The Grand Highland Hotel offers historical charm and elegant fun in a downtown Prescott location
By Hilary Dartt
Steeped in history and decked out with modern amenities, The Grand Highland Hotel on Whiskey Row in downtown Prescott is the most elegant, picturesque, and exclusive location for a local wedding experience. It’s sophistication and fun, charm and class.
Although the entire property has been renovated and updated within the last decade, this boutique hotel has a vintage vibe and a festive feel.
The goal, according to Nancy Hinson, who co-owns the hotel with her husband, Howard Hinson: to ensure every wedding couple who chooses The Grand Highland Hotel has the opportunity to enjoy a unique, personalized experience … and memories that will last a lifetime.
The Amenities
Thanks to a diverse collection of amenities, wedding couples can plan an event that suits their vision, whether that’s outdoors, indoors, or both. Each of the locations—The Holiday Courtyard, Ballroom, and Hub—has audio/visual equipment, including televisions (for slide shows and other videos). Couples can use one, two, or all three settings for their ceremony and reception.
The Holiday Courtyard is perhaps the crown jewel of the Grand Highland Hotel. With a stage up front, high wood and brick walls and lush landscaping in the warmer months, as well as festive lighting in the evenings, it’s the ultimate outdoor location. It features space and accommodations for up to 300 guests, and also has outdoor heaters, lighting, privacy screens and security.
The 1900-square-foot Holiday Ballroom features on-site bathrooms and a dressing room, natural lighting from generous (and original!) leaded windows, 115-year-old murals, original brick walls, and space (and tables and chairs) to seat as many as 150 guests. A beverage and alcohol bar is available, too.
The Holiday Hub sits adjacent to the Ballroom, and couples can use it as space in addition to, or instead of, the Ballroom. It includes seating for up to 50 people, as well as a kitchenette.
Many couples choose to have their ceremony and Reception in the Courtyard, while others choose the Courtyard for the ceremony and the Ballroom and/or Hub for the reception.
One of the best things about choosing the Grand Highland Hotel for a wedding, Nancy said, is that couples can make their event their own.
The Packages
Couples can choose from several different wedding packages, including a “build-your-own-wedding” package, Nancy said. She most loves the Exclusive Packages, which include the Exclusively Yours Destination Weekend and the Exclusive One-Day Package.
“These options allow for the optimal wedding experience,” she said. “Couples and their guests can truly relax and enjoy a magical evening or weekend they’ll remember forever.”
The Exclusively Yours Destination Weekend. This package offers the wedding couple and their guests exclusive weekend-long access to the entire Grand Highland Hotel, including the three venues and all 12 hotel rooms (and staff).
The Exclusive One-Day Package. This package offers the wedding couple and their guests exclusive access to the property for an entire day.
“These packages are so unique and special because they allow a couple to spend more time celebrating their love with their family and friends,” Nancy said. “Having the hotel all to themselves allows a couple to truly relax and extend those special moments.”
The History
The legendary fire of 1900 destroyed Historic Whiskey Row (and many other buildings in downtown Prescott). The Grand Saloon and Hotel building on Whiskey Row opened in 1903, and various businesses have occupied the space over the past century.
One of them: The Holiday Shop. Howard Hinson, Jr. opened the one-of-a-kind curio store in 1949 when he moved his family out west (this is the current location of The Grand Highland Hotel’s Holiday Hub and Holiday Ballroom).
A few years later, Hinson purchased the entire building, including the upstairs hotel. In May 2012, another fire tore through Whiskey Row. The Holiday Shop burned down, and the adjacent hotel building sustained significant damage.
The Hinsons decided to rebuild the hotel, Nancy said, and “we embarked on an adventure.”
Each of the property’s 12 rooms features unique, historically themed décor and a private bathroom.
In early 2020, the Hinsons had the Holiday Hub and Holiday Courtyard built, giving wedding couples the option for indoor and outdoor festivities.
“This is a family-run business,” Nancy said, “and it’s our sincerest hope that we can provide special, lifetime memories for couples who are starting their families. No day is more special than your wedding day, and we love to be part of the celebration.”
The Grand Highland Hotel is at 154 S. Montezuma in Prescott. For more information, call 928.776.9963, email [email protected] or visit www.grandhighlandhotel.com. To see current events and photos of weddings, check out https://www.facebook.com/GrandHighlandHotel/.