“I realized this was Flagstaff’s most valuable historic building,” Taylor said. “Losing it would have been unconscionable.”
When the doors of the Weatherford Hotel opened Jan. 1, 1900, The Coconino Sun called the grand Victorian “elegant in every way.” More than a century later, it holds the distinction of being Arizona’s longest-operating hotel and one of Flagstaff’s most beloved landmarks.
That legacy was nearly lost in the mid-1970s, when the building was slated for demolition. What saved it was a young man with a book, a vision and a deep respect for history.
Saving the Building, Sparking a Movement
Henry Taylor arrived in Flagstaff in the 1970s while working for the State of Arizona in vocational rehabilitation. While searching for housing for disabled clients, he walked into the Weatherford and learned it was for sale – or destined to be torn down.
Taylor’s connection to the building began in college, when he read The Call of the Canyon by Zane Grey. In the novel, the Weatherford appears as a gathering place for travelers and writers. “I realized this was Flagstaff’s most valuable historic building,” Taylor said. “Losing it would have been unconscionable.”
In 1975, Henry and his brother, Lloyd, purchased the hotel from Babbitt Brothers Trading Company. The risk was significant. They had no formal hotel experience, limited finances and a massive, aging building in need of repair. But they had grown up in a Route 66 hotel in Holbrook and understood both the challenges and cultural value of historic properties.
Top Achievements and Core Values
The Taylors’ restoration efforts helped ignite Flagstaff’s downtown historic preservation movement. Early ventures – including a small pastry shop, live music at Charly’s and a youth hostel – brought people back downtown and kept the building alive.
After Henry bought out his brother, restoration accelerated. A 1906 photograph revealed the original wraparound balconies, leading to major improvements in the 1990s, including the Zane Grey Ballroom, rooftop cupola and balcony restoration with support from the Arizona State Historic Preservation Office.
“Our core values have always been historic preservation and the Golden Rule,” said Sam “Pamela” Taylor. “Taking care of history, taking care of people.”
Shifts, Challenges, and Stewardship
Downtown declined after the Flagstaff Mall opened in 1980, prompting the Taylors to open Charly’s Pub in 1981 and revive nightlife. Later challenges included the Savings and Loan Crisis, the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic, which shut down much of the hotel and restaurant.
Staffing shortages, inflation and supply-chain disruptions followed. “Coming out of the pandemic was really difficult,” Sam said.
Looking Ahead
A major restructuring loan in 2015 allowed critical infrastructure upgrades, with plans still in place for the completion of the balcony restoration around the rest of the building and a third-floor elevator.
As the Weatherford approaches more than 50 years under their stewardship, the Taylors acknowledge retirement is complex for a business that is part hotel, part restaurant and part historic institution.
Still, optimism remains. “When you have a good crew, it makes all the difference,” Sam said.
Henry reflected simply: “We saved the building from being demolished. We’ve done a good job.” FBN
Weatherford Hotel, 23 N. Leroux St.
Flagstaff, AZ. 86001, (928) 779-1919
Photo by Betsey Bruner: Henry Taylor and Sam “Pamela” Green Taylor have shared a vision and lifelong passion for restoring the historic Weatherford Hotel to its original grandeur.
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