The new season of Mad Men FINALLY aired while I vacationed with my family in Arizona a few weeks ago. We got to stay in the delightful Hotel Valley Ho for a couple of nights, which is exactly the kind of place Don Draper would have chosen if he were on vacation!
Check out the colorful exterior of the hotel:
Hotel Valley Ho – Scottsdale, Arizona
Built in 1956, this mid-century blend of modern and southwestern style became Hollywood’s getaway destination.
Hotel Valley Ho Lobby
Lots of celebs like Bing Crosby and Bob Hope frequented the Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale, Arizona. Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood even married here.
Here I am in the lobby, feeling a bit like Betty Draper. Well, maybe more like Peggy Olsen.
Valley Ho Lobby
This is what our room looked like. – it was one of the standard guest rooms. There are more swanky options, but it was really cool.
Hotel Room at Valley Ho
The compact bathroom was fabulous and coated in this luscious dark teal color.
Fab Potty at Valley Ho
We had a large patio beyond the sliding doors, and the courtyard beyond looked like this:
Mid-Century Meets Southwestern Style
I can only imagine what it would have been like poolside in the 1960s . . .
The whole vibe of the place was very Palm Springs.
We dined at Cafe ZuZu, which was absolutely amazing.
This was the way the hotel looked when it was first built in 1956. It underwent a major renovation/restoration in 2005, which brought it back to it’s mid-century splendor.
Oh, and I told Don you all said “hi.”
I often drive by HVH on my way to design shops.
I wonder if you went by the spa and picked up a “Spa Ho” shirt? They always make me do a double take and then laugh when I see one.
did not go to the spa – but that IS funny!!
*swoon*
i knew you would, jen!
very cool. I love that show too….seeing Betty in this picture, I don’t know why Betty put on so much weight in this season since I missed the first episode….is it the actress or the character, do you know? thanks for sharing…
joy,
they’ve padded her up and done a terrific job with makeup to “fatten” her up – remember how they did that when peggy olsen was pregnant? both were so well-done, it was hard to tell if they really gained weight or not. but i think it’s all special effects makeup.
really? that makes me feel better. If that’s true, they really did a good job, because it’s not just her body puffed up, her chin and face all became ‘bigger’…. I was still thinking about Rene who intentionally put on a lot of weight just for shooting that movie, oops, I forgot the name of it.
Bridget Jones’ Diary!
Just noticed this comment because we were thinking of staying at Valley Ho. Just wanted to note, it’s not make up to fatten her up. January Jones (the actress that plays Betty) had just given birth only a few weeks prior and I think they wrote her “fatness” into the storyline so that she wouldn’t be MIA the entire season.
Thank you SO much for sharing this! I am such a Mid-Century fanatic, and a Mad Men junky that this post just kept me smiling… I want to be there… around that pool… in the 60’s! Yup, I can imagine it 🙂
That’s so funny! My husband couldn’t wait to show me pictures of his room from when he last went to Phoenix. (Also a few weeks ago!) I thought the place looked really cool! And THIS was it! Thanks for sharing your photos… they helped enhance his description. I hope I will get to go there some time. It looks really fun and interesting.
wow debbie – it’s a SMALL world!
funny how when it was built everything was in black and white ;D
also did you notice how the lady at Robert and Natalie’s wedding (also in black and white) looks like the Queen Mum?
What a fun escape! Such a throwback to another era. I was thinking how much this is like a mid-century hotel I stayed at in Palm Springs right as you mentioned it! Glad you had a great time.
Wow..so cool. Honestly, it is just like you transported back in time. Thanks for sharing!
email from subscriber, Gus:
“This is absolutely one of the coolest notes I have seen in a while: Colorful, unique and unexpected. Thxs”
totally off-topic, but you have FABULOUS hair!! how do you get such great volume on the top? mine is long, straight and layered like yours but lies flat…
kate, thank you! my hair is naturally stick-straight. i have to use hot rollers. everyday.
I’m not a big fan of mid-century design, but they did a great update at this hotel! I also love Mad Men! Don Draper is pretty darn gorgeous, no matter what the year!
Could that be Richard Nixon in that picture with Robert & Natalie? Doesn’t look like Pat Nixon tho…
I love the mid-century modern clean lines…seems to be back on the upswing today!
What a neat place—want to jump in that pool! Thanks, Kristie!
LOVE these photos! What a fabulous hotel! I am a huge Mad Men fan, too.
p.s. clicked over from Nashville Women Who Blog…glad you found us on FB. 🙂