For anyone who spent high school dreaming about sleeping in class, eating in the auditorium, writing obscenities on the blackboard, and smoking and drinking in detention, an Oregon hotel called Kennedy School promises to make all that a reality.

Opened in 1915, the elementary school, located in northeastern Portland, closed its doors in 1974. Faced with what seemed to be inevitable demolition, neighbourhood residents searched for a way to keep the historic building intact. Finally, in 1997, brothers Mike and Brian McMenamin, who own a Portland-based chain of hotels and pubs, turned the school into a 35-room hotel.

The result is a unique place to stay where guests overnight in old classrooms, complete with original blackboards and cloakrooms, many of them named after former teachers and principals.

While loitering in the hallways is permitted, a map of the building and its amenities is provided upon check-in. Pamphlets guide you through walking tours focusing on the art and history lining the walls, going beyond the old black-and-white pictures of former staff and students. If that feels too much like homework, skip it and head straight to detention—the Detention Bar, that is. The Honors Bar, its nonsmoking counterpart, is available for those suffering from delusions of grandeur.

A peek in the former little girls’ room next to the Courtyard Restaurant (once the cafeteria) reveals many a student’s dream come true: an on-site, fully functioning brewery. And where better to sample a pint of Old Schoolhouse Pale Ale than in what used to be the auditorium, while you watch the latest movie and enjoy a pizza? Never has an assembly been so much fun.

A dip in the shallow, ornately tiled outdoor pool is a perfect remedy for those who imbibe too much school spirit. Finally, no stay would be complete without a visit to the principal’s office, now a gift shop. With everything from golf balls to flasks for sale, chances are you’ll leave with more than a stern warning.

Regardless of which parts of Kennedy School you spend your time in, the highlight will undoubtedly be unapologetically revisiting your childhood, while having the wherewithal to enjoy it. This time, you’re going home without homework.

Access: Kennedy School is located at 5736 Northeast 33rd Avenue in Portland, Oregon. Rooms with a private bathroom range from US$99 to US$130 per night. For more information, see www.mcmenamins.com/ or call 1-888-249-3983.