The historic Atherton Hotel at the OSU Student Union is both a learning laboratory for the School of Hotel and Restaurant Administration and a luxury hotel. The hotel has been a place for alumni, families and visitors to gather since it was built in 1950.

Following an extensive renovation, the hotel became the Atherton Hotel in honor of OSU alumnus Bill Atherton in 2001. The boutique hotel now offers a five star restaurant, The Ranchers Club, renovated in 2005.