Oct. 25–Ashland Hills Hotel & Suites, the largest hotel and conference event space in Southern Oregon, is once again inviting tourists and curious locals into its glass-walled, retro-modern lobby.

Last known as the Windmill Inn, and before that, Ashland Hills, the renovation of the 14-acre hotel complex off Interstate 5’s Exit 14 draws on original 1970s features like globe lighting, and a bell bottom-era color palette of tangerine orange, galaxy blue and chartreuse lichen green.

New owners Doug and Becky Neuman long ago restored the historic downtown Ashland Springs Hotel and recently revamped a Red Lion Inn in downtown Medford and renamed it Inn at the Commons.

The Neumans are hosting an open house to celebrate the comeback of the Ashland Hills hotel, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. today and Sunday, Oct. 25-26, at 2525 Ashland St. (541-482-8310, ashlandhillshotel.com)

The completed first phase of the multimillion upgrade included the two-story lobby, lower level ballrooms, guest rooms, outdoor pool area and a new bridge connecting suites building to the main building. The next phases, scheduled to be completed in 2016, will remodel remaining guest rooms, banquet spaces as well as a restaurant and bar.

Thirty renovated guest rooms, with vintage swag globe pendants and circular blue and orange bathroom tiles, are now open (rates are around $110 a night until spring and summer when they increase to about $160).

When the work is completed, there will be more than 230 guest rooms and suites with mountain and garden views, and banquet space that can accommodate events up to 700 people.

The hotel opened in 1978 and benefited from its location at the southernmost gateway to Oregon and the growing popularity of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

In 1995, Windmill Inns of America bought the complex, but by 2007, all of the original two- and three-story buildings were closed. Chamber of Commerce members and locals worried that it would be demolished.

A newer building near the parking lot operated as the Village Suites at Ashland Hills Hotel and remains open.

In April 2013, the Neumans of the Neuman Hotel Group purchased the property with Mike and Laura Naumes, whose Medford-based farm enterprise is one of largest producers of pears.

The Neumans first stayed at the hotel in 1986 when they decided to move to Ashland from Santa Barbara, Calif.

— Janet Eastman