The La Posada Hotel was designed by Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter and opened in 1930. The Santa Fe Railroad stopped at the front gate, and guests frequently spent time here for luxurious travel comforts. Visitors to La Posada include President Franklin Roosevelt, Albert Einstein, James Cagney, Charles Lindbergh (who designed the Winslow airport), Amelia Earhart, and Howard Hughes.
The property eventually declined, closed in 1957, and was to be torn down. Colter died believing that her greatest achievement would soon be destroyed. In recent years, however, it has undergone extensive renovation and was reopened in 1997.
Thanks to Claire and Dr. Doc for telling us about about La Posada. We made reservations and stayed in the "John Wayne" room. (Each room is named for a celebrity who had stayed here).
La Posada is unlike any hotel I've ever visited. It's elegant, yet rustic and quirky. Each room is different, reflecting the tastes of the person for whom it is named. The restaurant is outstanding and the front yard is huge. Strolling through the hallways, lobby, foyer, and the ballroom is like a visit to a favorite museum. The arcades in front and the sunken garden in back are ideal places for an early morning cup of coffee.
The room rate is much less expensive than you'd expect. Although the main building is huge (larger than the Hearst Castle), there are not many rooms for guests -- you do need to plan ahead for reservations.
I talked to a visitor from Phoenix who has stayed here 33 times. He and his wife schedule visits to their daughter in Colorado based on La Posada's room availability. Had I not visited this place, I wouldn't have understood.
On Route 66, Winslow, AZ, USA.
Bookings 0870 043 7708
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