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Enter Frank Morrill Murphy. Murphy was a selfmade
millionaire from Wisconsin and the owner
of the legendary Congress Mine, which produced
over $8 million in gold from the late 1880’s through
the first decade of the 20th century. Murphy had
a vision to take advantage of the curative mineral
waters of Castle Hot Springs for affluent families
and leaders of industry. He would spend $75,000
to clear a 23-mile road from the train station in
Morristown, Arizona, and have stagecoaches
transport guests to his luxury, healing habitat.
In 1896, Murphy opened Castle Hot Springs.
Throughout the late 1890’s and the early 20th
century, frequent guests included the Roosevelts,
Rockefellers, Wrigleys, and Vanderbilts. Castle Hot
Springs would become one of the most desirable
resort destinations in the world. Presidents Wilson,
Coolidge, and Hoover all made visits during the
1920’s and 30’s.
Joining Murphy in his new venture was his brother,
Nathan Oakes Murphy, who, with the assistance of
his brother and newly elected President William
McKinley, became territorial Governor of Arizona
in 1898. Governor Murphy moved his Arizona
territorial office from Prescott to Castle Hot
Springs during the genial winter months. It has
been reported that the first telephone in Arizona
was installed at Castle Hot Springs for Governor
Murphy’s use. That phone booth still exists in the
main Lodge.
In June 1917, Frank Murphy died and left Castle
Hot Springs to his estate to be managed by
his attorney, T.G. Norris. In 1923, Norris hired
the young but experienced Walter Rounsevel.
Rounsevel served as General Manager and briefly
as owner from 1923 until his retirement in 1963.
Rounsevel, an elegant and urbane hotelier, was
the perfect choice to interact with the aristocratic
guests of this era.
During World War II, Castle Hot Springs closed due
to rationing and food shortages. Following the war,
Rounsevel leased the property to the US military for
recuperating pilots and injured officers. In January
1945, a 28-year old John F. Kennedy, at the urging
of his father Joseph P. Kennedy (an acquaintance of
Rounsevel), came to Castle Hot Springs to recover
from his PT-109 back injury. Kennedy convalesced
at Castle Hot Springs until April 1945, soaking daily
in the hot springs, hiking the trails around Salvation
Peak, and playing the golf course on property.
With the lease to the US government, Castle Hot
Springs earned special dispensation to allow the
US flag to be flown 24 hours a day on Salvation
Peak, high above the resort.
In the early 1970’s, Castle Hot Springs was sold
to the Talley family and run by Mae Talley, wife of
Franz Talley, who was the CEO of Talley Industries,
a leader in the aerospace industry and owner of
the famed Arizona Biltmore. In the early hours of
December 11, 1976, a spark flew from a fireplace
in the Palm House, and burned the main hotel
building to the ground.
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