A Ford Hotel did stand in downtown Toronto, but it was demolished in 1973, so no such hotel can be booked today. It opened in 1928 on Dundas Street West, east of Bay Street, with about 750 rooms. Several other historic hotels from the same city survive or have been reused, among them the King Edward, the Royal York, the Gladstone, and the Drake.
The Ford Hotel of 1928 to 1973
According to Wikipedia’s article, which cites Toronto Star reporting from 2002, the Ford Hotel was one of five hotels of the R.T. Ford company and was designed by Rochester architect John F. Warner, though the article does not name him for the Toronto building specifically. It had three 12-storey wings and about 750 rooms, stood beside the bus terminal, and was demolished in 1973. Its later reputation was poor: a BlogTO history reports that the Toronto Star called it the “Queen of Dumps” at the time of demolition. The page could not be fetched directly, so that detail comes from a search summary. Sources differ in small details, and anyone needing exact dates or room counts should consult city archives.
Historic hotels with documented dates
| Hotel | Opened or built | Notes from sources |
|---|---|---|
| King Edward Hotel, King Street East | 1903 | Architects Henry Ives Cobb and E.J. Lennox; named for Edward VII. Sources give May 10 or May 11 for the opening day. A heritage plaque unveiled in 2003 marked its centenary. |
| Royal York Hotel, Front Street West | June 11, 1929 | Built by Canadian Pacific on the site of the Queen’s Hotel, designed by Ross and Macdonald with Sproatt and Rolph. Room counts differ between sources. |
| Gladstone Hotel, Queen Street West | 1889 | Architect George Martell Miller, Richardsonian Romanesque. Room counts differ between sources. Later converted to a boutique hotel and cultural venue. |
| Drake Hotel, Queen Street West | 1890, as Small’s Hotel | Renamed the Drake in 1949 and reopened after renovation in February 2004. |
| Queen’s Hotel (gone) | Opened as Sword’s Hotel in 1853, renamed 1862 | Demolished in 1927 to make way for the Royal York. |
Hotels built for the railways
Many of these buildings owe their location to the railways. The Royal York stands across from Union Station, and Canadian Pacific built it. The Gladstone and the Drake were built for travellers using the western railway stations, according to the Wikipedia overview of Toronto hotels. Their later histories followed the neighbourhood: both housed low-income residents for a period, then returned as boutique hotels and cultural venues during Parkdale’s revival.
How to check a hotel’s claims
A hotel that advertises history can be checked. The Ontario Heritage Trust and Heritage Toronto publish plaque texts and building histories, and the City of Toronto’s heritage register lists designated properties. A claim about the founding year that is not backed by one of those, or by a dated newspaper item, should be treated as marketing.
Older buildings need upkeep, and the principle holds for mechanical plant as much as for masonry. Regular maintenance helps identify small problems before they lead to complete system failure.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a Ford Hotel in Toronto now?
No. The Ford Hotel on Dundas Street West was demolished in 1973, according to Wikipedia’s article. The site is now occupied by the Atrium on Bay, per a search summary of BlogTO and Taylor on History.
Which hotel opened first, the Gladstone or the Royal York?
The Gladstone, in 1889. The Royal York followed in 1929.
Is the Royal York the oldest hotel in the city?
No. The King Edward opened in 1903, and the Gladstone and the Drake date from 1889 and 1890.
Last verified: October 2026
Sources
- Wikipedia, Ford Hotel, which cites Philip Marchand, Toronto Star, August 31, 2002
- Wikipedia, Hotels in Toronto
- Ontario Heritage Trust, King Edward Hotel plaque (as reported in search results)
- BlogTO, A brief history of the Ford Hotel, 2012
- Taylor on History, Ford Hotel Toronto
Related reading
- Union Station, across the street from the Royal York
- Railways in 19th-century Toronto
- Parkdale and its Queen Street West hotels
- Yonge Street history
- Visiting Toronto: the hub
Cite this page
APA: History of Toronto. (2026, October 27). Toronto’s Historic Hotels and the Lost Ford Hotel. https://historyoftoronto.ca/blog/torontos-premier-ford-hotel-luxurious-accommodation-unparalleled-service-and-unforgettable-experiences-await
MLA: “Toronto’s Historic Hotels and the Lost Ford Hotel.” History of Toronto, 27 Oct. 2026, https://historyoftoronto.ca/blog/torontos-premier-ford-hotel-luxurious-accommodation-unparalleled-service-and-unforgettable-experiences-await. Accessed .
Chicago: History of Toronto. “Toronto’s Historic Hotels and the Lost Ford Hotel.” Last modified October 27, 2026. https://historyoftoronto.ca/blog/torontos-premier-ford-hotel-luxurious-accommodation-unparalleled-service-and-unforgettable-experiences-await.
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