoda (May 24, 1995). "Inn expansion links family, fun". Saginaw News. p. B1.
  15. ↑ Miel, Rhoda (March 31, 1998). "More room at the inn". Saginaw News. p. 1.
  16. ↑ Spenner, Jean (June 25, 2000). "Pooling their resources". Saginaw News. p. G1.
  17. ↑ "Bavarian Inn starting work on $4-million expansion". Flint Journal. April 4, 1998. p. C3.
  18. ↑ Bavarian Inn. "Guest Experiences". Retrieved March 27, 2026.
  19. ↑ Moore, Sarah (March 21, 2025). "Frankenmuth's Bavarian Blast Indoor Waterpark is now open. What you'll find inside". Lansing State Journal.
  20. ↑ Bavarian Inn. "170,000 sq. ft. Expansion Enters Final Phase at Bavarian Inn Lodge, Frankenmuth". Retrieved March 27, 2026.
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