Arizona's Historic Escapes [Archival Copy]

Have you ever felt like making a break for it, like escaping the confinement of everyday life and running to freedom? If so, the inmates of the Cochise County Jail in Bisbee once shared your sentiments. Today, however, the tables have turned, and visitors actually enjoy escaping to the imposing 1901 structure that housed the county's jail, courthouse, and sheriff's office. Now the High Desert Inn, the creatively restored building with the classical facade, a former cell, and the original jail door offers comfortable accommodations to the growing number of travelers seeking a getaway to places offering a rich history and a return to times when the pace was slower and the people friendlier. The 80-plus inns and bed-and-breakfasts featured in Arizona's Historic Escapes offer a range of vacation experiences as broad and colorful as the state itself, from turreted Victorians and bawdy bordellos to rustic guest ranches and quaint mountain lodges, from haunted boarding houses and authentic trading posts to classic Southwestern adobes and glamorous resorts. Take the Red Garter Bed and Bakery, a restored 1897 bordello offering comfortable lodging over what was once a rowdy saloon. This memorable establishment is located along nostalgic Route 66 in Williams, "the Gateway to the Grand Canyon." Or take the luxurious Camelback Inn in Scottsdale, a perennial recipient of Mobil's Five Star Award, a sprawling adobe hacienda with torchlight swimming pools and championship golf. Or take the Ghost City Inn, a charming bed-and-breakfast in the former ghost town of Jerome, which clings to the side of Cleopatra Mountain and has a history so rich the entire town has been designated a National Historic Landmark. Many of these establishments have appeared in movies and were occupied by stars and film crews, beginning with the first silent productions. Saddle Rock Ranch in the red-rock country of Sedona has hosted the likes of John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart, Randolph Scott, and Hopalong Cassidy. The Monte Vista Hotel in Flagstaff was a favorite of novelist Zane Grey and opened its doors to big-name stars like Humphrey Bogart, Clark Gable, Jane Russell, Alan Ladd, and Gary Cooper. Each accommodation's entry offers historical information, a description of amenities, and travel tips, giving visitors all the information they need to prepare their great escape and have the time of their lives.

AUTHORBIO: Karen Surina Mulford, an award-winning freelance writer and creative-writing teacher, was raised in Tucson, Arizona, and currently lives in Tempe. She is the author of Arizona's Historic Restaurants and Their Recipes.

• Paperback
• 246 pages