The Fort Thomas Mess Hall is a historic reception hall in Fort Thomas’s Tower Park. Known by many names – Fort Thomas Community Center, Tower Park Mess Hall, or simply the Mess Hall – this large structure, like other community center options, is one of the most affordable wedding venues in the area. As of 2024, discounted rates for Fort Thomas Residents start at just $125/hour, and non-residents are $175/hour, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Similar to another affordable city-owned reception hall, the Southgate Community Center, part of the low cost is due to the renters’ responsibility to clear tables and remove trash (that is, low level cleanup) but that’s a small price to pay for hall rental, tables, and chairs for well under $1,000.
Mess Hall History
Built in 1891, this building spent the first half of its life serving soldiers in the Army based at Fort Thomas. After World War II, it became part of the Veterans’ Administration, and in 1992, after some renovations (including heating and air conditioning), became a public facility for the City of Fort Thomas within Tower Park.
The facility has a surprising number of services included with such a low price. As mentioned above, the mess hall provides tables and chairs, along with a refrigerated bar cart. All other suppliers and vendors are up to you including caterers, however catering does need to be pre-approved. The wedding ceremony can be hosted on-site for just $100 more.
The venue is located in the heart of Fort Thomas in Tower Park, just off of Fort Thomas Dr. near the Midway which could play host to your afterparty at Fort Thomas Pizza & Pub or the Olde Fort Pub. There aren’t many hotels in Fort Thomas proper, but Newport and Downtown Cincinnati are just 2-3 miles to the north, and hotels around Northern Kentucky University are a couple miles south.
Detailed Information
Fort Thomas Mess Hall
801 Cochran Ave. (Within Tower Park)
Ft. Thomas, KY 41075
859-781-1700