I stayed at the hotel in the heart of McDonald's campus - and it was nothing like I expected

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I stayed at the hotel in the heart of McDonald's campus - and it was nothing like I expected

mcd hotel

Kate Taylor

Ronald McDonald lurks everywhere at the hotel on the fast-food giant's campus.

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  • McDonald's has a luxury Hyatt Lodge on its 75-acre campus in Oak Brook, Illinois.
  • I stayed at the hotel for one night, and was surprised by the lovely - but not necessarily unique - experience.
  • However, one thing made the hotel stand out: the endless, bizarre, McDonald's-themed artwork.

When I visited McDonald's headquarters earlier in March, I had one goal: stay at the infamous McDonald's hotel.

The fast-food headquarters are located on a 75-acre campus. And, on that campus is a Hyatt Lodge.

Thousands of McDonald's workers stay at the hotel every year while attending training at "Hamburger University," which is connected to the Hyatt by a bridge. And, while the hotel sold itself as "one of the best family resorts near Chicago," I suspected there may be more fast-food magic afoot.

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So, I booked a night at the hotel. Here's what it is like to stay at perhaps the most fast-food-obsessed hotel in the world.

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The hotel looks like a pretty standard old-school Hyatt from the outside.

The hotel looks like a pretty standard old-school Hyatt from the outside.

A statue called "The Strongest Bond," celebrating the work of the charity Ronald McDonald House, stands outside the Hyatt.

Entering the hotel, it's easy to be lulled into the feeling that you aren't, in fact, on McDonald's campus.

Entering the hotel, it's easy to be lulled into the feeling that you aren't, in fact, on McDonald's campus.
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It's a lovely location and has been the site of weddings and other retreats beyond McDonald's employee events.

It's a lovely location and has been the site of weddings and other retreats beyond McDonald's employee events.

However, hints of McDonald's lurk around every corner.

However, hints of McDonald's lurk around every corner.
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Specifically, Ronald McDonald himself is lurking in every hallway.

Specifically, Ronald McDonald himself is lurking in every hallway.

The hotel is absolutely stuffed with McDonald's-themed art.

The hotel is absolutely stuffed with McDonald's-themed art.
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The variety is, quite frankly, staggering.

The variety is, quite frankly, staggering.

There are McDonald's-themed parodies of well-known classical pieces of art.

There are McDonald's-themed parodies of well-known classical pieces of art.
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There are paintings that seem to be inspired by both pop art and hamburgers.

There are paintings that seem to be inspired by both pop art and hamburgers.

Ronald McDonald is a frequent star.

Ronald McDonald is a frequent star.
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Again, let me reiterate — the rest of the hotel is perfectly normal.

Again, let me reiterate — the rest of the hotel is perfectly normal.

There isn't fast food available via room service.

There isn't fast food available via room service.
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Instead, there are perfectly normal hotel restaurants.

Instead, there are perfectly normal hotel restaurants.

There is even a lovely fitness center and spa.

There is even a lovely fitness center and spa.
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The sole difference is the art that hangs on the walls in the hallway.

The sole difference is the art that hangs on the walls in the hallway.

McDonald's is moving its headquarters from the suburbs to Chicago proper later this year.

McDonald's is moving its headquarters from the suburbs to Chicago proper later this year.
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It remains to be seen what will happen to the Hyatt's art — whether it will also make the move, or whether the dozens of fast-food-inspired art pieces will be forced to remain in Oak Brook forever.

It remains to be seen what will happen to the Hyatt's art — whether it will also make the move, or whether the dozens of fast-food-inspired art pieces will be forced to remain in Oak Brook forever.
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