The tribe answered, and the hotel, which is the first Hopi lodging venture constructed off tribal land, features design elements that mimic traditional Hopi architecture: beams with wooden slats; a whitewashed look to the walls, to reflect the tribe’s seasonal cleansing rituals; and an extensive collection of original artwork, including a Duane Koyawena mural behind the reception desk.
The sky is clear and unobstructed here, with an expansive view of the Verde Valley. Our suite is on the southeast corner, perfectly positioned to watch the town come to life. Sprinklers fan new sod in the park across the street as dog walkers amble past the bandstand.
“I love waffles!” gushes Amber Godina (pictured), who owns and operates the bakery from a caboose in Clarkdale. “When my brother and I were kids, it was what you ordered when you went out. It was the best treat you could get.”
The compulsion to order waffles every time Godina went to breakfast led to many disappointments. That started the self-taught baker on a crusade.
Several years later, Grapes has become another successful endeavor for the Jurisins, who also own Jerome’s Haunted Hamburger and other area destinations. For Michelle, the success comes down to a simple but winning formula: spectacular food that’s expertly matched with local and regional wines.
“We really liked Postino and some of the other places in Phoenix that were doing a wonderful job with tasting menus and bruschetta,” she says. The target audience, she adds, is “people who are just trying to get to know wine.”
And while the property once was powered by, in Rennie’s words, “a couple of solar panels and car batteries,” it now features two large solar systems that power the Radoccias’ home and Mescal Canyon Retreat, a B&B the couple created from their now-adult children’s two bedrooms. Guests often take advantage of hiking and birding opportunities in the Prescott National Forest, which borders the property, or relax with a massage or a soak on the secluded hot-tub terrace.
