Does anybody remember the Stardust hotel or motel in Yuma Arizona? What happened to it?

Question

Does anybody remember the Stardust hotel or motel in Yuma Arizona? What happened to it?

Answer 1

It sure didn't close 25 years ago, I'm 23 and remember it from when I was young. I think it closed about '86-87, maybe a year or two later. I believe it was upon until right before they demo'ed it. It was torn down to build a Smith's grocery store, which is now Fry's. There's also a Checker Auto Parts and Rally's on the site. Where Rally's is was almost a 7-11, which never opened, then Circle K used the building, then closed it when they closed all the non-gas K's in Yuma.



Shortly after the Stardust closed, what is now (I think) a Quality Inn, but was also known for a lot of its life as the Airport Travelodge, adopted the Stardust name, even dropping the old Stardust sign out front, minus the cool neon star on top. After a few years, it became the Travelodge, and the "Stardust" part of the sign and one other showed up out on the mesa south of town sitting in an empty field. The Stardust part is gone, but I just drove past the ballroom sign the other day.

Answer 2

This may be kind of a long answer. I moved away from Yuma 3 years ago and moved to Texas and I still remember alot of the stories my family and old friends used to tell me. I have many stories of the old stardust hotels in Yuma, AZ. My father played in a band by the name of "Tequila Express" numerous times there and I also knew one of the bellman who worked there who became a local barber at the former Broadway Barber Shop that used to be located on Ave A in Palm Plaza. What I had heard is that the owners were attempting to create a mini Las Vegas similar to Laughlin ,NV right there in Yuma and wanted to to build many hotels on 4th Ave along with a few attractions, but like many broken promises in Yuma it just never happened because many people did not want to invest in a small town which catored to older folks and acquired heat only similar to hell's fury. I believe that because the dream of a mini Vegas was broken the owners did not see any potential and decided to sell instead of renovate it. My family has been in Yuma for generations before it was even a town. They have stories about every piece of Yuma. I can get more informtion about stardust or any other place you may be interested in. Hopefully this answered your question.



ANDREW-Arlington, TX

Answer 3

I lived in Yuma during 1970-1972 while serving in the United States Public Health Service and stationed at the Ft. Yuma Indian Hospital. I rented a small apartment at the rear of a residence on 6th. Ave about 2 blocks north of Browine s Pit on 4th Ave. The apartment was a small garage which the owner had converted to a nice studio for his young musician son s use for practice and rehearsal. The son and his wife became a vocal duo and were regularly booked at the Stardust Lounge and ballroom. By the time I arrived they had "moved on", but the apartment was still plastered with Vegas style glam photos of them at the Stardust and they occasionally returned there for "encore" performances.



Brownie s is still there and is now my only point of reference for what was along 4th Ave at that time. Before the Interstate 8 bypass of the city, 4th. Ave was a 24/7 buzz of commercial traffic and activity never to be seen again. Most of the significant buildings and business of that time are now, amazingly, long gone and they were not that old! Yuma was quite a place and iconic for the last pre-interstate status of many cities its size in the sparsely populated desert southwest. Travel by car was still an adventure even then.

"encore" performances. I do not remember their names.

Answer 4

I worked at the Hotel Stardust 1955/57. It was owned by a man who was also a rodeo clown. Yuma had an Air Force base east of the hotel on hwy 80 and my husband was stationed there. Jerry Lewis, family and movie crew stayed at the hotel when they made the movie Sad Sack. Vivian Vance the lady who played Ethel Mertz in the Lucy show stayed there quite often. Oh the memories.

Answer 5

Stardust Hotel

Answer 6

Motels In Yuma Az

Answer 7

Wow, I wanted to look up a place I used to stay when we would practice air drops over the proving grounds in C-130s. Thought it would be nice to stay at the Stardust on my next trip down yo Mexico, Last time I was there was between 1976-1978. Sad to see it's gone now. I miss the real Stardust here in Las Vegas more than the one in Yuma for obvious reasons!!!

Answer 8

I have tried to get info on this and really dead end anywhere I go. i used to live in Phoenix and all I can tell you is that it closed about 25 years ago. why? no clue but if I find out anything i will be sure to tell you...acually i did get some info from the library, they said that the hotel was torn down 15 years ago, it was warn and noone wanted to invest the right money into restoring costs but it did clase 25 years ago.. i hope that i helped you out.

Answer 9

It was an Oasis in the Desert!