See inside Alabama’s first Graduate Hotel, filled with university memorabilia

At once cozy and luxurious, the state of Alabama’s first Graduate Hotel by Hilton celebrates Auburn University history and fandom.

The five-story, 177-room hotel officially opened Friday, Sept. 27 on Magnolia Avenue where Anders Bookstore once stood. It is across the street from campus and a block from Auburn’s legendary Toomer’s Corner and downtown area.

The décor includes nods to everything Auburn, featuring bronze eagles, tiger-print cushions, orange-and-blue furniture and tile, fun murals and bespoke wallpaper. But the most obvious homages to Auburn are the bars:

• The War Eagle Supper Club, a rooftop bar that reimagines the original dive bar into a swanky space for food, drinks, live music and good company. Read the details about the club here.
• Bo Jackson’s Beans is a coffee and cocktail bar in the lobby that was “created in partnership with professional sports legend, Auburn University alumni, and Heisman Trophy winner, Bo Jackson,” according to the hotel’s press material.

“Auburn is centered around one of the South’s largest universities, so we were constantly inspired by the incredibly engaged alumni network and the even stronger football fan base in town,” said Kevin Osterhaus, president of Global Lifestyle Brands at Hilton. “Our goal was to create a space that pays tribute to Auburn’s people, culture, and the enduring legacy that makes this place truly special for guests, students, and alumni alike… Every detail is thoughtfully curated for an authentic experience that is undeniably Auburn.”

The property, which covers nearly 140,000 square feet, includes 10,000 square feet of meeting and event space.

Some other details about the site:

Reception desk: Features “a custom installation showcases a football field with a soaring eagle – a reference to the beloved pre-game tradition where the crowd chants the ‘War Eagle’ battle cry as an eagle soars across the field before kickoff.”

Bo Jackson’s Beans: Includes a huge wooden relief of Bo with football and baseball equipment and barstools with Bo’s jersey number, 34, embroidered on them.

Lobby: Offers “a designated communal workspace open to visitors, locals, and students alike” including a long work table. The lobby has custom chandeliers made from footballs, baseball bats and gloves “that nod to the sports Bo played professionally,” the press release said.

Guest rooms: Feature “an eclectic mix of gingham, stripes, and floral patterns in the Auburn University color palette,” the rooms also have homages to Auburn traditions, including the eagle-inspired sconces, custom headboards depicting an oak tree from Toomer’s, tiger-print bolster pillows, a lamp on the credenza commemorating the legendary “Bo Over the Top” play by Bo Jackson during the Iron Bowl, a portrait of one of Auburn’s most famous graduates, Oscar-winning actress Octavia Spencer, and artwork of the interior of the War Eagle Supper Club bus and Toomer’s Corner covered in toilet paper after a win.

Guest baths: Include “custom orange-and-navy hexagonal tiles and wallpaper portraying local staples and Alabama folklore hand-drawn by artist Taylor Rushing.” The bathroom has eafle-claw light sconces and bespoke wallpaper showing the Wreck Tech Parade, Charles Barkley, John Heisman, Toomer’s Corner, Toomer’s lemonade, the Supper Club slush bus and more.

“Every Graduate starts with the same foundation — research, tradition and culture — but each outcome is totally different,” said Ben Weprin, founder of Graduate Hotels and CEO of AJ Capital Partners. “For Auburn, the result is the physical manifestation of what it means to be an Auburn Tiger … you will feel the magic the second you walk in the door.”