Hotel Beale: A Tarnished Gem

Recently, Steve LeSueur of Talisman Magic Marketing and I had a rare and unforgettable opportunity to tour the long-shuttered Hotel Beale along Route 66 in Kingman, Arizona. It was more than a glimpse behind the boarded-up doors and dusty windows that have stood watch for decades. It was a journey through time, an opportunity to see its faded glory and to get a glimpse of the hotel’s future.

I am thrilled to be sharing that journey soon on our YouTube channel as part of the Shared Adventures series. You won’t want to miss this peek behind the veil of time.

Here in Kingman, Arizona, stories aren’t just told—they’re lived. The bricks and mortar of this town echo with legends, laughs, and the rumble of tires heading west. And if there’s one building that stands tall in Kingman’s story, it’s the legendary Hotel Beale. The tarnished gem and its neighbors in the block between Fourth and Fifth Street – the 1906 Sportsman’s Club that opened as the Palace Saloon, Brunswick Hotel, and 1915 Old Trails Garage – are the historic heart of Kingman.

The Hollywood Connection

Step back in time to the dawn of the 20th century. Thomas Devine, a man of vision and ambition from Flagstaff, Arizona, purchased the Hotel Beale, and relocated his family to Kingman.

In northwest Arizona, Devine was a leader in the Arizona Good Roads Association. The organizations advocacy for better roads didn’t just pave the way for automobiles in the southwest, it helped lay the groundwork for what would become legendary Route 66.

In 1913, Devine, good road advocates from Kingman, and business owners in Needles, California, and Seligman, Arizona attended the National Old Trails Road convention in Kansas City, Missouri and made a convincing argument for the rerouting of that pioneering highway. And so the course for the National Old Trails Road was changed to run alongside the railroad across northern Arizona rather than diagonally from Springerville to Yuma on a road shared with Trail To Sunset.

But Thomas Devine gave more than good roads and quality lodging to travelers stopping in Kingman. His son was Andy Devine, an actor who would be a supporting actor in hundreds of films that was known for an unmistakable raspy voice and lovable on-screen persona. In 1955, on a special epsidoe of This Is Your Life, Front Street, the Andy Devine corridor, was renamed Andy Devine Avenue.

Famous Footsteps in the Hotel Beale Lobby

The Hotel Beale’s guest list reads like a roll call from Hollywood’s Golden Age and the daring days of aviation. In 1918, cowboy actor Harry Carey and the cast checked in while filming Ace of the Saddle in the stark beauty of the mountains near Hackberry. Buster Keaton followed in 1925 while shooting Go West at Tap Duncan’s Lake Valley Ranch north of town., adding a little slapstick to the solemn desert landscape.

In 1929, the Hotel Beale was still the crown jewel in Kingman. When Transcontinental Air Transport, the first successful coast to coast passenger opened a terminal in Kingman, the hotel welcomed aviation icons Charles Lindbergh that had worked on the Port Kingman terminal, and for the ribbon cutting, Amelia Earhart. The nearby airfield, the railroad, and Route 66 brought the world to Kingman, and the Hotel Beale welcomed them with open arms, a touch of class on the western frontier, hospitality, and fresh linens.

A Sleeping Giant Awakens

Though the Hotel Beale has long been shuttered, its story is far from over. Kingman Main Street, in partnership with the Henderson family—the current stewards of this historic property—is spearheading a facade renovation initiative. The aim is to breathe life back into this beloved building while honoring its architectural legacy.

It’s a bold move to blend the best of our past with the promise of our future—and folks, that’s the kind of story we like to tell at Jim Hinckley’s America.

Tour the Past, One Stop at a Time

Thanks to a forward-thinking collaboration between Kingman Main Street and Talisman Magic Marketing, history lovers can now experience Kingman like never before. Kingman Tours, a self-guided, narrated adventure, offers a walk through time—with yours truly, Jim Hinckley, as your guide.

And of course, Hotel Beale is a featured point of interest. As part of the tour, visitors can hear tales of silent film stars, aviation pioneers, and a local boy named Andy who made it big in Tinseltown.

The tour that uses QR code technology is easy to access via mobile device. It’s a perfect companion for a stroll down Andy Devine Avenue, and through the hsitoric heart of Kingman.

Follow The Journey

If the stories of Kingman stir your curiosity and spark your wanderlust, we invite you to join us on the road ahead.

• Subscribe to the Jim Hinckley’s America YouTube Channel, home of the In Search of Lost Highways series and our Shared Adventures features.
• Don’t miss archived episodes of Coffee With Jim, our weekly podcast on Podbean, where we chat with fascinating folks shaping the Route 66 experience and beyond.
• And be sure to follow our blog for updates, tales, travel tips, and history you can hold onto.

At Jim Hinckley’s America, we believe that every road has a story—and that it’s high time the Hotel Beale’s story was heard again.

Until next time, happy trails, friends. Keep your tank full, your camera ready, and your curiosity wide open.