We found a wonderful spot for relaxing, hiking, discovering and enjoying the views. Tracy was fantastic. She runs a friendly, clean and comfortable facility. Our chalet was clean with great views from patio. The pool was clean and warm. We will return soon and I am sure this will be our spot for future stays in Sedona.

When we booked our reservations at the Red Agave, we had two concerns. The first is that the place would be run-down or at least not well maintained, since it was much more affordable than many of the other resorts in the area. Secondly, since it is technically in the Village of Oak Creek, we were afraid that we would be too far away from Sedona to really enjoy the town, as we planned.

It turned out that neither of our fears were warranted. The Red Agave is quaint, cozy, and has breath-taking views. The resort isn’t fancy. If you’re looking for five-star accommodations, with spas and tennis courts, try the Hyatt or the Enchantment Resort. Staying at the Red Agave is more like camping with all of the comforts of home right there with you.

I will start with the grounds of the resort. The resort consists of about seven chalets that flank the property, and a small row of individual rooms (maybe six), attached to each other, that run along the front. The common areas (including the pool and hot tubs) were constantly maintained by a very friendly and helpful caretaker. There is a large open area for gathering, a small stone stage for possibly live performances (there was a wedding that took place on the stage while we were there), and a cool fire pit for s’mores making (which they weren’t able to light due to fire restrictions during our stay).

We had some concerns that the pool would be too small. However, since it’s such an intimate resort, it turned out to not be an issue. It did just fine for our needs. Our daughter spent nearly every moment we were at the resort bouncing between the pool and one of the hot tubs.
Most of the chalets have a cast-iron table with an umbrella and chairs in front of them. This is where we spent nearly all of our time, when we were at the resort. The weather is so amazing, it’s like having an outdoor family room. There are large trees that shield most of the chalets from the sun, so you can just sit and relax and gaze at the amazing views. Most of the chalets and rooms also have a propane grill in front of them.

The views are so amazing because the property literally borders parklands. Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte seem so close, that you feel like you can reach out and touch their red rocks. You can actually step right through the fence that separates the resort from the parklands and find yourself immediately on beautiful hiking trails. There are two trails, “Made in the Shade” and “Slim Shady.” Both have gorgeous views of Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte. However, “Made in the Shade” was superior in our opinion. It takes you up along a ridge behind the resort where you can see the whole valley. Honestly, aside from Cathedral Rock, that may have been my favorite hike that we took.

Our chalet was called “Apache Leap” and was the last one in the row, which put us closest to the parklands and the views. The chalet was a quaint little standalone house. It has one bedroom, a loft with a bed, and a common area that contained a full kitchen, small dining table, and a living area with a chair, couch, and TV. There were six of us staying in it, so we used the couch, which folds out into a bed, and a cot set up in the loft, as additional sleeping beds. With six of us, you might think that we were cramped and running into each other. However, thanks to the table on the patio in our front yard, this was never an issue. The adults (four of us) were almost always sitting around that table, while the kids came and went.

The chalet’s appliances were a bit out-dated, as were the kitchen countertops. The bathroom could also have used an upgrade as well. However, everything was in fine working order, and it was nice to be able to buy food from the grocery store and make it in the kitchen and on the grill.

Because the resort is small, you have an opportunity to get to know your neighbors, if you desire to. Since we were there for a week, we made friend with several of the other patrons. Some nights we sat around the table together, talking and sharing some drinks, as we watched the sunset behind Bell Rock, then gazing at the amazing star-filled sky.

The staff was friendly and helpful, especially the grounds caretaker. We asked him a lot of questions ranging from the best route to the Grand Canyon to tips on what we should see and do while in town. However, the other members of the staff were also always willing to help and answer questions.

Before I move on from the amenities of the resort, I will say that the one drawback that I found was the Wi-Fi access. It was very spotty. They do offer free Wi-Fi, and there are three SSIDs to choose from. However, I could rarely get access to any of them when in the loft of the chalet, and they seemed to drop frequently elsewhere. My wife had to work several of the days that we were there, and this was an issue from time to time for her. Other guests had the same issue.

On to our second concern, the location. The Village of Oak Creek is located about seven miles from Sedona. The Red Agave is on the northern edge of it, making it about the closest place to Sedona in town. It actually turned out to be a blessing. First of all, the Village of Oak Creek is cute and charming in its own right. There were plenty of dining options, a grocery store, and some activities as well. There was actually a craft bazar taking place right next to the resort our first weekend there. We were able to easily walk to the pizza and pasta place, as well as two bike rental establishments, a café, two coffee shops, among other options.

The Red Agave also just happens to be located mere yards from both of the Bell Rock/Courthouse Butte parking lots. Basically, the folks in Sedona have to drive the seven miles to get to us, if they wanted to hike these popular attractions. We were also only a couple of minutes from Cathedral Rock and the Chapel of the Holy Cross.

Driving in to Sedona was almost a joy. The drive is through all of the amazing red rock structures. Making the drive between the towns basically a “must do” in its own right.

The bottom line is that if we were to come back to Sedona, which we plan on doing within the next couple of years, we would definitely stay at The Red Agave Resort again. It is perfect for our needs, and its price was fair.

We stayed in the Nankoweap Butte chalet for 4 nights in June while on a family vacation. From checking in to checking out, we loved our stay at the Red Agave. The price was great. Chalet was very clean. We had an ant problem in the loft the first day there and it was immediately addressed. Service was excellent and the staff very friendly. Our chalet looked out directly to the rocks and a trail which we hiked every day. Our kids loved the pool and spa area as well. It was very clean and well kept. The location was perfect for our sight seeing plans. I wish we could have stayed a few more days! I highly recommend this resort.