Meet Lynne and Gerry Isaac, entrepreneurs and philanthropists
Lynne and Gerry Isaac (the two touching fingers above) own the Stage Stop Inn and Wild Horse Restaurant & Saloon in Patagonia, Arizona. Since they purchased the hotel in 2010, there isn’t anything they haven’t retouched, replaced, retextured—the ceilings, walls, floors, furniture, fences and doors.
The 35,000 square-foot property, with 30 fully restored rooms, is part of a remarkable story that dates back to 1960 when the avid horse lover Anne Stradling moved to dusty little Patagonia and opened her Museum of the Horse. Admission to this amazing collection of anything horse related was only $2, yet no one came to visit the museum. Anne surmised that it was due to lack of lodging. So, this wealthy East Coast family heiress built the Stage Stop Inn. It was completed in 1969.
When Lynne and Gerry purchased the property, they named their restaurant Wild Horse Restaurant in her honor.
It was Lynne’s sleuthing that led her to design the Saloon as an open breezeway leading from the street sidewalk to the poolside courtyard in the center of the hotel. She realized that when Anne built this part of the property, she made it so that the horse-drawn vehicles could roll directly from the inside room onto the street.
And just a few weeks ago, a new tradition began at the Saloon. Every Sunday, and occasionally on Saturdays, from 1 to 4 pm guests can enjoy the authentic Mariachi music of “Mariachi Penumbra de Nogales, Arizona” on the sidewalk café. Members of the band are Carolina Yadria Sanchez, Salma Diaz Zdunczyk, Jesus Abraham Figueroa, Maria Siquerios, Luiz Andres Chavarria and Dionicio Figueroa (pictured above).
When you go, check out the stunning back bar mirror in the saloon. Lynne repurposed it from Anne Stradling’s bedroom head and foot board, refinishing the wood and adding beveled glass. The door to the wine room in the saloon is an historic jail door from Santa Cruz County. There’s fine art, historic relics and special touches throughout the hotel, conference room, restaurant and saloon.
Lynne and Gerry are creating a totally unique Patagonia experience. Lynne explains, “We’re keeping the history of Patagonia alive by memorializing its people and places in each of our guest rooms. We’re creating themed guest rooms that honor Anne Stradling, John Wayne, Patagonia Lake, the Railroad and much more.”
Anne’s museum and hotel would change Patagonia forever, creating a new “main” street on McKweon Avenue. Lynne says, “Without Anne the town would not exist. She invented something out of nothing because she could.”
Lynne and Gerry are following in her footsteps. Their generous labor of love is creating another Patagonia treasure, a gift and a gathering place for people who live here and visit.
For more information:
303 McKeown Ave, Patagonia, AZ 85624
(520) 394-2211
www.stagestophotelpatagonia.com