Letson
Loft Hotel
by
Jim Prueter
 If
you’re looking for that perfect mid-week or weekend
getaway to escape the 100-degree-plus summer heat,
I recommend spending a couple of days in historic Bisbee.
Because of the town’s 5,500-foot elevation, summer
temperatures average between 85 and 90 degrees during
the day, with nights cooling off into the mid 60s.
At the turn of the century, Bisbee was one of the most
famous and richest mineral mining sites in the world,
producing hundreds of thousands of pounds of gold,
billions in copper, along with silver, lead and zinc,
all mined in the nearby Mule Mountains. By the early
1900s Bisbee was the largest city between St. Louis
and San Francisco. As mining played out, the people
disappeared along with it, leaving a current population
of about 6,000.
Delightfully free of outlet shopping, fast food restaurants
and urban decadence, Bisbee has evolved into a quaint,
attractive artist and antique community that hosts
special events almost every week. Travelers from
around the world visit here to delight in authentic
Old West splendor that, over the years, has disappeared
from the American landscape.
My wife and I enjoyed the pleasant drive down Interstate
10 and onto Highway 83, taking the scenic back roads
through Sonoita, Sierra Vista then through Mule Pass
Tunnel on to the quaint, mile high old world charm
of Bisbee.
Historic Main Street in downtown looks as if time came
to a stop shortly after the turn of the century. Blocks
of historic mercantile stores and retail establishments
line the streets. Authentic Victorian buildings from
the 1880s now house charming boutiques, art galleries
and antique shops.
In the very heart of Bisbee, at 26 Main St., is the
Letson Loft Hotel, located on the second floor of the
Letson Block building. This structure was originally
the Goldwater-Castaneda mercantile store, opened in
1883 by Joseph Goldwater, grandfather of Arizona’s
legendary Barry Goldwater.
In 1902, the building became known as the Letson Block,
named for Irish immigrant and Cochise County lawman
James Letson. Over the years the building has been
home to various businesses including jewelers, restaurants,
shoemakers, and even a bank.
In September 2006, after extensive and thoughtful renovation,
the building opened as the Letson Loft Hotel with eight
spacious and charming modern guest rooms decorated
in an English country theme.
With 11-foot ceilings, modern private baths, original
skylights, exposed brick walls with adobe plaster,
and restored hardwood floors, the Letson Loft Hotel
is delightfully historic yet conveniently modern. Rooms
boast a keyless entry system, individual heating and
air conditioning, flat screen plasma televisions with
DVD players and HBO. There’s even free
wireless Internet access.
You can stay in your choice of a king suite, a queen
suite with a sitting area or a queen room with kitchen.
There’s nothing frilly, lacy or flowery here,
just tasteful décor, thick pillow-top mattresses,
plenty of down-feather pillows and heavy bath towels.
The hotel does not serve breakfast but some of the
best coffee from Old Bisbee Coffee Roasters is available
24 hours a day in the lobby and the fresh, warm pumpkin
muffins are a foodie’s dream.
In all of southern Arizona, it doesn’t get much
better than this.
If you go:
Letson Loft Hotel
26 Main St., Bisbee
520-432-3210
www.letsonlofthotel.com
Rates and Restrictions:
$110 to $165 per night, double occupancy; 10-percent
discount on weekdays for AAA members.
No smoking, no pets and no children under age 12.
Be sure to make advance dinner reservations at Roka
Restaurant or Santiago’s
Photos courtesy
of Letson Loft Hotel |
