Fire & Sword brings Hotel St. Michael’s underground space out of hiding.
Kilmer, who has worked at the hotel for the last 13 years, remembers her first time exploring the basement. Even then, she saw the potential for something extraordinary. “I believed this hotel was sitting on a moneymaker,” she said.
New hotel owner Shane Ortega, who purchased the property two years ago, shared her vision. Seven months of restoration work breathed new life into the speakeasy, which had operated under various names for more than a century. Now rebranded as Fire & Sword, it welcomes guests to experience a unique mix of history and modern comfort.
“People can finally enjoy this space under the hotel,” Kilmer said. “It was empty for so long. Everyone kept asking, ‘When is it going to open?’”
Fire & Sword celebrates Prescott’s past with vintage décor, including an antique safe, old photographs, and the original brickwork that has survived since the early 1900s. Though the underground tunnel that once linked the hotel to the courthouse has been closed off, guests can view preserved mining equipment nearby. The bar serves an impressive selection, featuring 20 beers and 60 varieties of whiskey. Also, it is ADA accessible.
Kilmer said the speakeasy’s open layout appeals to locals who appreciate its spaciousness. “It’s big – it’s not like a bar where people are crammed together,” she explained. “When people come down here, they say it reminds them of venues in New York or Chicago.”
Originally known as The Burke, the hotel was marketed as Prescott’s “only fireproof hotel.” Yet, in 1900, it burned down as onlookers watched, “whiskey glasses in hand,” according to the hotel’s website. Rebuilt a year later, it was dedicated to Archangel Michael, and remnants of its first brickwork still bear marks from that fire.
The speakeasy had been closed for decades before its recent overhaul, which included installing new ceilings and bathrooms. Now, Fire & Sword offers jazz and other mellow tunes, while sports fans can gather for weekend games on big screens. Though there’s no kitchen in the speakeasy, guests are welcome to bring in meals from the upstairs Bistro.
Hotel St. Michael itself has seen recent upgrades, including remodeled guest rooms. A new fireplace is being installed in the lobby bar. The hotel also offers a unique shopping experience, with small shops located on the property.
“We provide the ultimate experience,” Kilmer said. FBN
By Stan Bindell, FBN
For more information, call Hotel St.
Michael at 928-776-1999.
Photos by Stan Bindell: Bartender Nate Gross and General Manager Regina Kilmer stand behind the bar, ready to welcome guests to Fire & Sword.
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