Camelback Inn Real Estate Is Paradise In The Valley

By Author: Heidi Baldwin
Total Articles: 6
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Way back when, around 1936, Jack Stewart was an ambitious would-be hotelier persuaded a group of investors to finance construction of a new resort nestled in the lush high Sonoran desert of Arizona. The investors were led by Stewart's friend, John C. Lincoln, an Ohio businessman who believed in Stewart's vision of a world-class retreat snuggled in the shadows of Camelback Mountain on acres and acres of this prime land. In years to come, the stunning Scottsdale and Paradise Valley real estate area that is home to the Camelback Inn has become a haven for luxurious homes, estates and mansions.

Designed by architect Edward Loomis Bowes, the Camelback Inn originally accommodated 75 guests and cost an at-the-time whopping $75,000 to build. The resort immediately attracted affluent travelers who endured long train rides to Phoenix from the East Coast and Midwest, then suffered another 12-mile trek down bumpy dirt roads to reach their Southwestern adventure. But the trip was well worth it, culminating in a serene setting and activities such as horseback riding, desert exploration and other outdoor excursions that introduced vacationers ...
... to the wonders of their secluded surroundings.

Welcoming guests and making them feel at home is a Camelback Inn tradition that was begun by Stewart and his wife, the former Mabel Louise Shoemaker. Louise was known as a social dynamo who organized grand events instilling a spirit of camaraderie among guests that lives on to this day.

Early guest-lists were rife with rich and famous business leaders, high-placed politicos and A-list Hollywood celebrities including Clark Gable, Jimmy Stewart and Bette Davis. J. W. Marriott, Sr. shared the Stewarts' love for the Camelback Inn, and in 1967, Marriott proudly made the Camelback Inn the company's first resort.

J.W. (Bill) Marriott, Jr., sustained his father's commitment to the Camelback Inn by overseeing further expansion. These continuous improvements have earned the resort numerous accolades over the years, and in February 1989, another magnificent addition was unveiled: The Spa at Camelback Inn. The 31,000-square-foot full-service facility has been ranked one of the Top 100 spas in the world.

While spa-fans will fall in love with The Spa, golf aficionados will definitely appreciate the Camelback Inn's 36 holes of championship golf. In fact, the Padre Course features soaring shade trees and strategic bunkering, while desert and mountain views, towering palm - and eucalyptus-lined fairways and multiple lakes surround the Indian Bend Course.

The Camelback Inn, a celebrated fixture at the foot of Camelback Mountain for nearly eight decades, saw some major updates in 2007, including new restaurants, a reinvention of the main building, a complete rebuild of the ballroom and the creation of a soothing experiential courtyard with water and fire elements. Known for some time now as the JW Marriott Camelback Inn, all of these new changes were designed to showcase the unique essence and soul of this legendary historical landmark whose tag-line says it all: In all the world, only one.

Source: www.CamelbackInn.com; information used with permission. Article Source: Russ Lyon blog