Hotel Valley Ho: A Mid-Century Modern Icon in Scottsdale

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by Bev Posted on

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A Little Old Hollywood Glamour, Plenty of Mid-Century Modern Style, and a 1950s Hotel With Plenty of Personality.

Hotel Valley Ho, 6850 E Main St, Scottsdale, AZ 85251

  • Valley Ho Hotel Scottsdale exterior with modern mid-century design.
    Valley Ho Hotel in Scottsdale, a mid-century modern hotel
  • Hotel Valley Ho room with twin beds and modern decor.
    Twin beds in a hotel room
  • Hotel Valley Ho themed room with wood table and bag in foreground.
    Guest amenities at Hotel Valley Ho, Scottsdale.

Key Takeaways

  • Hotel Valley Ho is a mid-century modern hotel in Scottsdale, known for its Hollywood history and unique design.
  • The hotel offers a peaceful desert atmosphere, perfect for relaxation with its lush courtyards and multiple pools.
  • Guests can enjoy a stylish lobby featuring an authentic fireplace and playful decor like a Jetsons-style projection.
  • Rooms blend retro charm with modern functionality, equipped with well-lit spaces and vibrant, inviting decor.
  • The hotel’s prime location allows easy access to Old Town Scottsdale, enhancing the overall experience for visitors.

A Quiet Morning in the Desert

I’m up early. I head to the lobby for a fresh cup of coffee. No one else is around. It’s quiet, peaceful. A walk around the hotel sounds like a good idea to explore the nooks and crannies and see as much of the property as I can before the day gets busy.  

I’m at the Hotel Valley Ho, a mid-century modern hotel in Scottsdale, Arizona, and this is my third trip in three weeks. I had just been to Colorado to try to make sense of the last two years after losing my dad. Then I headed to the North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains for a wedding. Beautiful mountain landscapes, fresh air, and time with people I love.

Now I’m here in the Arizona desert, continuing this journey of healing and resetting my nervous system.

This trip was for work, unlike the previous two. But I’m super excited to be here with clients I’ve known for what feels like forever, along with the possibility of meeting new ones. And I chose to stay here, away from Phoenix, but in Scottsdale. I wanted an experience. A place I could feel and enjoy. Somewhere I could take a quiet morning walk, imagine the Hollywood elite who once frequented this hotel, and make a little home for myself while I was away.

A 1950s Icon with a Hollywood Past

Hotel Valley Ho is a 1950s icon that once welcomed Hollywood royalty looking for a desert escape. Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood had their wedding reception here. The hotel quickly became the stylish luxury retreat for the wealthy.

With its mid-century modern design, it doesn’t feel like your normal luxury hotel. It kind of feels and looks like a roadside motel, except you can’t pull your car right up to your room. But, believe me, it is far from a roadside motel and was never meant to be one.

  • Round room number sign with 1213 numbers on turquoise wall.
    Hotel guest room sign
  • Valley Ho sign at Scottsdale hotel entrance.
    Tthe entrance of the hotel lobby area
  • Valley Ho hotel key tag on display rack in Scottsdale.
    Key tag for sale in the gift shop

Owners Bobby and Evelyn Foehl envisioned a chic hotel where guests could come and go easily while exploring the surrounding desert.  

It was also one of the first hotels in Scottsdale to offer central air-conditioning and remained open year-round, while most hotels closed during the hottest summer months. Now that had to feel like luxury.

A Mid-Century Modern Dream

I grab my coffee and head out into the courtyard, making my way straight to the pool. Turquoise umbrellas match the color of the water, while orange cushions add a pop of color to the round lounges for two. Palm trees surround the space.

  • Poolside lounge chairs with teal umbrellas at Hotel Valley Ho, a mid-century modern hotel in Scottsdale.
    Pool area at Hotel Valley Ho with turquoise umbrellas and striped orange seating
  • Nighttime pool area at Hotel Valley Ho with lounge chairs under palm trees, a mid-century modern hotel.
    Evening view of Hotel Valley Ho pool
  • Palm trees and pool at Hotel Valley Ho, a mid-century modern hotel in Scottsdale.
    Palm-lined pool area at Hotel Valley Ho, a mid-century modern hotel

I walk through the garden, spotting plants I’ve never seen before. I even snap a picture of the wooden face with straw-like hair at the top of his head. Is it a tree stump? I’m still not sure!

