Staying in a Historic Hotel

A stay in a historic hotel offers guests the chance to connect with the past, experience unique architecture and design features, while still enjoying all the modern comforts we’ve come to enjoy while traveling. Since opening in 1909, the Oliver House has boarded a variety of guests—from the rich and famous to the more nefarious.

We’ve compiled our guide to staying in historic hotels to share what we’ve learned from guests, friends, and our own adventures in owning and staying in historic hotels.

Hotel directories, like TripAdvisor and Expedia, have listings for modern, chain hotels as well as boutique and historic hotels. These directory sites are an excellent way to find all available options in your destination of choice. Historic Hotels of America also offers a large variety of listings across the nation.

Booking directly with the historic hotel you choose eliminates possible listing costs to small business owners and ensures that any updates or cancellations will be processed smoothly by hotel staff—not a third party. At the Oliver House, we encourage our visitors to book through our website whenever possible.

Not all historic hotels started their life as hotels or boarding houses. Often, this means rooms come in a variety of shapes and sizes, with differing amenities available on a room-by-room basis. Some of the rooms at the Oliver House come with a mini-fridge, a dresser, or a private bathroom (we’ll get that next!), while others may offer simple furnishings and a closet.

In 1908, when the Oliver House was built, indoor plumbing was less common, and the building only had two bathrooms for all fifteen rooms. Today, we have modified and upgraded the floor plan to provide four shared (Euro-style) bathrooms throughout the house. These shared baths serve 11 rooms. Private, in-room facilities are offered in four of our rooms—perfect for a romantic getaway, newlywed suite, or solo retreat.

As you search for your perfect historic hotel, you’ll notice that pricing varies. Prices depend heavily on season, location, amenities, and more. Peak season varies for every hotel and location, so a little research goes a long way to ensuring you have the travel experience you’re looking for. Because the Oliver House is on the smaller end of the hotel spectrum, with only 15 rooms, we always suggest that our guests make reservations as early as possible!

Since historic hotels are 50+ years old, access to electrical outlets isn’t always abundant. At the Oliver House, we have done our best to provide modern amenities where possible—we’re looking at you, free WiFi, and alarm clocks with USB phone charging ports. We are also pet-friendly (limited to downstairs rooms only) and offer continental breakfast, beautiful porches, and a tucked-away location in bustling Old Bisbee.

…or both?! Historic hotels have their own stories to tell. Staying at older properties is a great way to learn about the history of a place and experience a little paranormal activity, if that’s up your alley. At the Oliver House, we’re proud of our longstanding history in Bisbee and our haunted history. We also offer a quiet, restful night's sleep if that's what you're genuinely looking for. 

Keep in mind that historic hotels participate in local tours and ongoing updates and renovations, when possible. If you are concerned about restoration projects or local tours during your trip, please contact the Oliver House to inquire about current or upcoming plans before booking your stay.

Whether you’re planning an event, a girls' trip, or your next solo adventure, we hope you’ll make the Oliver House your “haunt away from home.” And regardless of where your travels take you, booking a stay in a historic hotel can add unique details to any adventure.