Comfort Inn

The Comfort Inn is located at 150 Howard Street in downtown Mount Vernon, a short drive or free shuttle ride to Kenyon’s campus in Gambier. The hotel is across the street from Kenyon’s Wright Center, home to the film department and the Office for Community Partnerships, and adjacent to the Kokosing River, Heritage Center Park and a network of paved trails.

Watch a video tour of the Comfort Inn narrated by Jonathan Pastor ’23.

Amenities

En-suite bathroom with tub/shower
Refrigerator and microwave
Two queen-sized or one king-sized bed, with sheets (please bring pillows, blankets and comforters)
Heating and air conditioning
Desk with chair and armchair
Coin laundry
Lounge area with TV
Staffed front desk and electronic keyfob access

Transportation

The Knox Area Transit (KAT) Shuttle provides service between Kenyon’s Wright Center (across the street from the Comfort Inn) and the Kenyon Bookstore in Gambier on a regular and reliable schedule either once or twice per hour between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. on weekdays and 2 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Saturdays. The shuttle is free for Kenyon students and employees.
Students with cars may park them at the Comfort Inn and, when commuting to Kenyon, park them in the South 1 lot near Peirce Dining Hall. Students will register their cars with Campus Safety as usual but will receive parking stickers at no cost.

Dining

All students will remain on the Kenyon meal plan. When commuting to Gambier for on-campus classes, studying, extracurricular events and other activities, students will be able to eat in Peirce Dining Hall.
Comfort Inn rooms will include a mini-fridge and microwave, but most have no kitchens. If you are interested in a room with a kitchenette, please inquire soon, as these will go quickly.
Nearby stores include a fully stocked local grocery store (Baker’s IGA, 0.5 miles) and a drug/convenience store (Rite Aid Pharmacy, 0.5 miles).
Nearby restaurants within 0.5 miles include: Domino’s Pizza, Whit’s Frozen Custard, Everlasting Cup coffee shop, Happy Bean coffee shop, La Paloma Mexican restaurant, the Alcove Restaurant & Lounge, Local Smoke BBQ, Stein Brewing Company, Half Baked Cafe, North Main Cafe and Wendy’s.
Many more stores and restaurants are located within a short driving distance.

Housekeeping

Comfort Inn staff will provide housekeeping services that fall partway between a typical dorm room (no service) and a typical hotel room (full service). Rooms will be vacuumed and bathrooms cleaned three times per week, but beds will not be made.
If a student would prefer not to have housekeeping staff enter their room, they may opt out of cleaning services.

Safety

Access to student rooms will be by electronic hotel keyfob (not K-Card).
The front entrance of the Comfort Inn will be monitored by hotel staff 24/7. Side entrances will be accessed by electronic hotel keyfob (not K-Card).
Fencing is being installed to control access between the back of the Comfort Inn property and the riverbank/trail area.
In addition to hotel staff, students will be able to contact Campus Safety with any concerns, just as they would on campus.

What should I bring with me?

Kenyon will provide bed sheets for Comfort Inn rooms. (Do not bring standard extra-long twin bed sheets with you, as these will not fit the queen and king beds in Comfort Inn rooms.) However, please do bring your own pillows, blankets, comforters, etc., as well as your own towels.
The Comfort Inn is a pet-free space (including fish) but Kenyon-approved ESAs are allowed.