2023-10-19 03:56:25
PLACE SETTING LOCAL HOTEL OWNERS CREATE SPECIAL SPACES INFUSED WITH ARIZONA CHARACTER Throughout the state, memorable lodging experiences are brought to life by Arizona locals. These accommodations offer more than just a room to sleep and stash belongings; they imbue the experience of Arizona into each thoughtful detail, from the design to the cuisine. Flanked by palm trees and cacti, the rainbow-arched entrance adorned with the phrase “Tucson is magic” is a fitting welcome to Hotel McCoy. The vintage motor-lodge first opened its doors in 1978 as part of the E-Z 8 Motels chain. Today, the completely renovated property beams with new energy. Colorful murals and artwork created by local artists adorn the exterior and interior walls. Brightly colored Adirondack chairs line the heated saltwater pool and mid-century modern touches nod to the hotel’s earlier days. “There’s a story behind everything old, and we’re really drawn to that in this very digital world we live in,” says Nicole Dahl, the hotel’s vice president of brand and creative. “We really try to consider if we’re doing the building and the story an honor by changing it or keeping it.” The hotel not only draws inspiration from the Arizona community — offering locally created beer, wine, coffee and music — but it seeks to foster a sense of community for travelers, too. The common areas and amenities invite exploration and appreciation of the surrounding area and culture. Rent a bike (for free) to hop on the nearby El Paso and Southwestern Greenway multi-use path and pedal up to Barrio Viejo, Tucson’s historic neighborhood dotted with classic adobe homes and Mexican cantinas. Pick up your next read at the on-site Barrio Books, a bilingual and Latinx-owned independent bookstore curating a broad range of BIPOC titles. Strike up a conversation with fellow guests over a game of foosball, cornhole, ping pong or pinball. “We really designed the space to be somewhere where anyone could feel welcome and you could exchange conversation with other people that were drawn to the same place as you,” says Dahl. “We’ve had so many friendships develop at the hotel between the travelers.” Also in Tucson, The Downtown Clifton curates a seldom-seen sense of kinship among travelers and nearby residents. Owner Moniqua Lane describes it as a “little hotel for the neighborhood.” The lawyer-turned- hotelier bought the 1940s building out of probate from the daughter of the original builders, and the first stage of the revamped hotel was a 10-room property with a manager who lived on-site and often hosted casual get-togethers. “It really became a spot for the community,” Lane says. “We had these impromptu community dinners. People would come and stay with us when their AC was out, or they’d have their family stay here when they were in town.” The hotel — named after Tucson icon, performer, designer and hotel co-owner Clif Taylor — eventually expanded to 30 rooms, while retaining its distinct aesthetic that blended an earthy-meets-vibrant color palette, exposed brick, tilework, polished concrete floors and eclectic furnishings. “We wanted to capture the way Tucson looked and felt from about 1968 to 1973,” Lane says. “People just walk in and say things like ‘My grandmother had this exact highball set.’” Throughout the hotel, you’ll find touches like Louis L’Amour Western novels, record players, vintage artwork and mid-century modern furnishings. “We try very hard to tell the story of Tucson through intimate design details and through the physical build of the space,” Lane says. “It’s a love letter to Tucson.” While these hotels tap into the unique vibe of bygone eras, other lodging spots harness the serenity and culinary abundance provided by Southern Arizona farmlands. Enter: Tirrito Farm in Willcox. Brought to life by Tucson-based cardiologist Dr. Sal Tirrito and his wife, Yuri, an advocate for living in alignment with nature, the 80-acre farm is a model for sustainable farming practices, humane animal husbandry and healthy eating. The couple initially intended for the undeveloped land to become their retirement retreat. Seven years of planning and construction later, they opened the farmstead to like-minded travelers seeking a stay on a working farm. Each of the three private suites offer plush comforts in a modern-rustic aesthetic, while soon-to-open geodesic glamping