Designed in 1929 as a “fantasy” by Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter, at one
time the chief architect and designer for the Fred Harvey Company, the
recently renovated La Posada Hotel in Winslow, Arizona, harkens back to a
bygone era where rooms are decorated in antiques and phones are
restricted to the lobby.
The last great rail-road hotel built by Harvey, this architectural gem
was purportedly envisioned by Colter as the sumptuous hacienda of an
18th-century family from Old Mexico. The 80,000-square-foot hotel was a
favorite of luminaries for decades, but closed in 1957 as rail travel
began to wane. It was purchased in 1997 by Allan Affeldt.
Today, more than 30 of the guestrooms have been restored; each
features an eclectic blend of furnishings, ranging from Mexican rustic
to fine antiques, and is known by the name of a celebrity who stayed at
the hotel during its heyday. Namesakes range from Bob Hope and Betty
Grable to Harry Truman and Albert Einstein; the most requested room is
the Howard Hughes.
Now a National Historic Landmark, La Posada features terra
cotta walls, with tin and copper decor. Guests will also discover a
ballroom, library, game room, two lobbies and the Turquoise Room, the
hotel’s fine restaurant.
Parking is abundant, and motorhomers are welcome to stay
overnight in their coaches. La Posada is located on Second Street
(historic U.S. Route 66) in Winslow. For more information, call (928)
289-4366, or go to laposada.org.
