A three-story mansion in Tucson’s Historic West University neighborhood hides within its walls a cozy, discreet hotel that oozes history.

Catalina Park Inn, 309 E. First St., is not your typical hotel, but a quaint bed and breakfast offering guests privacy and comfort.

Originally the home of a wealthy Philadelphia family in 1927, the hotel has maintained the building’s original structure and layout while transforming it into a warm bed and breakfast.

With a nonboastful total of six guest rooms, the Catalina Park Inn hosts a variety of guests, including visiting university speakers and parents of UA students.

“”Our guests are thrilled to stay in a place that is out of the ordinary yet very comfortable,”” said Mark Hall, co-owner of Catalina Park Inn.

Each charmingly quirky room is crammed with antiques yet maintains a personal touch. There are collections of Rivera plates, art nouveau tiles and large original paintings.

“”A lot of these decorative pieces are from my own personal collection,”” explained Hall.

The east and west rooms are located on the second floor and open to spacious private porches, the perfect place to enjoy a sunny morning, according to Hall.

The inn’s most popular room is the Catalina Room, located in the basement below the living room. This spacious area was originally the family billiard room. It has ceilings that reach 9 feet, scored and polished concrete floors and rich mahogany moldings and doors. The large space has a comfortable sitting area furnished with chairs and a down-filled sofa. The bathroom in the Catalina Room is unique because it is completely cedar-lined, which gives it a “”spa feeling,”” according to Hall.

Each guest room has its own personality, with different color themes and styles; no two rooms are the same. The colors range from cool brown and ivory shades to royal blue and yellow combinations. The floors are either wood or polished cement, keeping the rooms simple and classic.

Although the building may be antique and even dates back to the ’20s, the inn has modern amenities such as wireless high-speed Internet access and a television in each room.

The hotel rates can range from $150 to $300 per night depending on the season. Included in the hotel rate is a homemade breakfast consisting of items such as papaya scones, lemon ricotta pancakes and walnut waffles.

To make Catalina Park Inn even more attractive, guests have their own front door key to the hotel, inviting them to treat this place like home.

“”The people who stay at our B&B tend to be more adventurous,”” said Hall. “”Our inn has a true home feel that you can’t find at large hotels.””

The Catalina Park Inn is already booked for UA’s family weekend but is accepting reservations for graduation weekend in the spring.

For more information about rates and reservations, visit the Catalina Park Inn Web site at www.catalinaparkinn.com.