Hotel Valley Ho history

Orangedale soon became “Scottsdale” in 1894, as the town began to expand rapidly.

Businesses soon opened in the center of town, as well, starting with J.L Davis’ general store in 1897.

Mills also owned Westward Ho, the downtown Phoenix landmark built in 1928.

Phoenix architect Ed Varney founded his firm in 1941 and had worked on notable projects such as the Paradise Valley Country Club and the nearby Motorola plant.

1953: Accomplished veteran hoteliers Robert and Evelyn Foehl formed a partnership with John B. Mills to build a luxurious new hotel in downtown Scottsdale.

In late December 1957, Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood celebrated their wedding reception at the hotel.

With the Valley Ho an immediate financial success, in 1958 Varney designed and built two more wings of guest rooms to the northwest of the original complex.

Another Scottsdale landmark hotel, the Mountain Shadows Resort, opened the following year, in 1959.

Ramada expanded the building exponentially, as well, joining it onto another hotel that it had constructed in 1961.

Nevertheless, interest in the building waned over the next three decades, forcing Ramada to abandon the endeavor in 2002.

Construction immediately began in 2005, and cost close to $80 million! The spaces affiliated with the Ramada period were removed, while the original guestrooms and public venues received much needed care.

A member of Historic Hotels of America since 2007, Hotel Valley Ho has stood as a cherished landmark in downtown Scottsdale for more than a half-a-century.

The seven-story Tower was completed in January 2008, in the spirit of Edward Varney’s original plans.