Westward HOme, 2002
When the Hotel Westward Ho opened in 1928, it instantly became a Phoenix landmark.
As the city’s first high-rise resort, it symbolized all things lavish,
swank, deluxe. Well-heeled locals and Hollywood stars roamed its hallways
and ballrooms. Clarke Gable, Marilyn Monroe, Al Capone, and Martin Luther
King were among the famous and infamous on the guest list.
By the 1970s, the Westward Ho had fallen into neglect. The property was purchased
by a group of investors and eventually converted into a federally subsidized
housing project. Today, the Westward Ho is home for disabled adults and low-income
seniors. These residents may be less famous that their predecessors, but they’re
no less colorful. Full of character, rich in history, rife with personality
– all true of the Westward Ho itself and those who call it home.
- by Troy Aossey
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