The Real Story of Hotel Monte Vista

The Hotel Monte Vista, previously the Community Hotel, was built by combining several older structures. But the name Monte Vista was chosen by a contest winner. Fundraising events helped complete the hotel in 1927, and it had a positive impact on the neighborhood. The fact that it is among Flagstaff's oldest hotels gives it historical significance. Many notable persons have called it home, including John Wayne. Mary Costigan, an early pioneer in the realm of radio, ran an early station from there.

The hotel has collected a diverse collection of ghost stories and myths about haunted locations over many decades, adding to the property's aura as a cherished institution. The Loc. came to the realization that first-class accommodations were necessary in the mid- 1920s, when tourism in Flagstaff, Arizona, was on the rise.

The locally available hotels were too old and inadequate to satisfy the criteria. At the time, a coordinated effort was launched in response to the need for a new, modern hotel in the heart of Flagstaff. This requirement. Notable locals put money toward the project when it first began to solicit donations in April of 1926. In only one month, Josiah Gray made a significant donation.

A substantial sum for that era, the total amount of money collected was close to $200,000. After the required funds were secured, the construction project was formally started on June 8th, 1926, with the breaking of ground. As part of its design, the 73-room hotel included the former Coconino Sun newspaper firm's building—now called the Montevi Cocktail Lounge—and the local post office, which had operated from 1917 until 1927.

The office had already been set up prior to the hotel's construction. The blending of old components into the current hotel gave the facility a one-of-a-kind identity. The hotel originally welcomed guests in 1927, on New Year's Day. Originally, it stood as a memorial to the town's residents who had helped fund its construction, and its name was the Community Hotel. Someone who won a contest to be named.

At the end of the day, the 12-year-old chose to call the hotel Monte Vista, which translates to Mountain View. The picturesque setting of this Arizona hotel in the heart of the mountains is well captured by its name. As a symbol of the community, the Monte Vista Hotel has stood the test of time as the longest continuously operating commercial property held by the public sector. Commitment to this illustrious organization. It was not until early 19/6 that the hotel was sold to a private investor. It had never happened before. Made a sale.

Now that it has been included to the United States Registrar of Historic Places' list of notable structures, the Monte Vista is acknowledged as one of Flagstaff's oldest hotels. The significance of the hotel's architecture and history is shown by this. In addition to being a prominent location for lodging, the Monte Vista Hotel played a pivotal role in Flagstaff's early radio transmissions. Originally from Detroit, Mary Kostegan became the second woman in history to get a radio broadcasting license. In 1927, she relocated to Flagstaff to lend a hand to her brother, John, and John Weatherford, who happened to be John Weatherford's business partner.

Of the former Majestic Opera House, rechristened the Orpheum. With her brother's health deteriorating, Mary assumed control of the family business. For a long time, she had been one of the venture's backers. Subsequently, she proceeded to construct a 25-watt radio station concealed inside the Majestic Opera House.

After she moved KFXY to the Monte Vista Hotel in 1929, the station was upgraded to 100 Watts and could transmit for three hours a day. There is obviously a lot of excitement and anticipation around this new technological breakthrough. After the first broadcast from the hotel site, over 400 locals tuned in.

The Hotel Monte Vista, located in Flagstaff's historic downtown, is now a renowned landmark. Which has been maintained throughout time. Notable guests at the hotel over the years have included several Hollywood heavyweights, including John Wayne Spencer, Tracy Humphrey Bogart, Clark Gable, Anthony Hopkins, Esther Williams, and Barbara Stanwyck, among many more. Over the course of its three stories, the hotel offers 73 guestrooms and suites. The hotel's historical significance goes beyond its cultural and architectural legacies. Even more so, in 2019, it was included on the Travel Channel's most horrifying destinations as a haunted location.

These spectral stories have added an air of mystery and fascination to the hotel's mystique, even if it is impossible to confirm their veracity. There have been rumors that a long-term hotel guest, an old woman, never really left room 305. Among all the tales that have ever existed, this one has the greatest fame. There have been reports of her ghostly figure seen at the hotel, allegedly rocking in a chair by the window.

Additionally, the chair has been seen to spontaneously move for reasons that remain a mystery. Guests and employees alike have claimed other experiences with Erie. Some of these spectral phenomena include a bank robber's cheerful good morning greeting, the apparitions of slain prostitutes in room 306, and the butcher man's paranormal activities in room 220.

Who knew the meat man had a background in border patrol? He was late and the raw meat was falling from the chandelier. Death. Not only was John Wayne a renowned guest at the hotel, but he also had a fascinating backstory. During his stay at Room 210, the famous actor supposedly heard a knock on the door. There are stories of ghosts as well. First there was the door, and then someone wanted room service.

However, each time he opened the door, he found no one there. Wayne had many encounters with his ghostly bellboy, and other employees had reported seeing the ethereal figure strolling about as well. The architecture, while the veracity of these tales remains a mystery, they undeniably provide a substantial thread to the varied fabric of the Monte Vista Hotel's past. And the timeless allure of the hotel.

It stands as a testament to the perseverance and vision of the Flagstaff community from more than a century ago. Joined forces to create this unique gem of Northern Arizona; the Hotel Monte Vista still entertains guests from throughout the world; and the city's dance is an expression of its tenacity and perspective.

The Monte Vista Hotel is still a famous landmark because of its fascinating history, cultural significance, and architectural heritage. It allows visitors to enjoy modern comforts while also immersing themselves in the storied past of flagstaff.