My wife and I spent a couple nights at the La Posada hotel in Winslow on a recent western trip by car. The owner has lovingly restored this classic hotel to its 1929 glory when it was built as a Harvey House hotel by the noted architect, Mary Colter. Its was almost demolished after closing in 1957 but the ATSF 'saved it' by gutting it and putting in 'modern' division offices - closed in 1993. Hard to believe the time and money the owner has put in the restoration.
This is a destination hotel. So for those of you wanting to get out of Chicago, you would enjoy an excursion to Winslow on the Chief. The food is superb (my wife purchase the recently published cookbook) the service was great and the trains were non stop. We had the Carol Lomabard room (all named for the rich and famous that stayed there in 'the day'). A view of the mainline and restored grounds were out our window. Many Arizonans use this as a destination to escape the heat of the Valley of the Sun and enjoy the good food.
It is a good thing the hotel is a destination as, outside of the Eagles song, Winslow doesn't have a lot going for it. However an excursion to nearby Petrified Forest/Painted Desert NP and Hopi and Navajo reservations was fun. The station is connected to the hotel and adirondack chairs are strategically placed for train watching.
One thing I particularly liked about it is that it is not a chain hotel. The owner has kept many non revenue rooms that make it a pleasure to sit and talk/read/drink/relax. Most guests were similarly inclined and while some were interested in the trains most were not (did not spot one scanner). But if your spouse doesn't want train noise, don't get a room in the front.
We're planning our next visit - via train: Take the SWC WB (7:50pm arrival), stay a couple nights, then continue on to the west coast and fly home.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
How this stuff continues to stand at You Tube, now that it is owned by mainstream media (Google), escapes me. Where do we start counting the copyrights that have been infringed upon?
Here are historical photos of La Posada - the Harvey House at Winslow where Mr. and Mrs. Palmland visited.
Posted by Southwest Chief (Member # 1227) on :
Yep it's a great place to stay. The restaurant is top top notch.
While there is little to do in Winslow, there is a nice museum downtown with some interesting items, including a photo of the "flying wing" that made an emergency landing in Winslow. That was unique enough for me to remember. Kind of hidden and looks like a regular store front. Not sure if it is there anymore though. Haven't been to Winslow since 2006.
Posted by Mr. Toy (Member # 311) on :
That's definitely a place I want to go to someday. The famous meteor crater is about 40 miles away, too.
There was a guy on the now defunct AOL passenger rail boards who had a couple favorable trip reports to La Posada which piqued my interest some time ago.
My only reservation is that the EB SW Chief gets there awfully early in the morning, at least for this night owl.
Posted by Geoff M (Member # 153) on :
quote:Originally posted by Gilbert B Norman: How this stuff continues to stand at You tube, now that it is owned by mainstream media (Google), escapes me. Where do we start counting the copyrights that have been infringed upon?
With the numbers of videos posted to YouTube and just about any other content posted to any other website, it is up to us users to spot and report copyright violations. Sad but that's the way it is.
Geoff M.
Posted by palmland (Member # 4344) on :
Thanks Mr. Norman for the links. I do wonder why the Fred Harvey concept was primarily on the ATSF. As John Wayne would say, lots of 'pilgrims' ventured west on other roads.
Speaking of Frerd Harvey restaurants, we also stopped in KC. While we ate in the restored Fred Harvey lunch room last year, this time we tried the Pierpont restaurant that is next to it. It is located in the former Ladies restroom. Of course those were the days when the rest room had 20' ceilings and was beautifully decorated. On the lover level were private dining rooms (and rest rooms) with some great travel art on the walls.
The food was much better and not particularly expensive. While we stopped for lunch, it would be a great place to have a pre SWC dinner.
Mr. Toy - I agree about the early EB departure. That's why we would continue west when going to the La Posada by train.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
Today, I would dare say that the closest there is to a Harvey House, where predictable and apparently high quality fare was served to patrons by attractive (but reportedly well chaperoned) young women, is this establishment along I-80 near Green River WY.
Either way, both appear to be the "Oasis in the desert".
