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There are just some things that can’t quite be described as any other way than just “Uniquely Arizona.” The Space Age Lodge and Restaurant in Gila Bend is one of those places. Where else, but Arizona, could you be driving down the street of a small town, and happen upon a hotel beneath a giant, plastic UFO?

The landmark hotel opened in 1965 and was designed by Al Stovall, a metal and plastic supplier during World War II, said to have been good friends of President Eisenhower. Stovall created five futuristic-themed lodges, including the Space Age Lodge at Disneyland and others in Anaheim, California. The Space Age Lodge in Gila Bend is the only one rmaining with the originally intended appearance.

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The hotel came under new management in the late 1970s and Best Western did a renovation in the mid 1980s to update its look. In 1998, a neon sign shorted, caught the restaurant on fire and nearly burned the structure to the ground. But the restaurant and hotel were renovated, keeping the original space exploration theme. A new flying saucer was added and murals were painted in the lobby. The rooms of the hotel feature space art and photos from NASA exploration.

Travelers looking for something a little different or Arizonans looking for a unique weekend getaway, will be spending time in Gila Bend, but enjoy feeling like they have just landed on the moon.

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