Information
Landmark: La Posada HotelCity: Winslow
Country: USA Arizona
Continent: North America
La Posada Hotel, Winslow, USA Arizona, North America
Overview
La Posada Hotel rests in the heart of downtown Winslow, Arizona, just a short stroll from the hum of historic Route 66, in addition it sits right next to the BNSF railroad tracks, just a short stroll from Standin’ on the Corner Park where you can hear the distant rumble of passing trains.Today it runs as a hotel, yet it still feels like a living museum, lovingly restored to its original beauty and rich cultural meaning, right down to the creak of its classical wooden floors, moreover la Posada, with its sun-warmed adobe walls, was the creation of Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter, one of the American Southwest’s most influential architects.Rising in 1929 and finished the following year, it was the final grand hotel the Fred Harvey Company built for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, its polished brass doors opening to travelers stepping off the train, as a result to Colter, it was her masterpiece, the one she guarded like a rare, hand-polished gem.She designed the building from the ground up, then stayed on to shape every detail inside-choosing the furniture, arranging the gardens, planning the landscaping, and even picking the cut of the staff uniforms, alternatively the architecture draws on Mission Revival and Spanish Colonial Revival styles, with adobe-like stucco walls, red tile roofs that glow in the sun, arched doorways, thick wooden beams, wrought iron details, and handmade tile accents.Colter wanted it to view as if centuries had shaped it, the way ivy slowly claims a stone wall, creating a rich, timeless feel, equally important la Posada swung its doors open only months after the 1929 stock market crash, stepping into history with the scent of fresh paint still in the air.Truthfully, Even in the middle of a rough economy, it shot to fame as one of America’s most celebrated railroad hotels, welcoming luxury train passengers and high-profile guests who dined beneath its gleaming brass chandeliers, while in its golden years, it welcomed legends like Albert Einstein, Amelia Earhart, and Franklin D, their voices echoing through its grand halls.From the 1930s through the 1950s, Roosevelt, John Wayne, Howard Hughes, Clark Gable, and Bob Hope rode its rails, savoring plush seats and polished brass as it became the very definition of comfort and class in the American Southwest, while the hotel shut its doors in 1957, after passenger trains emptied out and shiny modern cars sped along the fresh concrete of the Interstate.For decades, the Santa Fe Railway gutted the building, hauling away its worn chairs and desks, and turned the space into offices, meanwhile in the end, they almost tore it down, leaving splinters scattered across the ground.In 1997, preservationist-entrepreneur Allan Affeldt teamed up with artist Tina Mion to buy the crumbling building, then spent years restoring it brick by brick, as a result they examined every detail, then rebuilt it true to Colter’s vision-using reclaimed wood, worn smooth at the edges, and hand-carved furnishings.The project poured over $12 million into bringing La Posada back to life, turning it into a vibrant cultural landmark, a welcoming hotel, and an art space where luminous paintings line the walls, in conjunction with the hotel has around 37 rooms, each with its own character, dressed in décor that feels true to the era-think rich wood trim and warm lamplight.Each room comes with hand‑carved furniture, rich Southwestern textiles, Navajo rugs, and vintage fixtures, while you’ll find deep soaking tubs or antique‑tiled showers, walls lined with historic photographs, and local artwork.A few are themed after notable guests-like the Hughes Room or the Earhart Room, in conjunction with many suites come with a private balcony, a crackling fireplace, or a view of the garden.The rooms keep their antique-world charm yet offer modern comforts like speedy Wi‑Fi, gleaming modern pipes, and steady climate control, in turn the Great Hall is a vast, inviting room with weathered wood beams overhead, adobe-style fireplaces glowing softly, and deep armchairs where you can sink in with a good book.The hallways showcase museum-quality art and carefully chosen exhibits that tell the hotel’s story and highlight Colter’s design legacy, with one wall featuring a vivid watercolor of the Grand Canyon, on top of that the hotel’s own Turquoise Room serves up one of the Southwest’s most celebrated meals, where warm bread lands on the table still fragrant from the oven.You’ll find refined Southwestern dishes with a Native touch, made from fresh chiles, squash, and other local, seasonal ingredients, moreover on the menu, you’ll find Painted Desert bean soup, grilled elk tenderloin, mesquite-grilled quail, plus local trout and bison.Just steps away, the Martini Bar offers a snug lounge for cocktails or wine, with wide windows framing the gradual roll of passing trains, consequently la Posada also houses the Tina Mion Museum, where the hotel’s co-owner fills the walls with vivid, often unsettling portraits that stop you mid-step.Frankly, Her art fills the hotel walls and spills into the classical ballroom, weaving American history, politics, and culture into pieces that mix playful touches with sharp, deliberate critique, as well as you’ll spot rotating exhibits, sculptures, and works by Native American and local artists, each tucked naturally into the hotel’s quiet, carpeted corridors, a little Spread across 11 acres, La Posada’s gardens burst with greenery and open space, carefully renewed to echo Colter’s original vision-right down to a shaded path lined with heritage cottonwoods, meanwhile you’ll find sunken courtyards, rose gardens, and clusters of desert cacti alongside native trees.Shaded arcades stretch under vine-covered walls, with quiet benches tucked near fountains, as well as the grounds welcome both guests and visitors, offering a perfect path to wander at sunrise or as the light fades at sunset.Just so you know, La Posada sits in the heart of Winslow, just a few steps from Standin’ on the Corner Park and an easy stroll to shops, cafés, and museums, besides from here, you can set out on day trips to Meteor Crater, Homolovi State Park, the Petrified Forest, the Painted Desert, or even the Grand Canyon via Interstate 40.More than a historic hotel, it’s a cultural landmark-born of creative vision, architectural mastery, and a deep devotion to preserving the spirit of the Southwest, as well as staying there feels like walking into a living slice of history-warm light spilling through ancient wooden beams, inviting you in and sparking something deep inside.The steady rumble of trains passing by and the sweet scent of desert roses in bloom make La Posada a venue that pulls you in, urging you to pause, glance around, and bask in the charm of trek’s golden age.
Author: Tourist Landmarks
Date: 2025-10-06
