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Peg Price | all galleries >> Galleries >> Arizona > The First Best Western Motel
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26 December 20004 Peg Price

The First Best Western Motel

233 S. 4th Ave., Yuma

The Best Western Coronado
April 2005 Update: Paige Donnelly, Media Relations Specialist for Best Western, sent me an email regarding "the first motel" status:
"....The first Best Western was located in Long Beach, CA, and named the Best Western Beach and
Oceanaire. It opened in 1946, and was bulldozed in 1991 to make way for condos. Both hotels (the Wickenburg and Yuma motels) were part of the original charter group (entered the group at the same time in 1948).  The Wickenburg was built in 1946 and is no longer a Best Western property.  The Yuma property (BW Coronado) was built in 1938 – and lays claim to the title as the oldest-purpose-built-motel in the chain today."






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Peg Price15-Apr-2005 02:23
Hi Brian,
On the contrary, I'm glad you wrote about the BW in Wickenburg. That would be great if you could find out more and see what's at the bottom of it all. BW is celebrating their 50th anniversary so they were very responsive in talking about their history.
Please keep us posted here on what else you find.
Peg
Brian 14-Apr-2005 18:00
If you want I can stop by on next time through and pick up a pamphlet. All I know is the Coxwell's the original owners of the "Rancho Grande Best Western" were somehow involved in the beginning of the corporation of Best Western, but it sold out to another individual and I haven't been there since.http://www.bwranchogrande.com
Also then again I could be wrong and mis-spoken. Anyhow I didn't mean to stir it up :)

BTW: Love your photos!
Peg Price13-Apr-2005 05:29
You've piqued my interest! I contacted Best Western and hopefully they can clarify which one was the first. I'll post their response here. Thanks.
Guest 13-Apr-2005 04:30
The FIRST best western is in Wickenburg. I remember reading that on one of their pamplets in the rooms.