The Hassayampa Inn in Prescott, Arizona is much more than a place to hang your hat for the evening. It is a time capsule thinly veiled behind a veneer of modernity. It is an opportunity to immerse yourself in the genteel world of the late 1920s.
The refined exterior exudes restrained elegance through a lack of ostentatious ornamentation. From the delightful patio garden it takes little imagination to envision dusty Lincolns, Hudson’s and Packard’s pulling up to the carriage house styled entry but even here there is a subdued sense of propriety.This all changes once you step into the lobby. As with a dive into a cool pool on a warm summer afternoon the hand painted beams, the vintage furnishings, the blending of colorful tiles, quicken the pulse.
It is almost as though you have stepped from the present into the past. Only the electronics of the modern business world at the front counter break the illusion.The elegance fades just a bit with departure from the lobby via the carpeted stairs or the vintage elevator operated by hotel personnel. However, this is not a reflection of neglect but instead is another indication of the fine line walked between maintaining authenticity and modernizing.
Room numbers are found on the frosted glass transom windows rather than on the doors themselves. The old locks have given way to modern, card operated electric ones.Our room was small but clean, comfortable, and pleasant. The bathroom consisting of a tiled shower and toilet mirrored this.
Intrusions of the modern era included a small television and a telephone. The bedside lamps, tables, and furnishings blurred the line between the past and present.
With the exception of breakfast, which is a true bargain, on site dining in the Peacock Room may stretch the average budget. Still, no visit to the Hassayampa Inn is complete without experiencing this wonderful restaurant with its frosted glass partitions, varnished wood work, vintage tables, and linen table cloths.
Regardless of the attention to detail nothing will ruin the ambiance of an historic hotel quicker than an unprofessional staff that see their duties as a mere job. This is not the case at the Hassayampa Inn where every member of the staff encountered gave the impression they fully understood they were stewards of a rich legacy.The Hassayampa Inn opened its doors on November 20, 1927 after almost ten years of planning. It began as the dream of Grace Sparks, secretary of the Yavapai County Chamber of Commerce, in 1919 who envisioned Prescott as a tourist destination in need of a world class luxury hotel.
By 1925 the dream was on the fast track to reality with the issuance of a prospectus, the Kiwanis Club establishing a committee to raise funds for the hotels construction, and the mayor, Morris Goldwater, urging citizens of the community to get behind the project by buying stock in the enterprise for $1.00 per share.
The distinguished architect Henry Trost initially designed the hotel in a Pueblo style but opted instead for an Italianate red brick exterior and a Spanish Colonial Revival lobby.
Construction of the four story, 78 room hotel was completed in a mere ten months for around $200,000. An additional $75,000 was spent on carefully selected furnishings, many of which remain in the hotel.
The attention to detail during the hotels renovation in 1985 ensured that guests such as Clark Gable, Tom Mix, and Will Rogers would instantly recognize the Castillian walnut furniture, the chandeliers, Talavera tile fireplace, and embossed copper panels. It also ensured its proper place on the national register of Historic Places and membership with the prestigious Historic Hotels of America.
The attention to detail during the hotels renovation in 1985 ensured that guests such as Clark Gable, Tom Mix, and Will Rogers would instantly recognize the Castillian walnut furniture, the chandeliers, Talavera tile fireplace, and embossed copper panels. It also ensured its proper place on the national register of Historic Places and membership with the prestigious Historic Hotels of America. 