  • Wooden garden sculpture head with spiky natural hair, surrounded by greenery at Hotel Valley Ho, a mid-century modern hotel in Scottsdale.
    Wooden garden sculpture with plant hair
  • Spiky yucca plant in a desert landscape with mulch and trimmed lawn at Hotel Valley Ho, a mid-century modern hotel in Scottsdale.
    Yucca plant
  • Palm trees and manicured garden near a hotel entrance at Hotel Valley Ho, a mid-century modern hotel in Scottsdale.
    Lush landscaping

I notice the ground-floor rooms have patios instead of balconies, each separated by a geometrically patterned wall. As I continue exploring, I find two more pools, both smaller and a little more private. One is a lap pool with a water fountain wall at one end. The other is a large circular sitting pool.

  • Turquoise Adirondack chairs around a fire pit in a lush garden at Hotel Valley Ho, a mid-century modern hotel in Scottsdale.
    Turquoise Adirondack chairs circle a small fire pit in the hotel courtyard.
  • Mid-century modern pool area at Hotel Valley Ho with lounge chairs and palm trees.
    Another pool at Hotel Valley Ho
  • Scottsdale hotel pool with palm trees and mid-century modern architecture.
    A lap pool

I notice plenty of seating areas throughout the property as I walk. Spots for people to gather, and even a fire pit surrounded by chairs. I make a note of that fire pit. If only I have time later tonight, I might come back here. This hotel seems designed to bring people together, and I really like that.

  • Mid-century modern hotel exterior with illuminated palm trees and outdoor seating at night at Hotel Valley Ho, a mid-century modern hotel in Scottsdale.
    Night view of the Valley Ho hotel grounds with the fire pit and seating area
  • Outdoor patio seating under trees at Hotel Valley Ho, a mid-century hotel courtyard in Scottsdale.
    Room patios with geometric privacy screens, at Hotel Valley Ho, a mid-century modern hotel
  • Pink geometric railing on a balcony at Hotel Valley Ho, a mid-century modern hotel in Scottsdale.
    Geometric concrete railing

I make my way outside and walk around the hotel, passing beautiful palm trees, balconies with geometric concrete railings, and the occasional person walking a dog.

Then I stop and look back at the hotel entrance and tower. From here, I get a much better view of the property. I notice the fun font spelling out Hotel Valley Ho, in the same turquiose I saw at the pool, outlined with the rust color used throughout the concrete details.The geometric concrete shapes around the porte cochere catch my eye, too. I hadn’t really noticed them when I arrived in the rain the day before. I also get a better look at the long, curved two-story section of guest rooms that wraps around the courtyard. Each room has a patio or balcony and the occasional stone walls and triangular metal shapes in rust and turquiose add even more personality to the design. This hotel is a mid-century modern dream.

  • Hotel Valley Ho facade, a mid-century modern hotel in Scottsdale.
    Hotel Valley Ho, a mid-century modern hotel. Notice the concrete pattern on the porte cochere?
  • Hotel Valley Ho style exterior with lawn and palm trees in Scottsdale.
    A two-story section of Hotel Valley Ho
  • Stone wall with colorful triangular accents and palm trees at Hotel Valley Ho, a mid-century modern hotel in Scottsdale.
    Colorful triangular accents along a stone wall

Hotel Valley Ho opened in 1956 and quickly became a stylish vacation spot. The architect, Edward Varney, gave it a mid-century modern look with geometric concrete railings, streamlined furniture, tall windows, and a desert-inspired design that helps the building blend into its surroundings. It really feels that way.

The original plans included a tower, but it wasn’t built because it was too tall for local regulations at the time. But Varney had planned for it, though, and in 2006, his vision finally became reality when the tower was added.

As I walk along the sidewalk, I can spot my room. It’s easy to find because it’s the only one with the shade open and the lights on. The night before, I’d sat on that balcony winding down with a glass of water, listening to the light rain and enjoying the cool air. Just another still moment to grab.

  • Outdoor patio lounge chair on balcony at Hotel Valley Ho Scottsdale.
    Balcony at Hotel Valley Ho
  • Outdoor balcony table and chairs overlooking palm trees and neighboring buildings.
    Balcony seating at Hotel Valley Ho
  • Sunlit hotel room door opening to balcony with sheer pink curtains.
    Looking through hotel room doorway to balcony

When I checked in the day before, the clerk asked if I was okay with a second-floor room since there are no elevators. No elevators? I have to carry my bags up a flight of stairs? No problem. I didn’t mind. I’d already spotted those balconies when I arrived, and I wanted one. You bet I’d haul my bags up the stairs! They were actually pretty easy to manage.

A Lobby with a Little Personality

After my walk around the property, I made my way back to the lobby and took a seat. There is so much to take in here.

An authentic fireplace, a circular couch backed by a stone wall, and an upper faux balcony that wraps around the room with those same rust colored concrete railings. And then there is a little detail I found especially fun: a Jetsons-style cartoon projection on the upper floor that mimics the Hotel Valley Ho pool.