Posted by RRCHINA (Member # 1514) on :
The man (and partners) who restored the La Posada is Allan Affeldt and he (they) are currently restoring the El Garces in Needles, CA, another of the famed Fred Harvey establishments. The phone number for the La Posada is 928-289-4366, Email is allan_affeldt@laposada.org
Santa Fe owned the land and built the buildings which housed the Harvey establishments along its railroad. The El Tovar at the Grand Canyon was built by Santa Fe and operated by Fred Harvey. The Harvey establishments of later vintage like the several in the Chicago area were strictly a Fred Harvey operation that was unrelated to Santa Fe.
The Santa Fe - Fred Harvey story began in the 1870's at Topeka, KS and is one of the most unique legends about the civilization of the southwestern United States.
Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :
La Posada is on my list of wannado's someday.
Actually, it's close to the top for classic railroad hotels now that I've already made stops in Essex, MT and Ashland, VA.
Posted by palmland (Member # 4344) on :
Not sure about the Issac Walton, David, but the Henry Clay has to have an asterisk beside it for a classic hotel. It is actually an early 1990's recreation of the hotel that stood there but burned I believe in the late 1940's. In my RMC days it was just an empty field.
I guess that leaves the Issac Walton for me to try. Although as noted by RRchina, if Mr Affeldt does half the job on the Needles location that he did on the LaPosada we may have to add that. Unfortunately train times there would be quite uncivilized.
Posted by Southwest Chief (Member # 1227) on :
quote:Originally posted by Gilbert B Norman: Today, I would dare say that the closest there is to a Harvey House, where predictable and apparently high quality fare was served to patrons by attractive (but reportedly well chaperoned) young women, is this establishment along I-80 near Green River WY.
Either way, both appear to be the "Oasis in the desert".
Interestingly there is a Little America not too far from Winslow in Flagstaff AZ.
I've stayed there a few times. Can't remember too much as I haven't been there since I was around 8 (1988). What I do remember is the kids menu was shaped like a penguin head. And there is a penguin on the hotel signs. I used to take my stuffed animal penguin when we stayed there.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
No question whatever, Matt, Little America is a chain of hotels; including a "luxotel" in Downtown Salt Lake City.
It is no surprise that the chain's mascot is a Penguin.
But I can recall seeing the Green River outlet standing out in the Wyoming moonscape with its array of vehicle servicing facilities and its rather upscale (considering the location) hotel; now that we are discussing Harvey Houses at this topic, it would appear that they were like Little America located in their otherwise jerkwater towns.
I guess the original Little America must have also been an oasis to Antarctic explorers.
I've stayed at Little America WY twice in this life. First during Jan 1969 on the day I was separated from Service at Hill AFB and started driving Eastward home to NY. About 2PM a bad snow squall had started and I deemed it best to "tie 'er up" (a 1968 VW) for the day. For an ex-GI, the place was "Oh so luxo'.
The next time I stayed there was June 2000 en route by auto to "The Meadows'; even considering time had "matured" my tastes a bit, I still thought the place with its hotel was the "Oasis on the Moon'. Oh and "Little Lex" (a '99 GS400) had plenty of like company with which to have his slumber party in the hotel parking lot.
Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :
quote:Originally posted by palmland: Not sure about the Issac Walton, David, but the Henry Clay has to have an asterisk beside it for a classic hotel. It is actually an early 1990's recreation of the hotel that stood there but burned I believe in the late 1940's. In my RMC days it was just an empty field.
I guess that leaves the Issac Walton for me to try. Although as noted by RRchina, if Mr Affeldt does half the job on the Needles location that he did on the LaPosada we may have to add that. Unfortunately train times there would be quite uncivilized.
Absolutely correct Mr. Palmland - The Henry Clay in it's present location is a mere recreation. I like it for it's proximity to the Amtrak platform. I also wish that the Carolinian and Palmetto stopped in Ashland.......getting there by train from the Carolinas involves a change and layover at the Richmond Staples Mill Amshack.
Posted by RRCHINA (Member # 1514) on :
palmland, Allan Affeldt is an architect and has the same motivation, and people, that did the La Posada. It will be a 1st class restoration but will be finished in phases as was the La Posada.