domes will allow guests to stay even closer to nature. While here, nosh on seasonal dishes from the farm-to-table restaurant, sip limited-production beers in the 10-barrel craft brewery, savor cheese and goat milk from the dairy or buy a gleaming jar of golden honey from the apiary. Tirrito isn’t the only Arizona destination cultivating an epicurean escape. At any given time, a leisurely stroll through the sprawling north-central Arizona property of Terra Farm + Manor reveals a sneak peek of that night’s dinner. Ruffled rosettes of burgundy lettuce. Plump raspberries. Heirloom tomatoes in taut, sun-ripened skin. And then there’s the livestock: grazing Wagyu cows, Icelandic sheep, French Copper Maran chickens and Alentejano Iberian pigs. Terra Farm + Manor is an all-inclusive luxury resort that is part agricultural retreat, part culinary adventure, drawing a gourmands seeking a closer relationship to their food. “You’re here with eight to 12 like-minded individuals who care about where their food comes from,” explains chef and owner James Porter. “They’re in for a dining experience, they’re in for adventure, they’re in for something uniquely Arizona.” The off-grid, solar-powered resort is tucked away in Prescott National Forest on the site of a former homestead — and before that, an American Indian settlement. It is perched on one of the state’s largest aquifers and uses sustainable farming practices to reduce its footprint. Native agriculture flourishes here, and the state’s bounty is woven into seemingly everything, from the selection of spirits to the napkins woven by local textile artists using Arizona-grown cotton. “Our focus is to support all things Arizona, celebrating the cuisine of the American West,” says Porter. During the day, try your hand at tasks such as harvesting vegetables or collecting eggs from the coop. At night, sleep in the master suite or one of the seven guest rooms, which border the picturesque courtyard edged in fragrant herbs. While these farming experiences may put guests closer to their food source, some resorts seek to bring visitors closer to the wonder of Arizona’s natural beauty. At Forest Houses Resort in Sedona, sink into the shaded tranquility of upper Oak Creek Canyon, where towering Douglas fir and Ponderosa pine trees provide cooling shelter for wildflowers, birds and other wildlife. This family-owned resort started in 1930, when Robert Kittredge, Sr. and his brother bought the property for $60 per acre and began building rustic mountain homes across the 20- acre parcel. Pick from cozy cabins, such as the two-person Tree House, or the sprawling Sycamore House, which accommodates up to 10 people. Your days will be spent swimming or fishing for trout in the cool waters of Oak Creek, hiking nature trails or watching for wildlife amid lush greenery. For an experience that blends nature and ancient culture, venture to the vast lands of the Navajo Nation to spend the night where the wide-open skies glitter with infinite stars. Just 12 miles south of Page, Shash Diné Eco-Retreat is an off-grid glamping space built by Baya and Paul Meehan on ancestral land that Baya’s family has stewarded throughout centuries. You’ll hear traditional storytelling, eat a hearty dinner of mutton and vegetables and spend the night in a bell tent, cabin or hogan — a traditional Navajo earth-and-log dwelling. Wake up to sweeping vistas of brilliant red canyons and deserts as far as the eye can see. Sometimes a hotel is simply a place to rest after a long day of exploring. But these passionate locals ensure their accommodations also offer a brief, beautiful glimpse into the wonder that is Arizona. MORE UNIQUE PLACES TO STAY Wigwam Motel, Holbrook Teepee-shaped lodging on Historic Route 66. Saguaro Lake Guest Ranch, Mesa Historic Southwest guest ranch by Bulldog Cliffs and the Salt River. Joshua Tree House, Tucson A desert-chic inn bordering Saguaro National Park. The Motor Lodge, Prescott Funky 1930s motel with eclectic decor in historic Downtown. Castle Hot Springs, Morristown Luxe lodging with natural mineral hot springs in the Bradshaw Mountains. Motel DuBeau, Flagstaff Welcoming historic inn featured in The Travel Guide (similar to “the Green Book” for Black motorists). The Shady Dell, Bisbee Authentic vintage trailers and plenty of ‘50s kitsch.
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