Key Route Inn, hotel in California, United States
The Key Route Inn was a large wooden hotel that opened in Oakland in 1907 with open timber framing and a distinctive archway in the style of old English architecture. The building was positioned directly alongside the Key Route streetcar tracks with a unique feature: trains passed through an open corridor in the lobby to reach a terminal point that connected to ferry services to San Francisco.
The hotel opened in 1907 to promote Oakland as a modern destination and remained closely tied to the expanding streetcar system. A major fire in 1930 severely damaged the building, and it was demolished in 1932 when the city decided to extend Grand Avenue through the site.
The name Key Route Inn directly referenced the streetcar system that defined the area's identity and connected residents to the city. The building's architectural style and prominent location made it a landmark that represented Oakland's aspirations to be seen as a modern and civilized destination.
The site where the hotel once stood no longer exists, but its history can be explored through archival photographs and records kept in local libraries and collections. The area is now part of Uptown Oakland and can be visited by walking along Broadway and the surrounding Grand Avenue area.
The hotel featured an extraordinary design where streetcars did not simply pass nearby but actually ran through the lobby itself, stopping at a terminal point inside the building. This allowed hotel guests and travelers to step directly from the lobby onto ferries bound for San Francisco.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
