Nouveau Fargo: Hotel Donaldson's Renovated Rooms

That's in Fargo? This was our first thought when we saw photographs of Hotel Donaldson, located in the heart of the North Dakota city made famous (for better or worse) by the Cohen Brothers. The second was, Good bones...

Although at first glance, the Donaldson seems to adhere to the standard "urban contemporary" look we see in so many modern hotels, it actually has subtle but strong connections to the local aesthetic. The hotel's collection includes 50 regional artists, and suites are designed around a featured artwork.

Originally designed as a lodge, the building dates back to the 1890s. Owner Karen Stoker renovated and reopened the space in 2003. Exposed wood beam ceilings and warm brick walls reflect the structure's sturdy character, and a rooftop landscaped with prairie grasses provides a chic hang-out spot in summer.

For more photos and information, click here.

Photos: Hotel Donaldson

Comments (7)

Love they have a great art collection. I wish there was a better photo of the one on the wall (on the right) in the first photo.

posted by RBOttawa on September 28th 2009 at 3:42pm
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FYI, it's Coen, not Cohen brothers.

posted by Indy Jeffrey on September 28th 2009 at 5:34pm
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My question is, where's the wood chipper, eh?

posted by iphigenia on September 28th 2009 at 6:30pm
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A suite is $195.00. Kind of expensive for Fargo.

posted by wild-er on September 28th 2009 at 7:39pm
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If only you could see what it looked like before they redid it. When I moved to Fargo in 2001, it was a pay-by-the-week bum motel. I know everyone loves to joke about Fargo, but the downtown area (where the HoDo is) has improved by 100 percent in the last few years. As for $195 being too expensive for Fargo; a regular room at any of the big chain hotels will run you $75-100 anyway. And on a side note: if you ever actually come here, do not mention the movie. trust me.

posted by whipsnap on September 28th 2009 at 8:58pm
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I stayed here for my honeymoon and spent many evenings at the restaurant and lounge - it is great to see some the Donaldson featured here. It's not just an anomaly, either. Fargo has a vibrant arts culture and is a great place live.

But maybe I'm biased :)

posted by Justin M. on September 28th 2009 at 10:27pm
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Now that "urban contemporary" has come to North Dakota - It's time to find a new decorating trend...

posted by bepsf on September 28th 2009 at 10:41pm
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