Horton Grand Hotel in San Diego

During my first visit to San Diego, the Gaslamp District was abuzz with activity. Upon checking in at the Horton Grand Hotel, at first sight I was impressed with the obviously historic building’s exterior.

Our rooms were not yet ready when we arrived, as we were an hour ahead of check-in time, so we left our bags and did some work and exploring around town. When we were able to get up to our rooms, the staff was friendly and accommodating, as they were clearly a bit busier than expected and possibly short-staffed.

Once up in my room, I took note of the antique bedframe, side tables and old-fashioned touches throughout. Some looked authentic, and some looked newer while trying to keep up with aesthetics. My bathroom was fairly large, as I had one of the last available rooms that happened to be handicap accessible.

I was able to work in my room the first two nights, but, by the third day, the WiFi was spotty and I had to go to the convention center early to work. My guess would be the hotel was more fully booked than usual due to a conference, but I was able to make do.

Overall, the stay was great for a quick in-and-out trip. Between my comfortable bed and black-out curtains, I fell asleep quickly and easily. The location was ideal for our stay as we needed to get to the San Diego Convention Center and popular hotels in town for nightly events. We were situated slightly off the main drag, but with easy access to the more active areas in town.

The Horton Grand Hotel doesn’t just boast a Wild West historic look, it actually is a major part of history in San Diego. Built in the mid 1880s, the Horton Grand once housed Wyatt Earp for seven years as a guest, as well as presidents and notable names through history. Read more about its development, many changes and survival story.

Horton Grand Hotel
311 Island Avenue
San Diego, California 92101
(619) 544-1886