**Pima Community College Demolishes Three Historic Hotels for Downtown Campus Expansion**
Pima Community College has initiated the demolition of three 1960s-era hotels in a major move to expand its downtown Tucson campus. The properties being razed — the Tucson Inn, Frontier Motel, and Copper Cactus Inn (formerly the El Rancho Motor Hotel) — are located along the historic Miracle Mile corridor on Drachman Street and sit adjacent to the college’s downtown location.
The college acquired the three properties between 2018 and 2019 for $3.5 million. The decision to demolish them comes after the school began exploring redevelopment options in mid-2024, with a specific interest in converting the sites into student housing.
The Miracle Mile was once a bustling hub during the heyday of American road travel in the 1960s. It served as a prominent stopover for motorists traveling along Routes 80 and 89 and Arizona State Route 84. However, the completion of Interstate 10 redirected traffic and led to the decline of the area’s motel culture.
By undertaking this redevelopment, Pima Community College aims to better accommodate the needs of its growing student population while also revitalizing a historically significant part of Tucson.
