Modeled on a pueblo village, the 218-room resort huddles near the cottonwoods and creek at the entrance to a narrow canyon layered with vivid red rock and pearly limestone. This richly sculpted corridor, its slopes tufted with pinon pine and juniper, extends for more than two miles into the Colorado Plateau before ending in the west in a jumble of low peaks that mark the boundary of the Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness. Indian cliff dwellings huddle beneath overhangs high on the walls. It seems to exist far beyond the fringes of civilization.
The resort provides that. At its core rises a three-story clubhouse containing an indoor-outdoor restaurant and a lounge. Wraparound terraces take in that canyon spectacle, and so does a swimming pool and a rooftop star-gazing deck. Staying there means bedding down in a spacious room or suite, some with kiva-style fireplaces, and awaking to watch the sun rise across high desert landscaped with stone temples.
Hiking trails lead to the back of the canyon or up to one of the stone monoliths that the New Age settlers and spiritual seekers—locally dismissed as “Sedonuts”—believe marks the site of a powerful vortex. The resort supplements those trails with a six tennis courts, croquet courts, a pitch-and-putt golf course (and privileges at several local courses), and a destination spa, Mii amo, the last of which combines pampering treatments with exercise and fitness classes and healthy meals. Jeep tours leave from the resort to tour ancient Native American ruins, and it’s an easy drive into Sedona to wander through the art galleries and shops. Superb dining is as close as the Che-Ah-Chi Restaurant, and even locals make the trip out for the sumptuous Sunday morning jazz brunches.
There are few more distracting places to play tennis than this red-rock canyon, and yet tennis activity waned until one of the owners encouraged the staff to revitalize it. A team of pros consisting of are Claudette Laliberte, Brian Young, and John Meyers, all USPTA-certified, now shares responsibility for a weekly calendar of drill sessions, match play workouts (the pros play in), round robins, and a variety of clinics—among them a “Stay Healthy Clinic,” that incorporates tennis-specific stretching before and after drills. Those are supplemented by special events like mixers, tournaments, and demo days, often on weekends once or twice a month from February to November. And rather than rely solely on guests, the resort now invites the public to participate, which bring in players from Sedona and other nearby communities and adds to the excitement.
Court Complex: There are 5 hard courts.
Off Court
Golf Courses: Enchantment has a 9-hole pitch and putt course.
Spa & Fitness Center: Within the Enchantment grounds, but secluded from the other guest areas, is Mii amo, a destination spa with its own specially designed casita lodging. Walking paths and a land bridge connect it to the rest of the property. The spa itself has 24 treatment rooms, several bodies of water, an aerobics studio, library, herb garden, and exhibition-style kitchen with a communal table reserved for spa guests. Like the resort as a whole, it draws heavily on Native American and Southwestern influences. It offers a wide array of treatments (see Mii amo for details).
Hiking trails leave from the edge of the resort property and either plunge deep into the canyon or lead up to overlooks from the rim.
Accommodations
218-room resort
Staying here means bedding down in a spacious room or suite, some with kiva-style fireplaces, and awaking to watch the sun rise across high desert landscaped with stone temples.
I travel all over the world and enjoy taking tennis lessons from as many of the pro’s as I can. I was amazed at how fast Nelson Banes diagnosed my game and gave me easy fixes to improve my technique.
IB
Courts were OK, a little cracked. Coaches were good, but perhaps a little too old to really give an intense workout. The big selling point here is location, location, location. The views are spectacular.
RB
The setting at Enchantment is incredible. In an area of the country that is stunning this resort is situated in an ideal spot. The rooms are wonderful and it has one of the best spas with a wonderful out door pool. I would come back in a moment but not for the tennis instruction. While the courts are lovely, well maintained, and easy to access – the two lessons my husband and I took were way below par – it is difficult to call them lessons. We are both very solid 3.5 players and asked for a lesson with teaching and not just hitting. The instructor gave us one hint and after mini tennis, and one drill reverted to hitting with the only hint being to hit deeper. So come here for everything you would want in a vacation and enjoy the courts but do not count on any serious tennis instruction.
3 Reviews on “Enchantment Resort”
I travel all over the world and enjoy taking tennis lessons from as many of the pro’s as I can. I was amazed at how fast Nelson Banes diagnosed my game and gave me easy fixes to improve my technique.
Courts were OK, a little cracked. Coaches were good, but perhaps a little too old to really give an intense workout. The big selling point here is location, location, location. The views are spectacular.
The setting at Enchantment is incredible. In an area of the country that is stunning this resort is situated in an ideal spot. The rooms are wonderful and it has one of the best spas with a wonderful out door pool. I would come back in a moment but not for the tennis instruction.
While the courts are lovely, well maintained, and easy to access – the two lessons my husband and I took were way below par – it is difficult to call them lessons. We are both very solid 3.5 players and asked for a lesson with teaching and not just hitting. The instructor gave us one hint and after mini tennis, and one drill reverted to hitting with the only hint being to hit deeper.
So come here for everything you would want in a vacation and enjoy the courts but do not count on any serious tennis instruction.