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Arizona Rancho

Historic hotel
In Holbrook, Arizona
0.2 mi from Route 66
National Register of Historic Places

The Arizona Rancho in Holbrook, AZ, began as a home built between 1881 and 1883 and later grew into a boarding house, then a hotel, and at last a motel. Its first section is believed to be the oldest surviving building in Holbrook. Over the years it has also been known as the Higgins House, the Brunswick Hotel and the Arizona Hotel. For Route 66 travellers it is a glimpse of the town long before the highway arrived.

What is Arizona Rancho?

A former hotel in the Pueblo Revival style, listed on the National Register. Each stage of its life added to it: first a private residence, then rooms for boarders, then a hotel for travellers and at last a motel. The core of the original house is believed to be the oldest structure still standing in town.

History of Arizona Rancho

Construction started in 1881 and ran into 1883. Its string of names, from Higgins House to the Brunswick Hotel and the Arizona Hotel, tracks how its role changed over the decades while the building itself stayed in place.

Visiting Arizona Rancho: tips

View it from the street and respect the property; as a former hotel, it is not a place to expect to go inside. It makes a quick stop on the way to the Wigwam Motel, about 0.4 miles away. Obed, a ghost town, lies about 9.3 miles off.