Francisco Grande, Hotel and golf resort in Arizona
Francisco Grande is a hotel and golf resort in Casa Grande, Arizona, set on expansive grounds with extensive sports facilities. The main tower features spacious rooms with large balconies, two restaurants, a baseball bat-shaped swimming pool, and a golf course stretching nearly 7,600 yards from the back tees.
The resort was founded in 1959 by Horace Stoneham, owner of the San Francisco Giants, as a spring training center for his baseball team. After the Giants relocated, the California Angels used the facility from 1982 to 1984, followed by football teams, before the site focused on golf in the 1980s and 1990s.
The name combines San Francisco and Casa Grande, reflecting the connection between the baseball team and the local town. Today, the resort draws visitors who gather at the restaurants and golf course, continuing a tradition of people coming together in this setting.
The resort sits about 46 miles southeast of Phoenix and is easily reached from Phoenix or Tucson. Visitors should check conditions in advance and explore the range of facilities including sports fields, therapy pools, and fitness equipment to plan their activities.
Creator Horace Stoneham named the resort by joining San Francisco with Casa Grande, merging two places into one name. Famous guests such as actor John Wayne, who kept a penthouse suite at the top of the hotel, and singer Pat Boone, who participated in opening events, stayed and visited regularly throughout its early years.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