  • Curved blue sofa seating around circular ottoman in lobby at Hotel Valley Ho, a mid-century modern hotel in Scottsdale.
    Lobby at Hotel Valley Ho, projection is seen at the top of the image
  • Curved blue sofa seating area in a modern mid-century lobby at Hotel Valley Ho.
    Curved couch, stone wall, original fireplace, and concrete railings
  • Metal cone hood over a stone fireplace in Hotel Valley Ho, a mid-century modern hotel in Scottsdale.
    The original fireplace at Hotel Valley Ho, Scottsdale.

At first, it looks like a still image. But if you watch closely, you’ll notice little movements. A woman might raise her glass, or the pool floater might move slightly. It’s pretty cool; I had to stop and stare at it for a few minutes. Did I really see her raise her glass out of the corner of my eye? I did!

I asked the desk attendant about the fireplace. She tells me it’s original and they light it during the winter when it gets cold enough. You can even ask them to turn it on, just to see it, at any time during the year although during the hot summer months, they’ll only do it briefly because it’s already plenty hot.  As much as I’d love to see it lit, I decide not to ask. We’re still in the Arizona desert after all.

A Room Worth Coming Back To

My morning walk finally comes to an end back in my room. I open the sliding glass doors, settle into the small table and chairs on my balcony with my coffee, and take one more moment to just be before heading inside to get ready for the busy day.

The rooms carry the hotel’s mid-century modern style right through to the details. Pale pinks, warm brown woods, turquiose, pops of orange, white brick walls, terrazzo floors, and low-pile carpet all come together. The terrazzo countertops are fabulous too!

  • Hotel Valley Ho modern mid-century modern hotel room with two beds and patterned carpet.
    A guest room, notice the lighting around the beds
  • Wooden cabinet drawers with metal handles in a modern hotel dresser.
    Sleek metal handles and terrazzo floors in a guest room
  • Hotel room with large glass door, sheer pink curtains, and a white bed at Hotel Valley Ho, a mid-century modern hotel in Scottsdale.
    Bright hotel room at Hotel Valley Ho with glass doors and pink curtains

As I get ready for work, I’m happy to see a well-lit bathroom. No dark, moody lighting when I’m trying to put on makeup! There’s also a second makeup area spot outside the bathroom, with a long oval mirror and a smaller circular mirror on one end, surrounded by a ring of light. It’s not just beautiful; it’s functional too. Perfect.

  • Dual vessel sinks with round backlit mirrors in a tiled bathroom ay Hotel Valley Ho, a mid-century modern hotel in Scottsdale.
    The bathroom with turquiose tiles, terrazzo countertop, and circular brightly lit mirrors.
  • Hotel Valley Ho bathroom with circular mirror and teal tiles, a mid-century modern hotel.
    Turquiose-tiled brightly lit bathroom
  • Circular backlit vanity mirror with pink wall and terrazzo countertop.
    The second brightly lit area in the guest room

A Stop at ZuZu

One evening, I stopped by ZuZu, the restaurant and bar near the lobby, for a glass of wine and an appetizer before heading to a work event. I took in the space: the concrete columns, turquiose chairs, a stone wall, and warm wood details. It was still early, so the restaurant isn’t crowded. There are just a few business people at the bar, doing exactly what I’m doing. And the wings? Fantastic!

  • Modern bar seating at ZUZU with circular logo "ZUZU" on glass and greenery.
    ZUZU, at Hotel Valley Ho, a mid-century modern hotel in Scottsdale
  • Crispy fried chicken wings with herbs and sesame seeds on plate at bar counter at ZuZu at Hotel Valley Ho.
    Chicken wings
  • ZuZu lounge at Hotel Valley Ho with mid-century chairs and stone walls.
    ZuZu, the restaurant and bar at Hotel Valley Ho

A Scottsdale Location Worth Exploring

I spent two nights at Hotel Valley Ho, and the location is another plus in my book. It’s in Old Town Scottsdale, just a few blocks from the main tourist area and within easy walking distance of shops, restaurants, and other places to explore.

The hotel has a spa, but I didn’t have time to try it. I wanted to spend my free time exploring Old Town Scottsdale instead.

Hotel Valley Ho, this mid-century modern hotel in Scottsdale, gave me exactly what I was looking for: a hotel with character, history, interesting architecture, and spaces that make you want to slow down and stay awhile.

Sometimes, even on a work trip, you need a place that feels like more than somewhere to sleep. You want an experience. This was one of those places.

If you want to see what I explored while in Old Town Scottsdale, check out Discover Scottsdale.

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