The long-closed El Garces Hotel in Needles, Calif., built in 1908 and one of the last surviving railroad Harvey Houses, recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for its rehabilitation, reported the Mohave Daily News.
According to the article:
Plans call for El Garces to include a state of California Needles Visitor Center, an inter-modal transit center, first-class hotel and fine-dining restaurant.
Allan Affeldt, who beautifully restored La Posada in Winslow, Ariz., is the project manager on El Garces’ restoration. Anyone who’s ever stayed in La Posada knows that this is very good news indeed.
Needles also could use a top-flight tourism destination. Except for a few snowbirds and hardcore Route 66ers, it doesn’t attract many travelers except those who need to gas up before heading across the Mojave Desert.
This is wonderful news. If this restoration results in the quality and care that was accomplished in Winslow at La Posada, this will really be something for Needles to celebrate. My wife Nancy and I are Route 66 fans, as well as classic car and railroad enthusiasts. We have restored and own several classic cars. We enjoy driving the “old” road and visiting the train stations and buildings that have survived over time , mainly due to the hard work, perserverance and financial commitment by numerous dedicated people. We have made it a point to drive by and visit El Garces when we are in the Needles area.
We now live in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, which is only approximately 45 miles from Needles.
I realize that this is a commercial endeavor, but if volunteers are needed, I for one would like to help.
I wish Allan and Dan the best of success with this project.
I would suggest that if anyone has not seen the Arizona PBS channel 8 broadcast of Arizona Lodges, La Posada, that they do so by visiting PBS’s website: azpbs.org
Hal & Nancy Robinson
Lake Havasu City, AZ.
WHAT IS THE STATIS ON THE RENOVATION OF THE EL GARCES HOTEL? WE PASSED BY IN WINTER OF 2008 AND WOULD LOVE TO BE ONE OF THE FIRST TO STAY THERE WHEN COMPLETED. PLEASE KEEP US INFORMED.
THANK YOU,
TOM AND RICKI BOYER
505-466-3519
SANTAFEPEPPER@MSN.COM