Shonto hotel dispute exposes deep rift over Navajo local governance, economic control
Special to the Times | Donovan Quintero
A sign at the construction site for the La Quinta Inn & Suites project in Shonto, Ariz., lists the partners involved, including the Navajo Division of Economic Development and Shonto Community Governance. The hotel structure is visible behind the fence on Nov. 30.
By Donovan Quintero
Special to the Times
WINDOW ROCK – When the cement dried and the welcome sign flickered to life for the brand new 83-room facility in early spring, little did key figures in the development of the new hotel in Shonto know that “coming soon” would stretch until spring 2026.
What was expected to be a quick transition from construction to grand opening instead spiraled into a political, legal and administrative dispute that has placed one of the Navajo Nation’s most anticipated economic projects behind a locked fence. It has also sparked a broader conflict over the powers granted to chapters under Title 26 of the Navajo Nation Code.
The hotel, built at a cost of roughly $16 million, stands fully furnished and ready to operate.
To read the full article, please see the Dec. 11, 2025, edition of the Navajo Times.
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