Letson Loft Hotel is located at 26 Main Street in Bisbee. For more information, call 877-432-3210 or visit www.letsonlofthotel.com.

© Randy Prentice

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Sleep Upstairs

By Nikki Buchanan

Bisbee Letson Loft Hotel is a misnomer for this lovely B&B, situated on the second story of the oldest brick Victorian building on Bisbee's Main Street. It's a nest-like urban loft, to be sure, but it lacks the scale of a hotel, as proved by the small house door, painted red and kept locked, that marks the unobtrusive entrance from the street. The steep, narrow stairs beyond it lead directly to a cozy reception area and eight guestrooms, each so tastefully appointed they resemble the confines of an elegant private home.

Although the building, which formerly housed the Goldwater-Castaneda Mercantile, The Turf Saloon and the Mansion House Hotel, has a rich history, owners Ken and Patsy Walker wisely eschewed frilly Victorian trappings when they meticulously restored the old place in 2006. Naturally, they kept all of the important architectural and design features — 11-foot ceilings, hardwood floors, bay windows and skylights — while artfully exposing the original brick and adobe walls. But they also imbued each room with the sophisticated elements that would make their historic space feel old and new and timeless, all at once.

Carved wooden headboards, pretty lamps, heavy rugs and fresh flowers are the most obvious touches, but every spacious room has its own visual treats as well — maybe stenciled wallpaper, a beveled mirror, feminine writing desk or cleverly constructed metal "closet." One suite has a small eat-in kitchen, another a snug little parlor. All of them come stocked with Wi-Fi, flat-screen TV/DVD players, luxurious bathrobes, hairdryers, irons and bottled water.

A neatly kept nook near the back entrance contains a computer, phone and printer for working folks, and a recently completed private lounge downstairs may be rented for receptions or business gatherings. Meanwhile, concierge service can arrange an in-room massage, dinner reservations, tee times or just about anything else the R&R-ready or romance-inclined might require, including flowers, chocolates and cocktails.

Letson Loft puts a lot of emphasis on that first B, boasting deluxe pillow-top mattresses covered in expensive linens, goose-down comforters and plush pillows. The second B is a continental breakfast, offered in the reception area and built around locally roasted coffee, tea, juice, fresh fruit, sliced cheese and yummy house-baked muffins. Small trays are provided so that guests may carry breakfast back to their quarters or to the peaceful, plant-filled sunroom at the rear of the building.

Because the loft sits in the heart of Bisbee's historic downtown, quaint boutiques, antiques stores and art galleries are just steps away. And somebody — usually Ken, Patsy or receptionist Liz — is always on hand to offer advice about hikes, good local restaurants, Copper Queen Mine tours or visits to the Bisbee Mining and Historic Museum. Of course, some of Bisbee's most fascinating history hangs right there in the hallways of this B&B. Given that Café Roka, one of Bisbee's best upscale restaurants, is right across the street, it's possible to get a delicious Bisbee experience without ever starting the car.

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