‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Skeel's Hotel‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

Long before the modern buildings that stand here today, the northwest corner of 3rd Street and Monterey Road was home to one of Morgan Hill’s most prominent gathering places—the Skeels Hotel.

Built in 1926 by Henry Skeels and his son Harry, the hotel quickly became the social center of downtown. Guests could find lodging, enjoy a meal, and catch up on local news. The Skeels family was deeply woven into the fabric of the community. Lloyd Skeels, a cousin, became a local legend through his service as town constable and later as fire chief, helping protect the growing town for decades.

The hotel’s most celebrated chapter came just months after it opened. In July 1926, Morgan Hill welcomed distinguished visitors from across the Atlantic: Swedish Crown Prince Gustav Adolph and Crown Princess Louise. They were here to dedicate Sveadal, a Swedish retreat nestled in nearby Uvas Valley. Thousands of people lined the streets for the occasion, turning downtown into a festive sea of spectators. During the parade, 9-year-old Norma Edes—the daughter of Mayor Clyde Edes—presented the prince with a basket of local prunes, a fitting gift from the heart of the Valley of Heart’s Delight.

As the years passed, Morgan Hill continued to grow, and the hotel faced a challenge few buildings ever encounter—it had to change shape to survive. In 1948, city officials determined that Monterey Highway needed to be widened. Most downtown buildings were simply moved back 17 feet, often with the help of horses. The Skeels Hotel, however, rested on a concrete foundation and could not be relocated. Instead, workers resorted to a dramatic solution: the front balconies and façade were dynamited and rebuilt farther back. Despite the effort, the Skeels Hotel closed later that same year.

The building continued to evolve with the town. In the 1980s, the ground floor became home to Scooters Ice Cream, operated by local brothers Doug and Scott Davies. By 1992, however, the aging structure had fallen into disrepair and was being used as a residential facility. Eventually, it was determined that the building needed to be completely reconstructed. The new design preserved the site’s role in downtown life, with commercial space at street level and apartments above.

In 2004, a restaurant once again welcomed visitors to the corner, continuing a tradition that stretched back nearly a century. Following a later remodel, Ladera Grill opened its doors here, carrying forward the spirit of hospitality that has defined this location since the days of the Skeels Hotel.