![]() It now has 4,100 hotel and motels in over 100 countriesīest Western is headquartered in Phoenix, which is less than an hour’s drive from Gila Bend. It became international about 1975 when it put its name on properties in New Zealand and Australia. It had 699 properties and more than 135,000 rooms to stay in. Because it had the only reservation service covering the entire United States by 1962, Best Western was the largest motel chain in the industry by the next year. The Best Western chain was founded in 1946 by M. Carmen Navarrete, its Assistant Manager, told me some interesting things about it. It seemed like everyone staying there or eating in the Space Age Restaurant was taking photos or videos of it when we were there. That place used to get sprinkled with ash from the fireworks.The best attraction in Gila Bend, AZ, is a motel, the Best Western Space Age Lodge. I remember the Best Western Station Inn had a western theme and was located next the Sheraton on Ball and I-5, tucked into the very corner. I know I stayed at Abby's Anaheimer Inn when it used to be a Best Western, but I don't recall it having a space theme. I want to say it shared the Cosmic Age Lodge site, but I'm not sure the hotel actually used to be located. The name "Galactic Motor Inn" sticks out in my mind right now. I'm not sure what the Park Place or Anaheim could have been before. So my guess would be the Stovall hotels were simply sold off to new owners. The Cypress in Stanton was where we were able to last get a discount and it's way over on Knott Ave and Katella. The only benefit is a so called employee discount, but it seems lately you don't find that discount in the Disneyland area. My mom is head housekeeper at the Dobson Ranch Inn here in Mesa, Az and she said the owners decided not to renew with Best Western, so the hotel will continue without that affiliation. The owners just pay royalties for the Best Western affiliation. Anybody know? Best Westerns are independently owned and operated. ![]() ![]() I'm sure BW bought the whole chain when Al Stovall retired. I'm not sure how to describe them, but they had this distinct look about them.Īnd yes, the Space Age Lodge lives on here in Arizona in Gila Bend.īut that leaves two Best Westerns unaccounted for: the Park Place and the Anaheim. All these Stovall space hotels had blue and green panels with holes punched in them and the canopies next the the front office all had the same look to them. I seem to remember seeing a shuttle in the '80s that said Astro Inn on the side. All you had to was turn off your lights and turn on the in-room blacklights for a little while and the stars continue to glow after turning off the black light. I don't know if you remember some kind of glitter like material in the popcorn ceilings of these motels, but after Stardust remodeled, they painted stars with day glo paint. I think it might be owned by Travelodge or something. Stardust on Ball Rd is still around and still bore the Stardust name through 2005. Apollo Inn was demolished since it was on West St south of the Disneyland Hotel. Cosmic Age Lodge still stands today as the Candy Cane Inn. Space Age Lodge is still there as Stovall's Pavillions. Stovall's Inn of Tomorrow is still there as Stovall's Inn.
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