When a California investor bought a disreputable west-side hotel last year with the hopes of turning it into a artist-centric family destination, some skeptical eyebrows were raised.
Less than a year later, the hotel is ready for its grand opening featuring local artwork, photography, murals, craft beer, wine and food.
Alex Jimenez, a local Tucson artist, painted the wall outside of the main lobby at Hotel McCoy, located at 720 W. Silverlake Road. The former dive hotel has been remodeled.
On Silverlake Road and Interstate 10, Hotel McCoy will have its grand opening next month, but is booking guests now to get feedback.
Developer Bryan Coggins spent more than $3 million to buy and renovate the 93-room hotel that originally opened for business as the Silverbell Inn in 1970.
“I prefer to renovate versus building new,” Coggins said of his decision to buy the property.
The lobby, where one might once have encountered a cigarette-wielding clerk sitting behind a cash register, is a brightly lit area with more than 80 pieces of local artwork adorning the walls. The artwork is for sale, with all proceeds going to the artists.
The swimming pool has been expanded and an interior seating bench added.
The pool area at Hotel McCoy, located at 720 W. Silverlake Road on September 13, 2018. The former dive hotel has been remodeled and a grand opening celebration is planned for October 13.
General manager Nicole Dahl said affordability is important to the new owner and she has reached out to downtown-area venues to offer discount rates for their events.
“We want to support Tucson,” she said.
Room types include a kitchenette with a king-size bed for $109 a night and rooms with four bunkbeds, for families or traveling band members, for $99 a night.
The rooms and common areas of the 28,000-square-foot property are smoke-free with a small, designated smoking area . It is also pet-friendly.
The beer, wine, coffee and tea is all local, and American Eat Co. will deliver meals to the bar for guests.
Named after the McCoy Mountains near the Arizona-California border, the hotel’s A-shaped entrance is a nod to “A” Mountain in the background.
The hotel opened in 1970 as the Silverbell Inn. It is taking guests now, before the grand opening. It is named for the McCoy Mountains near the Arizona-California border.
The hotel is accepting reservations now at hotelmccoy.com, but a formal grand opening is scheduled for Oct. 13 which will include a food-truck roundup.
