The Mystery of the Westward Ho

kianna camille Gardner
Shoot (the photo) first
2 min readFeb 17, 2017

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The Westward Ho in Downtown Phoenix

At a towering 268 feet, the Westward Ho is a familiar focal point of the downtown Phoenix horizon. The building now serves as a low-income living space, but in its glory days, was a sought out destination for the famed and wealthy.

Built nearly a century ago in 1928, when most neighboring hotels in the Phoenix area charged a rate of 25 cents per night, the Westward Ho charged $2.

The building is comprised of delicate interior décor and detailed concrete architecture. The 16-story design was the tallest hotel in Phoenix at the time and a hot spot for celebrities, including at one point, President John F. Kennedy.

Eventually, urban sprawl moved Arizona visitor’s interest elsewhere to areas such as Scottsdale and Tempe. Golf courses and luxury resorts became the popular norm for the wealthy that used to room in the downtown area.

In 1979, the Westward Ho closed its doors.

A short two years later, the building reopened in 1981 as federal government housing. While the building used to be adorned in flashy detail such as gold lining and shield bearings, it now stands bare, grey and almost ominous.

A building that used to be a destination is now a mystery to many Phoenix locals and visitors.

In 2003, the building underwent an $8 million transformation. Many believed the transformation would eliminate the beloved Old-world appeal of the Westward, but some of the character remains.

Today, the Westward Ho is the humble home to about 300 low-income elderly individuals, and offers a total of 298 rooming options.

Despite the renovations over time and the variety of clientele, you can still find some delicate and revered originals such as multi-colored tiling and a stained glass piece in the lobby.

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