The Hermosa Inn, a boutique hotel located in Paradise Valley, a suburb of Phoenix and minutes from Scottsdale, completed the second phase of a $5.5-million renovation and expansion.
Located on six acres of Sonoran Desert landscape with panoramic mountain views, the renovation included the addition of 10 hideaway casitas, the update of 12 historic rancho casitas and an expansion of LON’s Last Drop bar and patio, increasing the hotel's number of hacienda-style accommodations and casitas to 43.
Phase one of the expansion began in 2015, shortly after the resort was purchased by Allred Capital, a partnership led by Ron and Mike Allred, who are committed to retaining the legacy of the original home and studio built by Arizona artist Lon Megargee in the early 1930's.
"Maintaining the integrity and character of Hermosa Inn and the dream that once inspired its inception, was at the forefront when the Allreds embarked on this renovation and expansion," Stephen Ast, managing director of the Hermosa Inn, said in a statement. "Their investment of $5.5 million translates to $125,000 per key, which by any standard is impressive and indicative of their commitment, not only to preserving The Inn's legacy but to creating an authentic and memorable guest experience that is unmistakably Arizona.”
Offering an unobstructed view of Camelback Mountain, a fountain anchors the hotel's new entryway, creating a welcoming arrival that leads directly into the newly-built lobby with beamed ceilings and a fireplace.
Situated near the main building via a walkway trellised with hot-pink bougainvillea, Old West meets modern luxury in the 10 spacious, 700-square-foot deluxe hideaway casitas that include European white oak floors, vaulted ceilings with a skylight, a beehive fireplace, a patio and bathrooms with both a clawfoot tub and a glass enclosed shower.
The furnishings include wrought iron and wood canopy king beds draped with sheers; authentic mesquite tables and dressers handcrafted in Tubac, Ariz.; and over-sized wingback leather chairs. Upholstered benches, pillows and rugs stay true to the local environs with Southwestern patterns in a soothing desert palette of sienna red, with dusty tans, muted golds and greens. Wood shutters frame the windows in both the bed and bathroom, while the walls in both are adorned with Lon Megargee prints.
Simultaneously, 12 historic rancho casitas were completely renovated, also including beehive fireplaces, European white oak wood floors, king beds with new linens, secluded patios and Lon Megargee artwork.
In 2016, all of Hermosa Inn's existing accommodations underwent a complete renovation, including the installation of wood floors; new bedding, soft goods and leather furnishings; reupholstered benches and completely remodeled bathrooms.
“We’re proud to own a very exclusive niche as Paradise Valley’s only historic boutique hotel where all of the accommodations are either newly built or have been completely renovated,” Ron Allred said in a statement.
Allreds also expanded the hotel’s bar: LON’s Last Drop, named after Megargee’s most famous painting: “Last Drop From His Stetson," which was commissioned by the Stetson Hat Company in the 1920's, and to this day still appears on the inside of every top-of-the-line Stetson hat. LON’s Last Drop doubled its interior seating capacity with low slung leather seating clusters. The property’s outside patio also doubled in capacity, adding five more fireplaces and conversational couches.