the inn

The inn itself is like something out of a magazine. It’s like a perfectly themed and curated desert oasis. It has every amenity you could hope for, without feeling cold and modern like many high level hotels. As far as price goes, it’s a splurge, but once you’re there I don’t think anyone could feel like they aren’t getting more than what they paid for.

One thing we ended up loving about the inn, is how Sara & Rich designed it to offer so much space and privacy, while at the same time encouraging communal living. There are so many enormous common spaces that if you wanted to avoid others, you easily could, but you don’t have to. Most of the time it honestly felt like we had the entire property to ourselves, except for a few times when we engaged with others in the communal spaces. We loved having the opportunity to chat with some of the other guests, and then with Sara and Rich as we were leaving!

Another feature of the inn that was a favourite of ours, was the fireplaces. There was literally a fireplace in every room be that guest suites, common spaces inside, or common spaces outside. And they all WORKED and had a quick start log ready to go for you! We spent a good amount of time in the kitchen (which was just *chef’s kiss*) and enjoyed having a fire going while we made and then ate dinner and Dan’s birthday pie. It was like being in a Crate & Barrel (but WAY better) and actually getting to use everything. I was basically in heaven.

Some of the common spaces include a pool, hot spring style hot tub, walking trails, living room, kitchen, outdoor patios, rooftop dining area and grill, and it goes on. Everything was so thoughtfully designed from what they include in your room (local coffee and chemex, delicious mocktail beverages, local nut granola, wireless chargers, etc.) to the beautiful décor and features all over the inn (games, easy to pair to speakers, pool supplies, tons of taper candles to light, etc.). There’s also a little gift shop where you can purchase things featured around the inn such as prints, candles, scent diffusers, mugs, as well as t-shirts, hats, bags, dried flowers, and other local goods.

The whole inn is contactless in terms of check-in and even in terms of the gift shop. At first we found that odd, but I think it contributed to the sense of peaceful solitude and remoteness. We did have a couple of questions come up, but they have a property manager always on the property just an email or phone call away to help with anything you need.

the property

We both had such a blast capturing some of the best pictures we’ve ever taken while wandering the property. From the moment you drive up (on the bumpy, dirt road) it’s, like I said before, desert oasis. The inn sits on 38 acres of otherwise undeveloped desert, some of which right by the inn they’ve landscaped and planted as beautiful desert gardens. But most of it is just raw, natural desert, and it’s stunning.

Finally getting outside of Phoenix (and the other cities we’ve visited) made us realize that part of why we haven’t been liking Arizona as much as we thought that we would is just because we’ve been so stuck in the city. In my opinion, and Dan’s too, the best of what Arizona has to offer can’t be found in Phoenix or any other city. It’s when you get out to the national parks in particular that the splendor and drama of the desert is on full display. We felt like we got to experience that at the inn, and I can’t tell you how much we loved it.

There are numerous walking trails at the inn that you have to look for a little bit, but once you find them you could walk for hours. We made it a point to catch both sunset and sunrise and though it was cold (especially at sunrise) it was SO worth it. Arizona has some of the most spectacular and consistently beautiful sunsets (and I would guess sunrises too though I’m usually still sleeping).

The trails on the property will eventually lead you to a little stone labyrinth as well as the spot where they typically do wedding ceremonies. The inn itself is quite small so they only accommodate micro-weddings, but what a beautiful spot and you can actually book out the whole inn! Dan jokingly asked why we didn’t just get married here, and honestly it would have been the perfect venue (in my opinion) other than the fact that for our wedding we really wanted to invite a lot of our friends and family.

the location

One thing I really appreciated about the entire experience with JTH Tucson is how helpful they are about planning your entire trip. They offer on their website a whole field guide for the desert and the area. On our way to the inn we stopped at a fun Mexican place for lunch (Seis Kitchen) that they recommended, and we took the scenic route that they suggested too. From Tucson, we drove to the inn through Gates Pass which was incredibly scenic and beautiful.

Right across the street and down the road maybe five minutes, is an entrance to Saguaro National Park (for which they recommended multiple trails). About fifteen minutes down the road you can find the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum which was another stop we made during our trip. Tucson is only 20-30 minutes away depending where in the city you’d like to go. We stopped at the gem show following the desert museum on our way back to Phoenix after our stay. There’s so much to do and JTH is more than happy to help you plan out the perfect stay while at the inn and while exploring the surrounding area.