Those who find the hours of Amtrak 3 and 4 to be less than desireable at Needles might take comfort in knowing that Laughlin, NV is just 25 miles +/- away and you can take all the money you are making in the stock market and invest in the many opportunities there. ; )
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
I'm quite prepared to share with the forum the response I would send to Member Mr. Gardner here at the forum.
The Green River or Granger WY (it does appear closer to Granger than Green River) "Little America' certainly did appear as an "Oasis' during January 1969. As I noted earlier, i was driving East after having been separated from service in my VW and here comes a snow squall. The wind was buffering this light auto about and even going 40 mph, it was difficult to hold it on track (that was a job with a rear engined VW in any weather condition). Suddenly, after having been plastered with billboards for the place since leaving Ogden, and I'm getting a little "scared' (mostly of an 18 wheeler rear ending me - they seem to go 80 regardless of weather), here is a road sign saying Little America. In the haze and fog of the snow squall, it was hard to believe that here was a full service "Oasis' in the middle of nowhere. They even extended me a military rate of some $25 and gave me a Deluxe room at that - and I was no longer in Service, or rather a PFC - Poor Frustated Civilian (for those around here who were "never in', there is another translation to that acronym: "Proud F#$k^&g Civilian").
By comparo, when I went there, albeit in a higher season, during June 2K, the rate was some $100 - for a "Standard" room. Here are the rates prevailing today.
Posted by palmland (Member # 4344) on :
Mr. Norman-I have never been in Green River, WY but can imagine that the area is similar to Green River, UT (pretty much due south)where we spent one night on this trip. Fortunately we were in a vehicle a little more substantial then a VW but probably not as much fun.
Believe me, there is no 'Oasis' in that forlorn town. The only redeeming feature was a one hour late SWC where one passenger scurried out of town and no misguided souls detrained.
I'll look forward to trying your spot on one of our future ventures.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
Mr. Palmland, I did stop at the "Amtrak Station' in Green River UT on the return from the 2K auto journey to The Meadows. I wholly agree it is desolate - considerably to the West of that 'excuse for a town".
I've never ridden the Amtrak Zephyr over the D&RGW - only the "real deal". Green River was a conditional stop back then, and the CZ just moved on through at Restricted speed.
Posted by gibg (Member # 2565) on :
While I completely agree with Mr. Norman and Mr. Palmland on the subject of Green River, UT (read: desolate), two bright spots come to mind:
(1) it is the nearest (and only) stop for Moab, UT, and Canyonland and Arches National Parks. Whether there is connecting transportation I do not know.
(2) it has one of the finest motels I have ever stayed in -- the Best Western River Terrace. Most rooms look out on the river, and the included morning breakfast includes the chef emerging from the kitchen to ask what you'd like cooked to order.
Other than that, Green River deserves a bypass (which is exactly what Interstate 70 does).
Posted by palmland (Member # 4344) on :
glbg-you are right about jumping off spot for Canyonlands-Arches which we did last year (but did not stay in Green River). But also Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, and Zion NP which we did on this year's junket.
We were going to stay in the Best Western but it did not allow pets. Surprisingly the Holiday Inn Express did so that was our overnight spot. We did have dinner at the BW restaurant and it was quite good - fortunate since that was about the only restaurant in town you would want to enter.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
Interesting to learn that somewhere on this planet that a Best Western is actually "best in town", albeit by default.
I swore that "chain" (if you can call it that) off over ten years ago; I'll gladly concede that that they do represent some good properties, but to use BW is simply too much the crapshoot for folks like myself who consider when traveling "the best surprise is no surprise".
Finally, would you believe what "the rich kids from Sunnyvale" think should be targeted to readers of this topic?
I spent a night at the Rodeway in Green River, UT in 2005 and can say that it would have not taken much effort by anyone else to top it.
Next door was a dubious looking truckstop which apparantly housed the Bus Depot.....as evidenced by the broken down Greyhound MC10 at the edge of the parking lot. (The hotel desk clerk confirmed that the bus had limped in three or four days earlier, that another bus came hours later to rescue the passengers, and that the derelict vehicle hadn't moved since...)
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