A Legacy of Ingenuity, Entrepreneurship and Service of our Rochester Hotels in MN
From modest origins to their current achievements, the Kahler Family boasts a storied legacy of innovation, entrepreneurship, and community service in Rochester.
The Kahler hotels have marked many significant milestones, such as welcoming Bishop Desmond Tutu, building new establishments, and establishing a lasting imprint on our city. This remarkable journey traces back to the quaint town of Bayfield, Canada, where it all began with Henry Kahler.
A Partnership with the Mayo Brothers
The rich history and tradition of the Kahler Grand Hotel in Rochester traces back to the influential Mayo Brothers. As they embarked on creating their renowned hospital in what was then a modest rural town, they encountered a pressing lack of lodging for patients and medical staff. This need sparked a demand for real estate development in hospitality. Responding to this need, John Kahler of The Kahler Corporation, founded in 1917, was enlisted by the Mayo Brothers to construct a hotel and hospital to support their ambitious medical enterprise.
The Birth of a Landmark
In 1921, the Kahler Grand Hotel, originally known as The Kahler Hotel, emerged as a distinguished landmark in Rochester. This eleven-floor structure was a remarkable hybrid of luxury accommodations and medical innovation, and would become the Mayo Clinic Hospital, initially termed “The Sanatorium.” The building allocated six floors to the hotel, while five floors were devoted to hospital functions, featuring three operating rooms and numerous laboratories. This pioneering concept reflected John H. Kahler’s visionary approach to hospitality.
The Kahler Hotel was a multifaceted establishment: it housed a 210-bed hospital equipped with operating rooms for oral, plastic, and general surgeries, a 150-bed convalescent unit, and a 220-room hotel.
Expansion and Resilience
As the Mayo Clinic Hospital grew, so too did the Kahler Hotel and other properties developed by the Kahler Corp, all designed to accommodate the increasing number of individuals seeking medical care. The Kahler Realty Corporation was instrumental in nurturing a thriving hotel industry that served both visitors and hospital staff.
Remarkably, even during the Great Depression, the Kahler Corporation continued to innovate. Minnesota’s severe winters prompted the construction of a pedestrian subway system, lined with tiles, that connected the downtown Mayo Clinic Campus to nearby hotels and retail establishments. By 1953, The Kahler Hotel had phased out its hospital functions, and the Kahler Corporation sold its hospital assets to the newly expanded Methodist Hospital.
A FOCUS ON HOSPITALITY
The revenue generated from these sales was reinvested into expanding the Kahler Corporation’s hospitality services. With a renewed emphasis on improving hotel experiences for both patients and tourists, the corporation embarked on developing various hotels catering to diverse clientele. This expansion led to the ownership and operation of four prominent hotels in Rochester: The Kahler Hotel, The Kahler Inn & Suites, and The Kahler Plaza Hotel, which is now known as the Rochester Marriott Mayo Clinic Area.
OUR COMMITMENT
With a proud legacy, our mission is to ensure every guest’s stay is unforgettable. We serve with unwavering dedication. The Kahler Grand Hotel joyously marked its centennial in 2018, steadfast in maintaining our legacy of excellence.
