The owner of the historic El Pueblo Motor Inn in Flagstaff, Arizona, said he wants to restore the property and add space to each room.
Peter Corbett of On the Road Arizona reported:
The renovation project would redesign and enlarge guest rooms, adding modern bathrooms and patios. The inn had been operating as a single-room occupancy rental property.
Thurcon Inns LLC of Mesa, Ariz., owns El Pueblo. The project architect is Karl Eberhard, former Flagstaff historic preservation officer.
The Flagstaff Preservation Commission approved the historic inn’s renovation plans earlier this year but the city has not yet granted final approval of the project. Drainage improvements of the motel grounds are also planned.
Here’s an artist’s rendering of one of the renovated wings of the motel:
Philip Johnston built El Pueblo Motor Inn in 1936 at the base of Mount Eden in east Flagstaff along Route 66.
Johnston also played a key role in helping the U.S. win World War II. Growing up on the Navajo reservation, he came up with the idea of the military enlisting Navajos as Code Talkers. The Navajo soldiers used their native language to foil attempts by the Japanese to eavesdrop on American communications during the war.
The men Johnston recruited often would stay at El Pueblo before shipping out to join the Marines for training as Code Talkers.
Two years ago, there was talk about converting the motel at 3120 E. Historic Route 66 into the Code Talkers Museum.
(Image of El Pueblo Motor Inn and artist’s rendering courtesy of Peter Corbett)
Very interested in your El Pueblo project. Would like to know what the final plan is. Is there a place I can view what’s going on? Just asking as a long time FLG resident, offering support.