“It’s a matter of pride. People talk a lot about the ‘small town of Superior,’ but I tell them they need to think bigger. I call it the magic town of Superior.” ~ Miguel Sfeir
Photograph by Paul Markow
Sfeir bought the Hotel Magma in 2010 and soon started the painstaking process of restoring the building while preserving its historic qualities. That included repairing the foundation, removing asbestos, and replacing the window and door frames, which were contaminated with lead-based paint. Private bathrooms, with tile floors, walk-in showers and soaking tubs, were added to each guest room. And the striking main staircase, which greets guests when they enter the lobby, was salvaged and repaired.
The 21 rooms feature queen beds with comfortable mattresses and luxurious linens, and the porch, no longer used for sleeping, offers views of downtown Superior and nearby mountains. Next to the lobby is the hotel’s restaurant, the Ladle; there’s also a tearoom and bar that can be rented for special events. And across Main Street is the Superior Barmacy, a bar and restaurant Sfeir opened in the town’s former drugstore.
Noah Austin of Arizona Highways shares the story of the restoration project that is now Hotel Magma. Read the rest of the article here.