La Posada Hotel | Winslow

La Posada Hotel – In Detail

Location:
Located in the heart of downtown Winslow, Arizona, La Posada Hotel sits just off historic Route 66. It is directly adjacent to the BNSF railroad tracks and a short walk from Standin’ on the Corner Park. Though it is a functioning hotel today, it is also a living museum, restored with reverence to its original form and cultural significance.

Architectural Significance and Origins:

La Posada was designed by Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter, one of the most influential architects of the American Southwest. Built between 1929 and 1930, this was the last of the grand hotels commissioned by the Fred Harvey Company for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. Colter considered it her masterpiece. She not only designed the building itself but also oversaw the interior, furniture, gardens, landscaping, and even staff uniforms.

The architecture follows a Mission Revival and Spanish Colonial Revival style, blending adobe-like stucco walls with red tile roofing, arched doorways, heavy wooden beams, wrought iron fixtures, and handmade tile accents. Colter intended for it to appear as though it had grown organically over centuries, giving it a timeless and layered ambiance.

Historic Role and Prestige:

La Posada opened just months after the 1929 stock market crash. Despite the poor economic timing, it quickly became one of the most celebrated railroad hotels in the U.S. It served both luxury train passengers and elite guests. During its golden years, it hosted figures such as:

Albert Einstein

Amelia Earhart

Franklin D. Roosevelt

John Wayne

Howard Hughes

Clark Gable

Bob Hope

From the 1930s to the 1950s, it represented the height of comfort and class for those traveling across the American Southwest by train.

Decline and Restoration:

The hotel was closed in 1957, following the decline of passenger train travel and the rise of automobile travel along the new Interstate highways. For decades, the building was stripped of its furnishings and converted into offices for the Santa Fe Railway. Eventually, it was nearly demolished.

In 1997, preservationist and entrepreneur Allan Affeldt, along with artist Tina Mion, purchased the neglected structure and began a years-long, painstaking restoration process. Every element was studied and rebuilt with fidelity to Colter’s vision, from reclaimed materials to hand-carved furnishings. The project cost over $12 million and revived La Posada as a cultural landmark, hotel, and art space.

Guest Experience:

Rooms & Suites:
The hotel offers about 37 rooms, each uniquely designed with period-appropriate décor. Rooms feature:

Hand-carved furniture

Southwestern textiles

Navajo rugs

Vintage fixtures

Deep soaking tubs or antique tile showers

Historic photographs and local artwork

Some rooms are themed after famous guests, such as the Hughes Room or Earhart Room. Suites often include private balconies, fireplaces, or garden views. While maintaining a historic charm, the rooms provide modern comfort, including Wi-Fi, updated plumbing, and climate control.

Common Areas:

Great Hall: A massive space with original wood beams, adobe-style fireplaces, and deep armchairs, perfect for relaxing and reading.

Hallways: Decorated with museum-quality artwork and curated exhibits on the hotel’s history and Colter’s design legacy.

Dining – The Turquoise Room:

The hotel’s in-house restaurant, The Turquoise Room, is one of the top-rated dining experiences in the Southwest. It offers fine Southwestern and Native-influenced cuisine, prepared with local and seasonal ingredients. Dishes include:

Painted Desert bean soup trio

Grilled elk tenderloin

Mesquite-grilled quail

Local trout and bison

A separate Martini Bar provides a cozy lounge for cocktails and wine, complete with train-view windows.

Tina Mion Museum & Art Collection:

La Posada is also home to the Tina Mion Museum, showcasing the bold and often thought-provoking portrait work of the hotel co-owner. Her art, displayed throughout the hotel and in the former ballroom, focuses on American history, politics, and culture, blending whimsy with critical commentary.

Art lovers will also find rotating exhibits, sculptures, and pieces by Native American and local artists, all woven seamlessly into the hotel’s corridors.

Gardens and Grounds:

Spread over 11 acres, La Posada’s gardens are lush, expansive, and thoughtfully restored to match Colter’s original landscape design. Features include:

Sunken courtyards

Rose gardens

Desert cacti and native trees

Shaded arcades and vine-covered walls

Water features and secluded benches

The grounds are open to guests and the public alike and make for an ideal walking path at sunrise or sunset.

Nearby Attractions and Location Perks:

La Posada’s central location makes it ideal for exploring downtown Winslow and the surrounding region:

Steps away from Standin’ on the Corner Park

Walking distance to local shops, cafes, and museums

Day trips easily possible to:

Meteor Crater

Homolovi State Park

Petrified Forest National Park

Painted Desert

Grand Canyon (via Interstate 40)

Why It Matters:

La Posada is more than a historic hotel-it is a cultural treasure, a testament to creative vision, architectural excellence, and the preservation of the Southwest’s soul. Staying there is like stepping into a carefully curated piece of history that’s still alive, welcoming, and inspiring.

From the rhythmic rumble of passing trains to the scent of blooming desert roses, everything at La Posada invites you to slow down, reflect, and savor the golden age of travel.