The Surgeon's House
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On our recent trip to Jerome, Arizona, we stayed at The Surgeon’s House, which is a beautiful bed-and-breakfast in a historic 100+ year old building. The location is excellent, the property is gorgeous both inside and out, the food is great, and the hospitality is warm and welcoming!
Jerome is a bit out of the way, but it’s worth visiting. Getting there requires taking Interstate 17 and heading to Clarkdale. After driving through the town there’s a turn for the road that winds up the mountainside to Jerome. Alternatively, Jerome can be reached from Prescott by driving through the mountains.
The Surgeon’s House is way up at the top of the town. To get to it, you have to wind your way through the town, then venture right at a fork in the road onto a tiny, precarious, one-lane road that also leads to the Jerome Grand (reputedly haunted) Hotel. One of the best parts of staying here is the guaranteed parking spot! Parking in Jerome can be a real pain due to the many tourists, especially on weekends, so it was great not having to worry about that.
Once we arrived we were greeted by Andrea and her cat who is the official greeter among many other titles. She showed as all around the house and pointed out specific things to know.
There are four rooms available for guests at this bed-and-breakfast. We stayed in the Chauffeur's Quarters, which are located above the garage. Since the suite is separate from the rest of the house, this provides a little more privacy. However, the walls of the Chauffeur's Quarters are lined with windows, which makes it feel a little less private, though there are blinds! The many windows make the room light and bright and beautiful, especially in the morning. The large king bed is roomy and very comfortable, and the room has its own attached bathroom with a free-standing tub.
Andrea is a fun and very interesting woman and her rooms are decorated in a similar fashion. The walls are filled with paintings, some of which appear to be old promotional pieces for the house. Michelle particularly liked the stained glass window coverings in our room on the front door and above the patio door. Whether it be the table legs with high heels, old National Geographic magazines, various antiques, or the framed prostitution license from a local brothel; the room is filled with personality, and there is something interesting from every view.
This suite also has its own small private garden and patio that overlooks a fantastic view of the Verde Valley, with the red rocks of Sedona way off in the distance. The patio has two comfy reclining swing chairs, which are perfect for relaxing, reading, and enjoying the lovely night sky. The sound of trickling water from water features in the house’s gardens make it even more restful.
We were amazed when we finally explored the full gardens that belong to the property. We didn’t realize quite how far they extend from the side of the house. There are three distinct sections to the garden. The first section is just on the side of the house. That outside wall of the house is decorated with a stunning mosaic mural. There’s a seating area, a tiny bamboo forest with a bench inside, and the lower koi pond.
The next section of the gardens features the rose garden, a large Grecian-style seating area complete with pillars and wall mural of the sea, and the upper koi pond.
The final garden area features another seating area (with a hammock!) and an apple tree. The entire garden is brimming with blooming flowers and buzzing with the bees enjoying them.
One of the more mysterious parts of the property is the slightly ominous locked gate leading somewhere underneath the garden area. This gate is along the road and easy to miss.
Half of the first floor of the main house is taken up by a large sitting room area with chairs, piles of books, and plenty of fun, eclectic decor. There is a corner of this room that houses a large series of binders full of photos and details about the history of the property and how the owner, Andrea, renovated it and made it into her own beautiful home as well as a welcoming bed and breakfast.
The other half of the first floor is comprised of the dining room and kitchen. We were allowed to use the dining area and kitchen as we pleased. The only thing we couldn’t do was cook in the kitchen. Andrea has plenty of snacks for her guests like the brownies we tried one night. We were also allowed to use the fridge, but had to be mindful of leaving space for others.
Breakfast is served everyday at 8:30. We got there early a few times, and there was a sign on the table where the food is to be placed. Breakfast is served buffet style in the dining room, featuring a variety of delicious homemade food items that Andrea cooks herself. Once all the food has been put out she explains each dish. When we were there she had recently discovered za’atar spice and was enjoying using it with some of the meals. Since everyone usually sits in the communal dining room it can get quite social with the different guests.
Each place setting has a small dish of yogurt with various toppings, and then the rest you get to serve yourself. We didn’t keep track of all the dishes, but the meals we had each day were great. Certain foods were there every morning, such as the steak-like mushrooms, but most of the time the majority of the food was new. Taylor liked the egg dish Andrea named after her niece the most. There’s also plenty of different types of juices each day to drink.
We loved our stay at the Surgeon’s House. Andrea is a great host and every bit of the property is charming. We plan on returning sometime and bringing our parents with us. We think they’d really enjoy the fun decor as well as the relaxing gardens and views.
Google Maps Link: The Surgeon’s House
