- Parsons
World famous La Posada Hotel in Winslow is slated to get an addition this summer. The plan is to renovate the train depot adjacent to the hotel to house an art gallery and museum. A project seven years in the planning and funding stages, it will break ground as early as July.
The City of Winslow, the Arts Trust and La Posada raised most of the $2 million needed for the project, but fell short by approximately $600,000.
City Manager Steve Pauken noted, “They received a Transportation Enhancement Grant of federal funds through ADOT (Arizona Department of Transportation) to rehab the old train depot and create museum space. The city is actually only a pass through agency for the federal funds, but we do consider this an important part of the Renaissance Projects the city has been working on.”
Last month, it was announced that the Northern Arizona Council of Governments and ADOT reallocated funds to provide the remaining monies needed. The contract to build the depot has been awarded to Stratton Contractors of Mesa by the State Board of Transportation. An initial meeting between La Posada officials and contractors was held June 20, with representatives from all stakeholders present.
When asked when the groundbreaking should take place, La Posada owner and renovator Allan Affeldt said, “I would say July and take about six months. These projects tend to spend a long time in the planning stage, but as soon as it gets going, it should move rather quickly.”
In order to help speed the process, Affeldt and his team have already taken care of most of the infrastructure. This includes readying the land and running utility lines at the cost of the hotel owners. Affeldt and his artist wife Tina Mion have reportedly spent more than $100,000 preparing for the construction to begin.
The depot at La Posada will house the Route 66 Museum, which will also include multiple art galleries.
“There is a very rich history in this region, going back, say one thousand years. We aim to tell that story through the fine art of this transportation corridor,” Affeldt explained.
Not only will the space likely bring tourists to Winslow, it will offer local residents an opportunity to learn of art history and cultures they may not be familiar with. The Route 66 Museum will also house the Hubbell Rug, the world’s largest Navajo rug commissioned by Lorenzo Hubbell in 1932. The rug was purchased by Affeldt in 2012 and donated to the Winslow Arts Trust. It is valued at over $1 million and measures 26’x36’.
In addition, the galleries will hold works of art by James Turrell, a contemporary artist focused on works of light and space. His largest scale piece is Roden Crater, an art space created in a cinder cone crater northeast of Flagstaff. The goal of the piece, according to Turrell’s website, is “to function as a naked eye observatory of earthly and celestial events.” La Posada depot will serve as the visitor’s center to Roden Crater, with information and tours available from the site.
“There is much to see and learn of our area,” Affeldt said. “We want to put Winslow on a significant arts map.”
La Posada is located at 303 E. Second St., and Affeldt promises to keep the public abreast of construction progress on its website, www.laposada.org.
