TUCSON, AZ (October 6, 2025) – After nearly a century of continuous family ownership, the historic Arizona Inn has been sold to a Tucson-based investor group that includes NBA coach Steve Kerr. The transaction closed at $21,125,000, equating to approximately $227,153 per room and $240 per square foot.
The 14-acre Spanish Colonial resort at 2200 E. Elm Street was founded in 1930 by Isabella Greenway, Arizona’s first congresswoman, and has been a beloved Midtown landmark ever since. The Inn offers 93 guest rooms, including 89 casita-style suites, across 87,991 square feet of building area, along with extensive grounds and amenities.
In March 2025, JLL’s Hotels & Hospitality Group announced it had been retained to market the property. JLL Senior Director Matt Riley highlighted the Inn’s historical significance and prime location near the University of Arizona, Banner University Medical Center, and downtown Tucson. Offered unencumbered by management or brand agreements, the Inn represented a rare opportunity for new stewardship of a Tucson treasure.
The Inn had remained in the Greenway family for 95 years, most recently under the care of Patty Doarr and Will Conroy. Upon the sale, they stated:
“Our family is grateful that such a strong, knowledgeable and motivated group has come together to carry on and revitalize the traditions of warmth and hospitality at the Arizona Inn. We’re especially heartened by the group’s longtime Tucson ties and sincere affection for the hotel.”
The purchasing group, Arizona Inn Group, LLC, includes Greg and Marla Amado, Steve and Margot Kerr, Phil and Mimi Amos, Kirk Saunders, Ann Peterson, Jim and Kerrin Berwick, and Brian and Shamra Strange. They describe themselves not as owners, but as custodians:
“The Arizona Inn doesn’t need reinvention – it deserves devotion. Our role is to preserve what makes it authentic while enhancing it for generations to come,” said the owners in a published interview recently.
Brian Strange, an experienced boutique hotel owner and operator, will lead renovations and operations through S Hotel Properties.
Ownership has committed to a 24-month capital improvement program, including:
- Refreshed guest rooms preserving Spanish Colonial elegance.
- Reopening of the historic bar as Bar 1933.
- Creation of a new spa in the Greenway House.
- A revitalized pool area with striped cabanas, bar carts, and light fare.
- An updated dining program that maintains beloved classics while introducing contemporary dishes.
For nearly a century, the Arizona Inn has been a setting for weddings, milestones, and civic traditions. Among its most iconic events is the annual Silver & Turquoise Ball. Two new owners, Marla Amado and Mimi Amos, serve on the Ball’s Board of Hostesses, ensuring continuity of this Tucson tradition.
The sale of the Arizona Inn marks one of Tucson’s most notable hospitality transactions of the decade, transferring stewardship of an irreplaceable resort to a group of local investors committed to honoring its legacy while shaping its future.
Source: RED Comp #12126