[3] In the 1930s, Jack Stewart, a sportswriter and publicist from Fargo, North Dakota, wanted to build a pueblo-style hotel which could reflect Southwestern and Native American culture rather than the more commonplace dude ranch-style resort.

The property was remote desert scrub land located 12 miles (19 km) outside Phoenix and had no water, electricity or telephone access.

At the time of Marriott's purchase, Camelback Inn was still a seasonal winter resort with 170 rooms and no air conditioning.

[6] In March 2003, the hotel was officially rebranded by its parent corporation as Camelback Inn, a JW Marriott Resort & Spa.

[6] The Camelback Inn provides 453 casitas (Spanish for "small houses") including 18 larger suites, some with private swimming pools, across a 125-acre (0.51 km2) property.