The historic La Posada hotel, formerly a Harvey House in Winslow, Arizona, temporarily closed Monday for the first time since its reopening 23 years ago. The closure is happening because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The hotel posted on its Facebook page:
As difficult as it was for us to make this decision, we realize that there are millions of people suffering from the effects of this virus, and we know that in many ways we are luckier than many who are at a greater risk both in terms of their health and their livelihood. We send our best wishes to everyone who is struggling through this crisis.
Included was an image of a rainbow that happened to occur during the hotel’s closing that day.
This image is the view I saw as I was leaving the hotel today. I take it as a reminder that although things seem pretty bad at the moment, we will pull through this to a better day.
Allan Affeldt and Tina Mion, who also own the Plaza Hotel and La Castaneda Hotel in Las Vegas, New Mexico, and Legal Tender Saloon in Lamy, New Mexico, also announced temporary shutdowns of those recently acquired and restored properties over the weekend for similar reasons. Castaneda, however, will continue to prepare take-out meals.
Affeldt wrote on Facebook before the closings:
We have always been an unusual business, founded not to make money but to save special places. For twenty-five years we have poured our lives and revenue into improving our properties, our communities and our staff with little regard for the bottom line. We are so proud of what we have been able to accomplish, and so very grateful for the support of our loyal guests and lovely towns.
Everything is different now. We have had so many cancellations we cannot process them right away. Please be patient and kind. If you believe in our common future, buy a gift certificate for a future stay or meal. If you already have a reservation we would love to give you a gift certificate or reschedule your stay when things get better – which they will. We understand that many of our guests are in crisis too, so if you have a reservation and need a refund we will get that to you as quickly as we can.
We are doing all we can to support our staff too. We will pay out all benefits and will keep 24-hour security and live-in at all properties. Most of these fine people have been with us for years, some for decades. It is heartbreaking. Tina and I are working without pay. We will borrow and use every penny we have so we can all recover together.
La Posada opened in 1930 as the depression overtook an unprepared nation. Working together we brought La Posada back and made it an oasis of kindness and beauty, and then the same for the Plaza, Castaneda and Legal Tender. This crisis too shall pass. We will all travel and dine and laugh again.
Affeldt saved La Posada, built in 1929, after he bought the long-closed property in the 1990s and restored it.
(Image of La Posada in Winslow, Arizona, by Jayjay P via Flickr)
I imagine The Bell Hotel in the orginal Winslow, Buckinghamshire, UK is also in the same situation.
A wonderful place, a “Night at the museum” hotel. My wife and I spent the night here on our trip from Chicago.
I hope for beter times, so we can return here, to sit on the porch and watch the trains go by.
For all businesses along the road, keep your heads up. We will be back!
Fred from The Netherlands.