Buena Vista Hotel | |
Location | 322 Main, Safford, Arizona |
---|---|
Coordinates | 32°50′0″N109°42′38″W / 32.83333°N 109.71056°W |
Built | 1928 |
Built by | McGinty Construction |
Architect | Jaastad, H.O. |
Architectural style | Mission/Spanish Revival |
MPS | Safford MRA |
NRHP reference No. | 87002560 [1] |
Added to NRHP | February 9, 1988 |
The Buena Vista Hotel was a historic hotel and entertainment center located in the downtown district of Safford, Arizona. [2]
Built in 1928 at cost of $80,000, [3] the 2-story, 46-room hotel was conceived by Fred and Minta Waughtal who previously owned and operated a cattle ranch in Dos Cabezas, as well as the nearby Olive Hotel, which later became the Safford Inn Hospital. [4] The impetus for creating the Buena Vista was an anticipation of increased vehicular traffic upon the completion of the Coolidge Dam and a newly-paved highway from Globe to the Gila Valley.
When the Buena Vista Hotel opened on October 15, 1929, it was considered a luxurious retreat, where most of the rooms were adorned with commodious furnishings and private bathrooms. The hotel also featured an outdoor swimming pool and two bars; the Tap Room, and the Matador Room. [5]
While the Tap Room was a traditional bar with a long, narrow dance floor for its patrons, the Matador Room was best known for its live performances, in particular, jazz and Country-western music. Many well-known and up-and-coming musicians appeared at the Matador Room over the years, such as Patsy Cline, Billy Walker, Lefty Frizzell, Glen Campbell, Willie Nelson and future Hee Haw star, Roy Clark. [6]
The hotel closed after a resident set fire to the building on October 26, 1979, however, the restaurant and bar were salvaged and reopened as a gourmet restaurant named the Gaslight. [7]
In 1987, the property was sold at an auction and remained dormant until the building was demolished in 1994, [8] despite being listed on the National Register of Historic Places. [1]
Formerly located at 322 Main Street, the Buena Vista Hotel was a two-story, 80 feet (24 m) by 100 feet (30 m) steel frame and stucco structure with arched entrances, Spanish tile awnings and wrought iron balconies. [3] [9] Designed by Tucson's influential architect Henry O. Jaastad, the prominent hotel was considered to be one of the finest examples of Mission Revival architecture in Arizona. [3] [10]
The hotel can be seen briefly in the 1985 comedy, Lost in America , directed by and starring Albert Brooks. [11]
Buena Vista is an independent city located in the Blue Ridge Mountains region of Virginia in the United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,641. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the independent cities of Buena Vista and Lexington, along with surrounding Rockbridge County, for statistical purposes.
Safford is a city in Graham County, Arizona, United States. According to the 2020 Census, the population of the city is 10,129. The city is the county seat of Graham County.
Thatcher is a town in Graham County, Arizona, United States. According to the 2010 Census, the population of the town is 4,865. It is part of the Safford Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Mount Graham is a mountain in Graham County, Arizona, United States, approximately 70 miles (110 km) northeast of Tucson. The mountain reaches 10,724 feet (3,269 m) in height. It is the highest elevation in Graham County, Coronado National Forest and the Pinaleño Mountains. It is also the southernmost peak and land area in the continental United States above 10,000 feet (3,048 m). As the name "Mount Graham" is often used by locals to refer to the entire mountain range, the peak itself is frequently referred to as "High Peak". It is twentieth of the 57 ultra-prominent peaks of the lower 48 states, and the first of the five in Arizona.
The Coronado National Forest is a United States National Forest that includes an area of about 1.78 million acres (7,200 km2) spread throughout mountain ranges in southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico.
The Pinaleño Mountains, are a remote mountain range in southeastern Arizona, near Safford, Arizona. The mountains have over 7,000 feet (2,100 m) of vertical relief, more than any other range in the state. The mountains are surrounded by the Sonoran-Chihuahuan Desert. Subalpine forests cover the higher elevations. According to The Nature Conservancy, they traverse five ecological communities and contain "the highest diversity of habitats of any mountain range in North America." The highest point is Mount Graham at 10,720 feet (3,267 m). Locals often refer to the whole mountain range as "Mount Graham", in which case the peak is referred to as "High Peak". The mountains cover 300 square miles (780 km2) and are part of the Coronado National Forest, Safford ranger district.
Central is a census-designated place in Graham County, Arizona, United States. Its population was 758 as of the 2020 census. It is part of the Safford micropolitan area.
Eden is a small unincorporated community in Graham County, Arizona, United States. It is part of the Safford Micropolitan Statistical Area. Eden has a ZIP Code of 85535; in 2000, the population of the 85535 ZCTA was 150.
Henry O. Jaastad (1872–1965) was an influential Tucson, Arizona architect. His firm created over 500 buildings and Jaastad was Mayor of Tucson for 14 years. A number of his works are listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places for their architecture.
Annie Graham Rockfellow was an influential and prolific architect active in Tucson, Arizona during the first half of the 20th century.
This is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Graham County, Arizona. It is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Graham County, Arizona, United States. The locations of National Register properties and districts for which the latitude and longitude coordinates are included below, may be seen in a map.
The current Graham County Courthouse is a courthouse located at 800 W. Main St. in Safford, Arizona that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is a two-story red brick building above a concrete foundation that includes a raised basement. The main part of the east-facing building is 83 feet (25 m) by 62 feet (19 m), and there is a one-story 17 feet (5.2 m) by 49 feet (15 m) north wing made of brick, and a small ell in the back.
The Safford High School building, which was located where Safford Middle School is currently located, opened to students on September 13, 1915. It was designed by Henry O. Jaastad. It served as the main high school building through the 1979–80 school year. Over the years other buildings were built. This included the WPA-built Baker Stadium, which served as the home of the Safford Bulldogs from 1938 through the 1986 season; a gymnasium in 1943, which allowed the previous gym to be retrofitted into an auditorium; and the other classroom buildings. This included a library built in the 1960s. It is noted that, during this period, the baseball stadium was at the old bleachers by Lafe Nelson School as was the field house for the football and wrestling teams.
The Eastern Arizona Courier is a weekly newspaper published in Safford, Arizona. Its roots go back to March 1895, when it was founded as the Graham Guardian by the Guardian Publishing Company, and edited by John J. Birdno. Its current circulation is approximately 8,200.
The James R. Welker House, at 1127 Central in Safford, Arizona, was built in 1915. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
Indian Hot Springs, also known as Holladay Hot Springs and Eden Hot Springs, is a geothermal spring system located near Eden, Arizona in the former settlement of Indian Hot Springs, Arizona. The springs have also been referred to as "Jewel in the Desert" and Indian Hot Springs at Eden.