By: Roger Naylor
Look at a map and you’ll find Castle Hot Springs located near Phoenix, Arizona.
The key word being “near.” Those four letters make all the difference. Castle Hot Springs offers something no other Sonoran Desert lodging can—a relaxed remoteness. Close enough to Phoenix for convenience, yet distant enough to offer genuine solitude. Tucked away down a dirt road and nestled amid the Bradshaw Mountains, this is the essence of a wellness getaway. Leave stress and noise and distractions behind and allow yourself to be engulfed by the peaceful majesty of this all-inclusive resort.
Despite the expansive property that spreads across more than 1,100 acres, Castle Hot Springs remains a boutique resort. That mindful design assures it will never feel crowded. Only 31 individual accommodations are offered. Maintaining a limited infrastructure makes the resort more sustainable, preserves the pristine desert landscape, and allows guests to enjoy a more intimate and rewarding stay. Even at full capacity, only 72 guests occupy the splendid grounds.
There are four accommodation types at Castle Hot Springs, each with their own unique charm, but laced with common themes. Sky View Cabins and Spring Bungalows are the most prominent and perfect for couples. Larger groups have two options, the Historic Cottage and Top of the Lodge. Each of the different accommodations are crafted with a casual luxury that blends harmoniously with this special setting. Warm colors and tones, tactile materials, and an abundance of natural light evokes a strong sense of place. Attention to detail is exquisite and includes small touches like binoculars for wildlife watching, beverages a-plenty, locally-produced snack baskets, a Nespresso coffee machine, board games and books, and nightly turndown gifts.
Spread along the lush lawn at the mouth of the canyon, Sky View Cabins provide an unforgettable destination for romance. Interiors are open and airy, featuring vaulted ceilings, rustic flavor, and sumptuous bedding. It’s the kind of room you never want to leave, especially since so much beauty is delivered right to the door. Set on elevated foundations, each exquisitely appointed cabin offers unobstructed vistas of the surroundings. During the day, saguaro-clad mountains form a rugged skyline. At night, the inky black sky drips with glittering stars. The panoramic platform deck includes a telescope for stargazing, lounge seating, fire pit, and a private outdoor soaking tub and shower.
Tucked behind the lodge, the Spring Bungalows nestle beneath the palm trees alongside a tranquil little stream splashing down the slope. At 575-square-feet, the standalone rooms are spacious and feel even larger thanks to the inviting covered patio with lounge furniture and outdoor fireplace. Yet the bungalows feature their own special brand of coziness, ideal for those looking for all-inclusive resorts in Arizona for couples. Club chairs frame an indoor fireplace that flickers on at the touch of a switch. The lavish bathroom opens onto another private patio, this one enclosed where water from the hot springs is piped into a Sonoma stone soaking tub. Spend your evenings relaxing while immersed in warm water with a glass of wine and a sunset-painted sky wearing streaks of sunset-red overhead.
Families and groups of friends reconnect with Castle Hot Springs’ storied past during a stay in the Historic Cottage. Sleep where the Roosevelts, Rockefellers, and Vanderbilts once slept. Perched on a hillside overlooking the property, the Historic Cottage has been beautifully restored with modern amenities while retaining a vintage charm. Three bedrooms can accommodate up to six guests. The cottage also features two full bathrooms, a wet bar, and a living room with a stone fireplace. The covered deck is bracketed by stately saguaros and reveals stunning vistas.
Finally, there is the one and only Top of the Lodge. This is the crown jewel of the property, a three-bedroom, four-bathroom suite positioned directly above Bar 1896 and the restaurant, Harvest. Top of the Lodge has it all. It is the ultimate in luxury, the ultimate in convenience, and the wraparound deck is an Arizona marvel. Savor views of the sparkling pool, the gardens, farm, and verdant grounds, all cradled by the rough-hewn desert terrain. Sit on the deck and it will feel like every dawn, every dusk, every rising moon, belongs exclusively to you.
It’s these kinds of moments when you begin to realize that Castle Hot Springs is more than just an all-inclusive resort near Phoenix, Arizona, it is an all-immersive desert retreat.
No matter what type of accommodation you choose, you’ll have access to everything the resort offers, the impeccable service, farm-to-table meals, wellness programs, amazing adventures, scenery beyond compare, and a mineral-rich natural hot springs that never, ever closes. At Castle Hot Spring, the owners have supplied the luxury and the comfort. Nature provides the rest.