Hopi Tourism Fact Sheet
The Moenkopi Legacy Inn & Suites will be the first hotel to be built on Hopi land in 50 years; it is the inspiration of the Elders of the Upper Village of Moenkopi. It was their vision that their Village be a place of welcome and gathering for visitors to the land of the Hopi. The groundbreaking ceremony for construction of the hotel was in March 2009. The hotel will open in September 2009.
The hotel is located at the junction of State Hwys 264 & 160 in the Upper Village of Moenkopi adjoining Tuba City, Arizona. It will have 100 guestrooms, including 16 suites. The hotel will have an outdoor pool and Jacuzzi, fitness center, Kiva Garden, and the San Francisco Peaks Serenity Lounge that looks out towards the San Francisco Peaks, the home of the Hopi gods.
The Moenkopi Legacy Inn & Suites Conference Center will accommodate groups up to 210 people in the Tsosavalki Room with 3,096 square feet of meeting space. Professional conferencing in the Native American region of Northern Arizona has now reached a new standard.
The hotel is part of an economic development plan initiated by the Moenkopi Developers Corporation, a non-profit organization established by the Hopi Tribal Council to create local jobs and promote the goal of social and economic self-sufficiency for the Hopi Tribe. The hotel will not only provide jobs to tribal members but will help make the Villages of Moenkopi a tourist destination bringing revenue and economic stimulation to the region.
Visitors will be able to come to Moenkopi and stay at the Moenkopi Legacy Inn & Suites, right in the center of Indian country, and experience the history and cultures of the original people of the region – the Native Americans. There are a number of Hopi tours available to experience with authorized Hopi guides, including walking tours of the Sipaulovi, Oraibi and Walpi villages. On the tours of the villages, visitors will meet Native American artists and can purchase jewelry, baskets, rugs, pots, and other art directly from them. Located close by are Wupatki National Monument, Canyon de Chelly, Navajo National Monument, Homolovi Ruins, and Monument Valley.
Visitors will also have access to Native American trading posts and the TUUVI Travel Center, located across the street from the hotel. At the TUUVI travel center, visitors can browse through four stores that feature authentic Native American handmade merchandise, including arts, crafts and hand-made Native American jewelry. In no time visitors will find themselves immersed in the traditional culture of the Hopi tribe.
The Hopi population on Hopi land is just under 10,000, occupying 2,439 sq. miles, according to the 1990 U.S. Census. The Hopi have 12 villages located in three regions: First Mesa, Second Mesa and Third Mesa. While language, customs and traditions are similar, each village conducts its own ceremonies and has its own unique features.
Walpi, the oldest village has been continuously inhabited for more than 1,100 years dating back to 900 A.D. Unlike the other villages, to this day Walpi does not have running water or electricity. Residents must walk to another village to wash and get water. All of the Hopi villages are living villages– the original homes have been continuously occupied for centuries and visitors are able to see the current lifestyle of the people who live in the villages.
Hopi are a matrilineal society organized by clanships. Clan membership establishes a person’s station and responsibility to the Hopi society. Clan relationships are more significant than blood relationships to the Hopi. As with blood relations, there are certain restricted interrelationships among the clans.
1050 E. Southern Ave. Suite C-3
Tempe, AZ 85282