Inspired by Flagstaff’s natural wonders, scenic drives and lunar history, Americana Motor Hotel is open following an extensive transformation led by Practice Hospitality, a Dallas-based hotel management company and operator of award-winning hotels with intentionally-crafted experiences and soul. Parked right on historic Route 66, this retro-futuristic motor hotel offers 89 artful rooms, a year-round heated pool, fenced in “Barkyard” with dog wash station, spacious Backyard with firepits, and telescopes to explore the star-spangled sky in the world’s First International Dark Sky City.
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“Flagstaff is a year-round playground filled with outdoor adventure and history, and we’re excited to welcome travelers to experience all Northern Arizona has to offer from the comfort of this roadside retreat,” said Bashar Wali, chief executive officer of Practice Hospitality. “Guests will be transported through space and time. We’re pairing innovative design that channels the spirit of the original 1962 hotel paired with curated details and all the modern amenities today’s road trippers crave to revolutionize the motor hotel experience.”
OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD SPACES
With design led by Andrew Alford, former Chief Creative Officer of Graduate Hotels, the reimagined Americana Motor Hotel draws inspiration from the region’s deep ties to astronomy, surrounding natural wonders, and an idyllic vision of the future imbued with retro nostalgia. Celebrating mid-century utopian optimism, Americana Motor Hotel revels in bold colors and graphics that feel both familiar and modern with vibrant custom geometric floorcoverings, artwork and architectural elements inspired by the surrounding natural landscape. Sly references to the number 66, astronomy, and the great outdoors are hidden like Easter eggs throughout the property. Bedside tables are abstracted into Roman numerals, the lobby floor uses simple shapes to evoke mountains and moons, and the guestroom art is filled with winks and nods to road trips and the folklore of Route 66.
Situated in a long, angled building with two stories of exterior entrances overlooking the expansive backyard, the guestrooms at Americana Motor Hotel feature a warm palette of rustic brown, navy blue and orange, with a blend of wood textures and rich textiles, coming together in a look Alford calls “rustic futurism.” All are outfitted with eye-popping carpets featuring swirling stripes, wall coverings that call to mind wood paneling, headboards inspired by 1970’s ski wear and spinning disco balls. Original art celebrates the heaven on Earth that surrounds Flagstaff – the region’s iconic conifer forests – and paraphrases Carl Sagan’s observation that the elements that make up our very bodies originated in the stars. Even the bright red shower hardware and geometric white tile were thoughtfully selected to evoke NASA’s Apollo moon landing equipment, a reference to astronauts training for those missions in the Cinder Lake Crater just outside of town.
ROADSIDE OASIS
In the lobby, guests are greeted at a front desk designed to resemble a vintage travel brochure rack, a staple in classic roadside motels. Here, staff members with extensive knowledge of the destination and comfortable couches, board games, a retail stocked with sundries and souvenirs await weary road trippers. The lobby also features a nearly thirty-foot long communal banquette with ample power outlets, perfect for remote working. After a warm welcome, guests are directed to parking spaces located steps from their guestroom doors, allowing them to unpack with ease and enjoy plush beds with high quality linens, walk-in showers, in-room coffee, refrigerators, 43” 4K TVs with premium entertainment channels, and high-speed Wi-Fi.
Just outside, Americana Motor Hotel’s spacious Backyard serves as a place to hang out and let loose after a day of exploration, where guests can take a dip in the year-round heated pool, play yard games like Bocce and cornhole, relax in a hammock or roast s’mores around the firepits while swapping travel stories with other adventurers. When it comes time to explore, guests can borrow a telescope and train it at the night sky or grab a bicycle for venturing around town.
Perfect for those traveling with pets, Americana Motor Hotel welcomes breeds of all shapes and sizes. Guests can take advantage of the property’s fenced-in off leash “Barkyard” where furry companions can stretch their legs when nature calls and get their zoomies out after a day on the road. The hotel also offers a dog wash station to clean up before a cozy night’s sleep.
Situated in the world’s First International Dark Sky City, Americana Motor Hotel carefully took Flagstaff’s star filled night skies into consideration, refraining from shining or reflecting too much light from the property’s paint, lighting, and iconic neon sign on Route 66, a perfect photo op that’s new but inspired by the 1962 original. With intention toward sustainability, the property offers a menu of aluminum canned beverages to eliminate the use of hard-to-recycle glass or plastic, reusable water bottles, EV chargers and drought tolerant landscaping.
BASECAMP FOR ADVENTURE
Deemed the “City of Seven Wonders,” Flagstaff is a college town home to Northern Arizona University and a year-round destination for hiking, biking, skiing, and national park travel. Whether visiting the Grand Canyon, Arizona Snowbowl, Lowell Observatory, Meteor Creator, the ancient pueblos of Wupatki, or any of Northern Arizona’s world-class outdoor destinations, Americana Motor Hotel provides a welcome respite following a day of adventure.
For more information on Americana Motor Hotel or to make reservations, visit americanamotorhotel.com or call 928.833.3060.
