November 2, 2025
The Hassayampa Inn sits on the corner of Gurley and Marina in downtown Prescott, AZ, just a block from the Yavapai County Courthouse Plaza. Dating back to 1927, it became part of the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. The hotel has seen many well-known guests over the decades, including Greta Garbo, Clark Gable, Will Rogers, and Georgia O’Keeffe. This time I would have the good fortune to stay there myself.
I found a convenient parking place in front of the entrance to the stately red brick building. I grabbed my overnight bag from the car and headed inside, where I stopped to admire the stunning lobby. Architects Trost and Trost knew what they were doing when they designed the hotel. The spacious lobby, wood-beamed ceilings, and detailed touches made for an impressive entry.
After obtaining my room key from the front desk, a hotel attendant escorted me to my third-floor room, proudly operating the hotel’s original 1927 elevator. I was offered the option of calling downstairs anytime I needed an elevator ride or using the stairs. For the sake of expediency, I chose to use the stairs on my few trips down, though I was enchanted with the vintage elevator and pleased to have been able to ride in it.
The hotel’s proximity to the popular Whiskey Row on Montezuma St. made it easy to find something for dinner within walking distance. The only challenge was deciding between restaurants. I ended up at Bistro St. Michael, located in the Hotel St. Michael, another historic hotel just down the street from the Hassayampa. After a light meal of ginger vegetables in lettuce wraps, I walked along the street to take in the lively atmosphere, poking my head into saloons like The Palace—good enough for Doc Holiday and Wyatt Earp—and the Bird Cage Saloon. I didn’t linger, choosing instead to return to the calm ambiance of the hotel. I paused by Frannie’s, an enticing ice cream parlor on the way back, though in a rare moment of will-power, I passed it by.
I slept well, not only because the room was delightful and the bed exceptionally comfortable, but because I’d had a long day on Route 66 before driving south to Prescott. And I had plans for yet another long day on the road. In the morning, I grabbed coffee from the hotel lobby and a granola bar from my own stash in lieu of a full breakfast. I loved my stay at the Hassayampa Inn, but it was time to hit the road again.
