This Savannah Hotel Has a Life-Size Chrome Dinosaur in the Lobby 🦕

Finding a hotel that doubles as a world-class natural history museum doesn't happen often, but this Savannah riverfront property does exactly that. 😍🦕

Located directly on Savannah's historic Riverwalk, this hotel turns a century-old Georgia Power plant into one of the most visually striking stays in the American South. JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District (rated 4.5/5 on Tripadvisor) is especially popular with families and couples who want walkable access to Savannah's historic district without sacrificing a genuine hotel experience.

The property has a rooftop pool, a full-service spa, multiple restaurants and bars, and a lobby filled with fossils, geodes, minerals, and that giant chrome-dipped dinosaur. Savannah riverfront hotels can get pricey, but we found stays for four from $226/night, making this an affordable experience for couples or families.

Details

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Example of Cheapest Date

To the Offer

The Experience

The best part of this hotel is that it doesn’t feel like somewhere you simply pass through on your way to Savannah. The Power Plant atrium is the showstopper, with a 135-foot chrome-dipped cast of Amphicoelias fragillimus, one of the largest dinosaurs ever discovered, suspended above meteorite fragments and illuminated amethyst slabs the size of doors.

But the fun doesn’t stop in the lobby. You can wander over to the Three Muses building for cocktails at Myrtle & Rose rooftop bar, catch live music at District Live in the maritime-themed Atlantic building, or head up to Compass Pool Lounge for Savannah River views and container ships gliding past. The dinosaur is the headline, obviously, but the whole Plant Riverside District gives the stay a built-in sense of energy, with rooftop drinks and pool, river walks, live music, and Savannah’s old-city charm right outside.

⭐ Why We'd Book It

• 135-foot chrome dinosaur and natural history museum-style lobby

• Rooftop pool and cabanas overlooking the Savannah River

• Three distinct buildings with 12 restaurants and multiple rooftop bars

• Live music venue on site at District Live

• Direct access to the Savannah Riverwalk and historic district

• Dinosaur scavenger hunts and guided fossil tours for families

• AAA Four Diamond rated

❤️ What We Love About This Hotel

• The dinosaur is 135 feet of chrome-plated absurdity, and it completely works

• You can eat at a different restaurant every night without leaving the district

• The Power Plant atrium is worth seeing even if you're not staying overnight

• Watching container ships pass from the rooftop pool is a surprisingly great afternoon

• The three-building layout gives the hotel real personality, not just a lobby and a corridor

🏨 Good To Know

• Address: 500 W River St, Savannah, GA, directly on the Riverwalk

• Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport is approximately 7 miles away

• Walkable to River Street, City Market, Ellis Square, and Savannah’s main historic squares

• Paid valet and self-parking are available on site

• Pets are allowed

• Kids stay free, and cribs are available on request

• The rooftop pool is exclusively for hotel guests, and cabana packages can be booked in advance
  

Additional Information

All of our deals are available at the time of publishing, but prices are subject to fluctuate and change at any time.

Image Sources: Tripadvisor and Booking

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💡 Frequently Asked Questions

What is the dinosaur at the JW Marriott Savannah?

The centerpiece of the Power Plant lobby is a 135-foot chrome-plated cast of Amphicoelias fragillimus, one of the largest dinosaurs ever discovered. It's surrounded by ancient geodes, meteorites, and illuminated mineral slabs as part of the hotel's built-in natural history museum experience.

Can non-guests visit the dinosaur lobby at Plant Riverside?

Yes. The lobby, restaurants, and fossil displays are open to non-guests. The property also offers guided one-hour tours of the natural history installations, available even if you're not staying overnight.

How much does the JW Marriott Savannah cost per night?

Rates start around $226/night through third-party booking sites. Weekday rates in high summer (August) typically run $410–430/night, with weekend peaks closer to $490–535/night. Mid-week stays offer the best value.

What are the three buildings at Plant Riverside District?

The complex includes the Power Plant (the original 1912 plant, home to the dinosaur atrium), Three Muses (European-styled with the Myrtle & Rose rooftop bar), and the Atlantic (maritime-themed, home to District Live music venue). Each has its own design, restaurants, and rooftop bar.

Is the rooftop pool open to all hotel guests?

The Compass Pool Lounge is available exclusively to hotel guests. Cabana and daybed packages can be reserved in advance and tend to sell out on summer weekends, so book early.

Is the JW Marriott Savannah good for families?

Yes. The hotel offers kids-stay-free policies, cribs on request, kid meals, and family programming including dinosaur scavenger hunts and museum tours of the fossil and mineral displays. The lobby alone holds children's attention for a while.

Where is the JW Marriott Savannah located and what's nearby?

The hotel is at 500 W River St on the Savannah Riverwalk. Within easy walking distance: City Market, Ellis Square, Franklin Square, Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences, and Forsyth Park. Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport is approximately 7 miles away.