Hotel San Carlos (Phoenix) facts for kids
The Hotel San Carlos in Phoenix, Arizona, is a historic hotel that is still open today. It's known for its beautiful old style and some people even say it has ghosts! The hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important historical building. It's also part of Historic Hotels of America, a group that celebrates special old hotels.
| Hotel San Carlos | |
Quick facts for kids  The Hotel San Carlos Marquee as seen from Central Avenue |
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| Hotel facts and statistics | |
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| Location | 202 N Central Ave., Phoenix, Arizona, USA, 85004 |
| Opening date | March 19, 1928 |
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Hotel San Carlos
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the Hotel San Carlos in Downtown Phoenix
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 Location in Arizona
Location in the United States
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| Location | 202 North Central Avenue Phoenix, Arizona 85004 |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1928 |
| Architect | Richie, George Whitecross; Kinnie & Westerhouse |
| Architectural style | Renaissance |
| MPS | Phoenix Commercial MRA (AD) |
| NRHP reference No. | 83003498 |
| Added to NRHP | December 8, 1983 |
Contents
Stories of the Hotel San Carlos
Many people who work at the Hotel San Carlos say they have seen ghosts. The most talked-about ghost is said to be Leone Jensen. Because of these stories, the Travel Channel even featured the hotel on its show World Travels in 2004. Some people wonder if these ghost stories are real or just a fun way to get more visitors.
A Look Back at the Hotel's History
From School to Grand Hotel
The spot where the Hotel San Carlos stands today has a long history. It was once the location of Phoenix's very first school. This school was a small building with four rooms, built in 1874. It was later replaced by a bigger school in 1879. The school grew over time, but in 1916, it was decided that a fancy new hotel would be built there instead. Around that time, many children in the area got sick during the 1918 Spanish flu epidemic.
Building the Hotel
In 1919, a family called the Babbitts bought the land, planning to build a hotel. Later, Charles Harris and Dwight D. Heard took over the project. Construction on the Hotel San Carlos began in 1927. The hotel was designed in the beautiful Italian Renaissance style. It was very modern for its time, with new features like air conditioning (the first in Phoenix!), elevators, and chilled water in the rooms.
The Hotel San Carlos officially opened its doors on March 19, 1928. It cost almost $850,000 to build. Charles Harris was a co-owner and managed the hotel. When Dwight Heard passed away in 1929, Mr. Harris took full charge. He even lived in a special apartment on the roof with his family. He worked very hard to keep the hotel open during the difficult time of the Great Depression.
The Harris family owned the hotel until 1967. After that, it was sold to an investment group. In 1970, Mr. Gregory Melikian bought the hotel. For over 40 years, Mr. Melikian and his family have owned and carefully restored the San Carlos Hotel. They have also helped save many other historic buildings in Phoenix.
Famous Guests and Competition
The Hotel San Carlos had some famous guests over the years, including movie stars like Mae West, Clark Gable, Carole Lombard, Marilyn Monroe, and cowboy star Gene Autry.
The hotel faced competition from other grand hotels nearby, like the Westward Ho hotel. Even with new, modern hotels like The Phoenician and Arizona Biltmore Hotel being built, the Hotel San Carlos remains a special place.
The Hotel Today
The Hotel San Carlos is still a popular spot in downtown Phoenix. It's located close to many exciting places, like Chase Field (where the Arizona Diamondbacks baseball team plays) and Talking Stick Resort Arena (home of the Phoenix Suns basketball team). It's also near theaters and the Phoenix Convention Center.
In 2003, the hotel had a big renovation that cost $1,000,000 to make it even better. You can even see the hotel briefly in the opening scene of Alfred Hitchcock's famous 1960 movie, Psycho.
Images for kids
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The Hotel San Carlos in Downtown Phoenix
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The Hotel San Carlos Marquee as seen from Central Avenue
See also
In Spanish: Hotel San Carlos (Phoenix) para niños
