The Grand Canyon Hotel opened its doors in January 1891 and is the oldest hotel in Arizona. Williams was a logging, ranching, mining and fur-trapping town.  In 1901 the Santa Fe railroad opened a spur up to the Grand Canyon making Williams "The Gate Way to the Grand Canyon".  The Grand Canyon Hotel was the only hotel close to the Grand Canyon.

 

The hotel has and continues to host many guests from all over the world.  Last year alone we had guest from 54 different countries.  We display the guest registers from 1904 and in these registers are such famous guests as General Pershing (who was a Captain at the time), The Vanderbilts.  The King of Siam and John Muir (founder of the Sierra Club) who stayed here 4 times.   Other guest registered from the 40's and 50's reveal the rooms were rented more than once the same night (ummm).

 

The hotel closed about 1970 after interstate 40 by passed Williams and sat empty for 35 years.  Amy and Oscar Fredrickson purchased the hotel in 2004 and started the complete remodel re-opening for business in June of 2005.  Including all new electric, plumbing, painting and roof.