Before the development of Lodge at 5600, the lodging options in Pine-Strawberry were pretty limited. Lisa and Brian Herold saw the gap in the market and decided to do something about it. “It was a total accident,” Lisa recalls. “We were driving around and saw a sign on the road that said this portion of the property was for sale, and I said: ‘Stop the car! Let’s go look at this!’ ”
The Herolds already had some experience in the tourism industry, having run several Airbnb rentals in the area. Along with co-owners Les and Kelli Powers, they purchased this property in September 2019 and spent nearly three years building it before opening to guests in July 2022. “This was something we needed in the area,” Lisa says.
Lodge at 5600 offers eight rooms for guests — four upstairs and four on the ground level — and each has a private balcony or porch overlooking Pine’s beautiful forest views. Seven of the eight have a king-size bed and can accommodate two people, while the other has two queens and can sleep up to four. The room decor has been carefully curated to celebrate Arizona artisans: Live-edge wooden tables and mantels were created by a local woodworker, and textiles and linens also are locally sourced.
For the Herolds, who’ve been living in Pine since 2018, the beauty of the area is the big draw. “It’s so beautiful,” Brian says. “We’re originally from Seattle, but it’s just as beautiful here, and you get 300 days of sun.” Nearby hiking trails and attractions such as Tonto Natural Bridge State Park and the Mogollon Rim make Lodge at 5600 the perfect place for a getaway that’s only a 90-minute drive from the Phoenix area.
“Everyone is in a fantastic mood when they visit,” Brian says. “They are here on purpose, for a vacation. It’s not a drive-by kind of place.”
In addition to hosting getaways, Lodge at 5600 has the space to host meetings and weddings. On-site catering is available from Barb’s Bites, which also offers coffee and snacks. During the summer months, the lodge hosts live music every Saturday, occasional wine and beer tastings, and events around holidays such as Father’s Day and Independence Day.
Grace Hospitality, a property management company, operates the business side of Lodge at 5600, but the Herolds often are available to engage with their guests and provide the community feel that a small town such as Pine has to offer. “We love meeting people and hearing their stories,” Brian says. “We love hosting.”
Lodge at 5600
4310 State Route 87
Pine, AZ
United States