Hotel San Marcos

Hotel San Marcos (Crown Plaza)

1 N San Marcos Pl, Chandler, AZ 85225

1912 was a big year for Arizona. Still a territory at the time, Arizona officially became the 48th state on February 14, 1912, and that same year Dr. Alexander J. Chandler founded a small town just southeast of Phoenix. Naming it after himself, Dr. Chandler had big plans for his little town hoping to create a �jewel in the desert.� Dr. Chandler believed his town could one day become a totally planned community and an oasis in the desert where the rich and famous would flock. Hiring architect Arthur Burnett Benton, who was an authority on California mission design, the construction on the resort began and when it opened in 1913 the original San Marcos Resort had 35 guest rooms, a lobby, dining room, ballroom, and a full range of resort amenities like golf, horseback riding, and polo. One of the design accents that became a trademark feature of the resort was the construction of pergolas, which framed almost the entire structure. To this day, the resort remains one of the best examples of integrated Mission Revival design in Arizona. CHANDLER BECOMES AN OASIS FOR THE FAMOUS The San Marcos Resort became a popular retreat and desert playground for the rich and famous. Hollywood celebrities, socialites, athletes, authors, artists, and heads of industry traveled from all over the world to soak up the warm Arizona sun and enjoy golf, swimming, and relaxing. Some of the Hollywood stars who are known to have stayed at the resort include legends such as Fred Astaire, Joan Crawford, Bing Crosby, Clark Gable, Jimmy Stewart, Gloria Swanson, and Cher. President Herbert Hoover, Christian Dior, Gene Tunney, and Margaret Sanger also visited the San Marcos Resort. The San Marcos Hotel, currently the Crowne Plaza San Marcos Gold Resort, was built in 1913 and in the years since then has passed through several different ownerships till it became the Crowne Plaza San Marcos known as a local paranormal hot spot, staff members and visitors have reported seeing the ghost of a floating woman, hearing strange noises and moaning coming from empty parts of the hotel, and receiving phone calls from nonexistent phone extension. For more information about the hotel please visit http://www.ihg.com/crowneplaza/hotels/us/en/chandler/phxqq/hoteldetail?cm_mmc=GoogleMaps-_-CP-_-US-_-PHXQQ.