Grand Canyon Hotel, Williams, AZ - Route 66 - The Mother Road on Waymarking.com

When the Grand Canyon Hotel first opened to tourists in 1892, the roads leading in and out of Williams, AZ were dirt and boardwalks lined the street. The oldest hotel in Arizona originally provided overnight accommodations for those taking the stage coach to the Grand Canyon until a railroad spur line was built into town in 1901. Business continued during the heyday of the Rt. 66 era when travelers were heading west. The going rate for staying here in the 1940’s and 50’s was $3.50, as still appears in neon lights on the front of the hotel today. This grand hotel closed its doors for a time in the ‘70’s because of market decline and in 1984 the interstate bypassed Rt. 66, taking a major toll on the town. Williams revived as it focuses on the Rt. 66 theme for today’s tourists, and in 2004 the hotel was purchased and renovated to update plumbing and electricity. Twenty-four rooms were remodeled to offer sleeping options with different sized beds, and tourists are given a choice if they want their own private bath or use the shared bathroom down the hall. Each room is tastefully furnished in unique themes.

Well-known guests include the King of Siam, John Muir, General “Black Jack” Pershing, and the Vanderbuilts.

The historic marker outside the front door tells more of its story:

“Built in 1892 by Samuel E. Patton for Cormick E. Boyce known as the “Man Who Built Williams.” With its own water supply, it was the only surviving building of the 1895 fire. First class hotel designed to appeal to travelers to the Grand Canyon. Ground floor had many uses – drug store, grocery store, dance hall, and Knights of Pythias meeting hall.”

Americana: Motel/Hotel Significant Interest: Other Icon Milestone or Marker: Other Icon Web Site Address: [Web Link] Address of Icon: 145 W Route 66 Williams, AZ United States 86046-2528

Visit Instructions:
To log a Visit, please make every effort to supply an image of yourself at the site. The standard GPS photo may be used as well, or even just an image that you took when you visited the location. If you do not have the option to provide an image, please provide a detailed description of your visit so we can form a 'mental image'.

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   09/13/2019 iconions visited it