Located just outside of Phoenix in the quaint town of Paradise Valley, lies one of the top hotels in the Southwest. The AAA Four-Diamond Hermosa Inn is a 43-room luxury boutique property with Old Arizona ambience. Set against the backdrop of picturesque Camelback Mountain with unobstructed mountain views, the Inn’s hacienda-style accommodations are the perfect escape.
The property was the original home and studio of Arizona’s famed cowboy artist, Lon “Alonzo” Megargee, in the early 1930’s. Several renovations later, the Inn still exudes its original rustic charm and today features one the country’s largest collections of Megargee’s work. Artists from around the world escape to the inn for retreat packages, artist-in-residence culinary events, and the resort’s popular mimosas and Monet art classes.
The Inn recently completed a $5.5 million renovation including the addition of 10 spacious, 700-square-foot deluxe hideaway casitas, along with a renewal of the 12 historic rancho casitas. Accommodations range from 350 to 750 square feet and are a perfect mix of rustic Southwestern charm and modern amenities with fireplaces, secluded patios and vaulted ceilings.
Guests appreciate the on-site restaurant Lon’s, where Executive Chef Jeremy Pacheco, a 9th generation Arizonian, redefines the farm-to-table concept. The restaurant’s wood fired meats range from Snake River wagyu strip to the Tristan lobster tail, sourced from the deep, cold waters of Tristan da Cunha in the South Atlantic, the most remote inhabited island in the world. In the heat of summer, guests can be found in the Inn’s subterranean wine cellar.
There’s certainly no shortage of activities among the Inn’s six lush, desert acres. The Blue Door Spa, an authentic adobe casita, offers a number of treatments using native ingredients. Some of the state’s best hiking can be found on Camelback Mountain. Simply strolling the Inn’s grounds and admiring the artwork collection is an excellent way to pass the time.
