From the Pacific Ocean to the Rockies, we love learning about the history of the West. Take a step back in time while exploring the West with these five historic hotels.
Hotel Del Coronado – San Diego, California
Hotel Del opened in 1888 as the world’s largest resort with 679 rooms and an electric system which provided power to the entire city of Coronado. Presidents Benjamin Harrison, William Taft, Franklin Roosevelt, Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, and Gerald Ford all stayed at the resort. Charles Lindbergh’s transatlantic flight was celebrated in the Del’s ballroom and Marilyn Monroe’s movie, “Some like it Hot” was filmed there. Today, the resort offers twenty-eight acres of accommodation options from original Victorian rooms to cabana buildings and ocean towers. Dining at the Del offers everything from a beach taco shack to bistro cuisine and seafood. The resort offers boat rentals, surf lessons, concierge service, and child care among several other services.
La Fonda on the Plaza – Santa Fe, New Mexico
La Fonda occupies the site of Santa Fe’s first inn from 1607 making it the oldest hotel site in the country. In 1821 the Santa Fe Trail was established and put the hotel “on the map.” La Fonda operated through the Civil War, New Mexico’s Statehood, and southern railroad expansion before being renovated in 1922. The current hotel still features the hand-carved wooden beams, stained-glass skylights, and twenty-five-foot cathedral ceilings from that time. The Terrace, a private concierge floor, offers fifteen one of a kind luxury suites with handcrafted furniture, private concierge, a hot tub, and private balcony. The onsite restaurant La Plazuela, offers an intimate southwestern dining experience serving authentic local dishes.
The Stanley Hotel – Estes Park, Colorado
One of the most famous hotels in the country, The Stanley Hotel opened in 1909 featuring electricity, telephones, en-suite bathrooms, a staff of servants, and a fleet of automobiles for guests. Due to the hotels’ success, Estes Park had become a full municipality by 1917. Author Stephen King stayed at the Stanley for a night in the 1970s and was inspired to write his best selling novel, “The Shining.” The hotel gained enormous fame from the book and the movie was filmed on-site, the hotel now offers “spirited rooms” where paranormal activity has been reported. The Stanley offers 140 rooms ranging from historic original suites to updated boutique rooms, and modern apartments with kitchenettes or 1-3 bedroom residence condos. The Cascade restaurant is known for its locally sourced foods and waterfall views from the patio.
Murphys Historic Hotel – Murphys, Califonia
Murphys opened in 1856 and is one of the oldest hotel in California. The Gold Rush, Calaveras Big Trees, and the Mercer Caverns have brought visitors like Ulysses S. Grant, Susan B. Anthony, Mark Twain, and John Wayne to the hotel. The onsite saloon features a single plank bar which has been in place since 1856. Currently, nine of the hotels twenty-nine rooms are original and are furnished with authentic 1800s furniture. The modern rooms are spacious with walk-in showers and private balconies. The Murphys restaurant serves a variety of steaks, salads, and pasta along with several signature dishes.
Grand Imperial Hotel – Silverton, Colorado
Built in 1883, the Grand was the largest building south of Denver and the center of luxury in the southwest. For twenty-five years the building’s second floor housed offices for the town and the county. The first floor was occupied by the post office, local bank, Bureau of Mines, general store, doctors office, and the local newspaper. Silverton was a boom-town during the mining days and the Grand was its center of operations. The hotel was restored in 2015 and features a true 1800s feel with original furnishings. The rooms are in Victorian style offering exceptionally large beds and walk-in showers. The hotels’ restaurant features daily live entertainment through the summer and a wide selection of drinks and menu options.
