You don’t often need an umbrella in the Verde Valley, but when you do, you really do — especially during a monsoon storm. Karen Saelens and Jeff Raible, who own and operate Origins Bed and Breakfast in Cottonwood, have you covered — literally. “One of our guests had stayed somewhere else before joining us, and it was stormy weather,” Raible recalls. The other establishment had nothing available for guests to use, but when the traveler arrived at Origins, they noticed the B&B’s pile of umbrellas. “They said it made them feel like we were addressing everything,” Raible says.
Since it opened in 2020, Origins has revolved around making guests comfortable, employing lessons the couple learned on business trips during their corporate careers. As Saelens recalls, she reached a point of saying, “We just can’t do this until we retire; this is really hard on our brains.” When she approached Raible about opening a B&B, he was on board: “I liked it because it would be a great excuse to build a really cool house.”
And they have. The Pueblo Revival-style building, which the couple designed in harmony with the area’s history and the landscape of the neighboring Prescott National Forest, offers 270-degree views that include the Verde River, just steps away, and the red rocks of the Sedona area. Its 16-inch-thick walls make for quiet nights, and its outdoor labyrinth and sitting areas are ideal for stargazing, meditation or enjoying the scenery.
The B&B’s name refers to key elements of Arizona’s natural and human history, and the four guest rooms are themed accordingly, from a Verde River mural in the River Room to the rock walls of the Canyon Room. The Copper Room (pictured) has a view of the mining town of Jerome, and the bricks in the Pueblo Room are inspired by nearby archaeological sites. Each room has a king bed, a kitchenette, a private bathroom and a fireplace, along with a patio or balcony.
In the morning, guests enjoy a three-course, scratch-made breakfast that features a smoothie, a fruit and bread plate, and a main course such as corn and mesquite pancakes topped with smoked salmon or roasted butternut squash. They’re then welcome to explore the house’s common areas or venture to Old Town Cottonwood, the Verde Canyon Railroad in nearby Clarkdale, or the Verde Valley’s wineries and hiking trails. If you’re interested in the latter, Saelens and Raible have water bottles, hiking packs and poles you can borrow. And if rain is in the forecast, don’t forget to grab an umbrella.
Origins Bed and Breakfast
5180 E. Comanche Drive
Cottonwood, AZ
United States