In this informal on‑site video, RE/MAX Select agents Tony Ray Baker and Jeremy Raines explore Tucson’s Hotel McCoy, a renovated 1960s motor hotel that embraces a kitschy 1950s‑retro aesthetic. The hosts point out distinctive features such as a classic Thunderbird car, vibrant murals by local artists (Alex Jimenez, Joe Pagic, and others), a Southwest‑style art gallery, a pool area reminiscent of a pool‑party set, a restaurant, and quirky décor like the O‑Town Boys sign and a poem by Genevieve Dahl. They discuss the hotel’s easy freeway access, its history, and the integration of local talent, noting amenities like trivia nights, potential events, and Fourth‑of‑July fireworks at the pool. Throughout, they provide practical information – the website (hotelmccoy.com), phone numbers for both agents, and suggestions to book rooms for events – positioning the property as a unique stay‑cation or event venue for locals and visitors.
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Hi, I'm Tony Ray Baker and this is Jeremy Raines. Hey, it is you! We're with RE/MAX Select and today we're out at a really awesome, cool, kitschy place called Hotel McCoy, uh, by the sign as you can see. And we wanted to come discover it. Have you ever been here?
I've never been here.
I've never been here either, so we're going to discover it together. Um, so we're going to take a walk through there. We're right off the freeway, which is very loud as you can see, because I'm on the main road right now. It's quiet inside, so, um, but the freeway is there, so there This is quick, easy access to get to downtown and all kinds of cool stuff around Tucson. So let's walk and check it out. I love the wicked cool old car.
Oh, the Thunderbird? Oh yeah. Is that a Thunderbird?
Yeah, that's a Thunderbird. What year do you think that is?
Oh, they stopped making them in the early '60s, so.
Oh, they stopped making them? Yeah. So it's old.
It's old, it's old.
Yeah, that is pretty, pretty cool. I love whoever did the murals going on in here. This one says by Alex Jimenez.
Tucson Toonland. And you'll see them throughout the whole complex here. There's tons of local artists and murals throughout.
It's really cool. And there's a little touch of retro '50s going on with the lamps. And then you've got these cool murals which are really kitschy Southwest Tucson vibe. Definitely. I love the O-Town Boys sign. I mean, who's seen a— these still work? Try it. No. Nope. Maybe you have to put a quarter in.
Bring your cell phones.
That's kind of cool. Bring a cell phone. This is pretty interesting too. It says, "No place like Tucson a poem." Can you see the name on that poem?
Genevieve Dahl.
Genevieve Dahl.
Yeah.
And it looks like the poem starts here and you have to walk all the way down to get the poem. Yeah, that's pretty cool, right? That's a touch of just cool art.
Oh, absolutely. Very thoughtful.
It looks like they must have had local artists like play around because—
Yeah, they're different. Different style. This is a little cartoony. That's more airbrush.
Okay, so here's one of the other cool things. This is one of my favorite muralists, Joe Pagic.
Yeah.
And I didn't even know this was here. This is so fun.
No, he's amazing.
Yeah, it's like his homage to 4th Avenue maybe because, well, behind you is Bison Witches.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Can you see?
Yeah, that's Bison Witches. And then this is the Hut.
The Hut.
And then you've got Hippie Gypsy down there.
Uh-huh.
I'm not sure where we're going with that, but it's really fun. I know this means something. Joe is so cool. Anyways. So I got lost on the mural. Yeah, these are all over this hotel. They're really cool. So the other thing is that you will probably want to find these guys. So I'm going to give you their website address. It's hotelmccoy.com. And this has been here for about 3 years from what I understand. And the building was from the 1960s. So and it definitely has—
it keeps its charm.
Absolutely. Yeah. They brought it back in a very cool way. Yeah.
Yeah, definitely.
It's kitschy fun. They've included a lot of local talent. I love what they've done here. I don't know when this was built, but it has a 1950s wicked—
oh yeah, very retro.
But can't you see some like celebrities drinking martinis out by this pool?
Yes, absolutely.
So cool. I want to go swimming and like, I want a martini now.
It reminds me of Catch Me If You Can, that kind of like— yes, the pool party vibe.
Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, look at even the, this, this valve, those stacks. Yeah, the exhaust vents on the, uh, it looks like those are the restrooms over there. Those exhaust vents are wicked. They're just such fun here. It's very kitschy cool.
Yeah.
So inside this building, um, is, um, an art gallery, the check-in of course, a little restaurant dining area, and, um, then they have— I thought I saw a pinball machine and some other kitschy fun things in here. Yeah. So I'm not gonna go in. Masks are required, and the minute I put it on, it gets muffled. And we've got great music to give us backdrop. So I think you need to check this out. Do they have events here? Jen, the photographer behind us, Jen Tok. Yes.
Yeah.
Do they have events that you know of? They did pre-pandemic, but I know a lot of it tapered off due to, for obvious reasons. Yeah, you can definitely ask. I know that they did have regular events like trivia nights and—
Oh, very fun stuff.
Don't move. Okay. Jen's moving with the camera. If you're doing this, It's Jen. Also down here you can see this was an old motor hotel and there's just tons of rooms. So I think go online to their website and we'll get you that information. Go online to their website and check out their photography and all the fun stuff.
Yeah, yeah. I'm sure you can check their availability there as well. And it's definitely worth coming and checking out for a night. Yeah. Or staycation.
Yeah. This is kitschy Southwest Tucson. This is like the cool stuff you want to come see.
Absolutely. Yeah, absolutely. Great views, by the way. Did you see the A Mountain?
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, this would be the place to be at the pool for Fourth of July fireworks.
Oh yes.
Oh, that's a great idea. Book rooms here for Fourth of July for the fireworks. You could be out here at night with the fireworks right above you. I'm gonna— oh, we gotta do that.
Yeah, don't post this yet. We gotta, we gotta, we gotta reserve some rooms.
Nice. I'm Tony Ray Baker with RE/MAX Select.
Jeremy Raines, RE/MAX Select.
Yep, call me at 520-631-8676. Or call Jeremy at 520-780-0814.