Hotel Vendome (Prescott, Arizona) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hotel Vendome
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Front view of hotel
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 Location in Arizona
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Prescott, Arizona |
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| Architectural style | Colonial revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 83003495 |
| Added to NRHP | November 25, 1983 |
The Hotel Vendome is a historic hotel in Prescott, Arizona. It was built in 1917. This special building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. This means it is an important place in American history.
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Hotel Vendome: A Look Back in Time
The land where the hotel stands has a long history. In 1872, a doctor named Thaddeus P. Seeley owned the property. He was a doctor at a nearby army fort. Later, in 1876, William W. Hutchinson bought the land. He was a leader in Yavapai County, Arizona. Hutchinson built a large, two-story Victorian house there.
Why the Hotel Was Built
By 1917, Prescott was a busy city. Many people came for mining, ranching, and farming. It was also known as a place for people with breathing problems to get healthy. The city had other hotels, but there weren't enough places for all the visitors to stay. There was a big need for more rooms.
A cowboy and rancher named J.B. (Jack) Jones bought the land in 1917. He decided to help with the housing problem. He built a two-story hotel using strong red bricks. Jones borrowed money from a bank owned by his neighbor, Morris Goldwater. Morris Goldwater was the uncle of famous politician Barry Goldwater. The hotel was finished by November 1917.
Early Days and Famous Guests
When the Hotel Vendome first opened, it was a very inviting place. It had 30 rooms and 16 bathrooms. There were wide porches and a nice lobby. All rooms had hot and cold water and phone service. It also had good heating and free parking. A single room cost $1.50 per night, and a double room was $2.50.
In the 1980s, the hotel was updated. This helped it keep its original charm. It also made sure it had modern comforts.
Over the years, the hotel changed owners several times. In 1924, Jack Jones traded the hotel for ranch land. A famous movie star, Tom Mix, often stayed at the hotel. He was filming his Western movies in the Prescott area during the 1910s and 1920s.
In 1946, Dixon Fagerberg bought the hotel. After he passed away in 1956, the hotel went to the Salvation Army. They owned it for a short time. In 1958, Olga and John Porvaznik bought the hotel. It needed a lot of repairs, and they worked hard to fix it up. Later, in 1971, Eric and Julieta Torp became the new owners.
Hotel Vendome: What It's Like Today
The Hotel Vendome is a long, rectangular building. It faces east on Cortez Street. Its outside walls are made of strong red bricks. There are two entrances, one at the front and one at the back. The front has two big windows next to the main doors.
Special Features of the Hotel
The front of the building has a decorative brick design at the top. There is a front porch and a second-floor veranda. An original wooden sign with neon lights hangs over the front porch. Inside, you can see the original wooden panels on the walls. The old wooden doors still have small windows above them. A beautiful wooden staircase leads to the second floor.
The hotel has fourteen rooms on the first floor. There are sixteen rooms on the second floor. Today, the building has air conditioning. But it still uses its original cast iron radiators for heat in winter. An old-fashioned call system is still in the lobby.
Many original details remain. These include old-style bathtubs and the iron radiators. The hotel also has beautiful wooden decorations. Guests can relax in two outdoor areas. There's a porch with rocking chairs and a veranda on the second floor. The first floor has a small bar called BarVendome. It serves drinks like champagne, wine, and non-alcoholic options. Sometimes, they also offer sangria and mulled cider.
In 2019, U.S. News & World Report said the Hotel Vendome was one of the best hotels in Prescott. The hotel is special because it's the only two-story building in Prescott from the early 1900s that was built for tourists and hasn't been changed much.
The Hotel's Ghost Story
There's a fun story that the hotel is haunted! People say a former guest named Abby Byr and her cat, Noble, still roam the hotel. Abby and her husband moved to Arizona because Abby had tuberculosis. They bought the hotel, but then they had money problems and lost it. The new owners let them stay as guests.
In 1921, Abby's husband left for an errand and never came back. The story says Abby locked herself and her cat in her room. They supposedly stayed there until they passed away. Many people believe the ghosts of Abby and Noble still visit the Hotel Vendome.
Images for kids
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The hotel in the evening
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