It was 1916 when John andMarie Peach arrived in Yuma from Chicago. Both came through Ellis Island as children from Czechoslovakia. He, a tailor, the only one in Yuma, and she a buttonhole maker. They opened a tailor shop, The Famous Cleaners, in 1916. They also managed the Vendome Hotel downtown for free room and board, right up until 1920. At which time they bought the Virginia Hotel. While doing this Marie opened the only ladies wear dress shop in town.

In 1932, there was a shortage of lumber so the Peach’s bought the rights to tear down the old Southern Pacific Railroad hotel for the lumber. The railroad would not sell the land, but would sell the lumber that came from the hotel. They used this lumber to build the Peach Auto Court, on the outskirts of Yuma.

In 1938, The Coronado was built, which included the cottage and 14 rooms. In 1940, there was an expansion due to an increase in business. Then again in 1944, because of a shortage of rooms during the war, to do this expansion they had to get permission from the government. When they built the garages. After the war in 1945, there was an increase in tourism and a need for further additions. Also, the addition of the restaurant located on the site where the first airplane landed in Arizona, which they leased out. Due to the need to modernize in 1963, they added a pool, a new lobby and 14 rooms.

On October 8, 1991, the Yuma Landing Restaurant & Lounge was included, up until this time it had been leased out. Since this is in the middle of historical downtown Yuma, it is the perfect place to house memorabilia dating back to the beginning of the hotel.

Most recently in 1994, and expansion of non-smoking rooms, which completed the block to block appearance. A year later an annex of 26 rooms was added adjacent to the hotel including a 2nd pool. In 1996, there was the addition of the museum in the cottage, which is the original lobby. In 2008 35 two queen bed rooms were added, with 5 suites. At that time a fitness room and another laundry facility for the guests was added. The museum houses memorabilia varying from information about old Yuma, to memorabilia covering Best Western, since the hotel is one of the Charter members. Looking ahead, in the future we have just finished a five year renovation project for the entire motel which is in progress at this time. The Best Western Coronado will continue to try to improve and modernize with the changing times and always do its best to meet the needs of the guests.

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