Arizona Biltmore History: The McArthur Brothers, Wright's Blocks and the 1973 Fire

The Arizona Biltmore opened on February 23, 1929, at 2400 E. Missouri Ave. in Phoenix. It was built by brothers Warren and Charles McArthur and designed by their brother Albert Chase McArthur, with Frank Lloyd Wright consulting for a time. Its patterned concrete blocks, cast on site from desert sand, are what people still recognize.

I drive past the Biltmore area often, and clients ask me about it more than almost any other landmark in central Phoenix. Here is the story as I could confirm it, including a couple of spots where the sources do not agree.

Three Brothers and a Desert Idea

Warren and Charles McArthur were the developers. Their older brother, Albert Chase McArthur, was the architect of record. The resort sat in the foothills near Piestewa Peak and was meant to be the centerpiece of a larger development with citrus groves, a golf course and homes nearby.

Where Frank Lloyd Wright Fits In

This is the part people argue about. Wright came out as a consultant in 1928 while the design was taking shape. Accounts differ on how long he stayed (three or four months, depending on the source), and they describe a falling out over the textile-block system he had used elsewhere. Wright himself later wrote a letter crediting Albert McArthur as the architect. So the Biltmore is best described as Wright-influenced, not a Wright building. If you want his own Arizona buildings, I wrote about Taliesin West in Scottsdale.

The Biltmore Block

The walls are made of precast concrete blocks formed on site from desert sand. Two sources credit sculptor Emry Kopta with the geometric patterns, which are often described as inspired by palm trunks and cactus forms. Look closely at the walls and you will see the pattern repeat in different arrangements around the resort.

Opening Night and the Wrigley Years

The hotel opened on February 23, 1929, and the official resort history says about 600 invitations went out for a gala that ran three days. William Wrigley Jr., the chewing gum magnate, had been an investor from early on and later took over ownership. Sources give different years for that change, so I will just say it happened in the early 1930s era after the stock market crash. Wrigley also built a hilltop mansion nearby that locals still call the Wrigley Mansion.

The 1973 Fire

On June 21, 1973, a fire broke out while sprinklers were being installed. It was a six-alarm fire, with about 35 fire trucks and 150 firefighters on the scene according to the sources I read. The upper floors took the worst of it, and the resort reopened later that year after a fast rebuild overseen by Taliesin Associated Architects. A Wright stained-glass piece, "Saguaro Forms and Cactus Flowers," was installed during that work.

Visiting and Living Nearby

The resort's website lists a 90-minute walking tour with a historian. Tour times and availability change, so check the resort before you plan around it. The lobby's public access is not stated on that page, so call ahead.

If the area appeals to you, the neighborhoods around it are covered on my Arcadia and Biltmore pages, and my moving to Phoenix guide has the bigger picture. For another central Phoenix landmark story, see how Camelback Mountain got its name. You can also browse homes for sale in Phoenix.

Questions People Ask

Did Frank Lloyd Wright design the Arizona Biltmore? No, Albert Chase McArthur is the architect of record. Wright consulted in 1928 and his block ideas influenced the look, but the two men parted ways and Wright later credited McArthur as the architect.

When did the Arizona Biltmore open? It opened on February 23, 1929, with a multi-day gala.

Who owned the Biltmore after the McArthurs? William Wrigley Jr. became the owner, and the resort has changed hands several times since.

Can you tour the Arizona Biltmore? The resort lists a 90-minute historian-led walking tour, so confirm current availability with the resort.