Arizona 9 Motor Hotel

Sutton's Hotel Cottages started out in 1927 as a gas station built by R. P Thurston who added four tourist cottages built with Arizona Sandstone in 1928. In 1929 Thurston added 18 stuccoed adobe style cottages. In 1931 the phonebook listed Thurston's Hotel Cottages and Thurston's Service Station, both at 321 W. Bill Williams Avenue.

The Sutton brothers apparently bought the property by the spring of 1937 when it was listed in the phonebook as the "Sutton's Hotel Cottages" at 321 W. Bill Williams Ave. and the gas station was listed as a Conoco at 341. They promptly redecorated of the property inside and out and added a neon sign to attract the traveling public. At that time each cottage had an attached garage, those are long gone.

In 1939 the Sutton's embarked on a remodeling that included the installation of tile showers, new hardwood floors and new furniture. Greater guest comfort was assured as "Perfect Sleeper" mattresses were part of the new furniture.

The business was also referred to as Sutton's Court(s) over the years at the same time it was called Sutton's Hotel Cottages and Conoco Station. In 1945 they seem to have dropped the Conoco brand and began calling the business Sutton's Hotel Cottages and Service Station in ads.

In 1946 the Sutton's sold the motel business, but not the service station. The motel then went through several owners, before becoming a Whiting Brothers Motor Hotel. By 1965 both the station and the motel were operating under the Whiting Brothers name. That apparently lasted until the 1990's when Whiting Bros. sold it. The old cottage style station was extensively remodeled or replace by the Whiting Brothers in 1965. That is apparently when a new motel office, still in use, with a covered drive was added.

Which brings use to the Arizona 9 Motor Hotel that we see today.

In 2013 we stayed in this room with two queen sized beds. It was clean and quiet which made for a pleasant stay.

Photo(s): 2013