No reservations for dates during January and February as we close every year for those months. We are in the office every day to take future reservations and answer any questions.

Policy & Reservations

Forest Houses is for people who enjoy peace and quiet in this crowded world. Please help us keep it this way. Because of its small size, Forest Houses is not suitable for noisy, shouting adults or children. We do not accommodate loud parties, weddings, or groups larger than 10 people. Please do not use your house as a daytime base for friends who are camping or staying elsewhere in the area. No more than the stated maximum number of people are to sleep in each house. This includes all people 3 years old and older. No more than 10 people can be in a total group, and this is regardless of what name(s) the reservation is made under. Because of the narrow roads and overhanging roofs and trees, no campers, trailers or other vehicles larger than a passenger vehicle are permitted. Please, no weapons, motorcycles, or off road vehicles. Bicycles are welcome.

All plants, trees and wildlife are protected. We reserve the right to refuse reservations to those people who jeopardize the enjoyment of other guests through noise or lack of respect for them, the houses, their contents, or the environment. 

There are no phones, no television, no wifi, and no computer/internet hookups in the houses. Your cell phone won’t work well here either. During office hours, you are welcome to make a call using the office phone.

Reservations

Advance reservations are required. Office hours are 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. MST, daily. Please call our office at 1(928) 282-2999 to check availability, make reservations or ask questions. You can email us at info@foresthousesresort.com for information, but please call to make a reservation.

Minimum stay is 2 nights – except for a 4 night minimum stay required for all of June and July. There is also a 4-night minimum for major holidays – Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s. Weekends throughout the year are often a longer night minimum of 3-4 nights.

Reservations are taken no more than one year in advance. A valid (at your time of stay) credit card number is required to confirm your reservation. At the time of booking, we require a 1 or 2 night deposit depending on the number of nights you are staying. If your reservation is for 2-3 nights, we require a 1 night deposit. For reservations 4 nights or longer, we require a 2 night deposit. For major holidays (Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, the days between Christmas and New Year’s, and New Year’s), we require full payment of the entire reservation, and this payment is due 60 days prior to your arrival date. All reservations and deposits are subject to our cancellation policy. Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, personal checks, and cash are accepted. No seasonal rates or long-term rates.

We do not have handicap access, nor do we provide roll away beds or cribs.

Please, no smoking inside any house.

Anyone 3 years old and older will be counted towards the maximum number of people allowed to sleep in the house. Please remember, no more than the stated maximum can sleep in any house, and no more than 10 people can be in an entire group (regardless of how many houses the group may have rented). The nightly rate for each house includes the first 2 people. Extra people ages 7 and older inclusive are $30 each per night. Children ages 6 years old and younger are free.

Check-in is 3 p.m. or later; check-out is by 11 a.m.

We are closed every year from January 2nd until early March. However, reservations can be made at this time for our open months. Please leave your inquiry, along with your choice of dates, on our voicemail, and we will return your call as soon as possible. We must actually speak with you to book your reservation.

Cancellation

Only the person who made the reservation may cancel it, and you must speak with us (if you leave a message, we will call you back). We must give you your unique cancellation number. Non-verbal communication (i.e. internet or email) is not sufficient and no reservation is cancelled without our issuing the cancellation number. Please remember that our cancellation deadline is 30 days prior to your arrival date with the exception of Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, the days between Christmas and New Year’s, and New Year’s when we ask you to make your commitment 60 days prior. This provides us with the maximum opportunity to rebook your dates and not be charging you for un-rented days. If you cancel before the cancellation deadline, you will be given a refund for any deposit. However, if you cancel after the deadline, you will be liable for any days we could not rent of your stay to someone else.

You are responsible and will be charged for all the vacant portions of your reservation if we do not receive advance notification of cancellation. Please plan accordingly. No refund on shortened stays or departing early.

Housekeeping Accommodations

Sixteen unique and secluded 1-5 bedroom houses. Each house is in harmony with the surroundings – original designs built with native boulders and log beams – with fine views of Oak Creek or the surrounding forest. All of the houses have patios or decks, comfortable furnishings, and tub or shower baths. All have full kitchens including all pots, pans, glasses, silverware, etc., a full-sized refrigerator, stove, microwave oven, toaster and drip coffee maker. They all have fireplaces (rock, free-standing, or gas-log type), and beds with Sleep Number or Tuft & Needle mattresses. Bath and bed linens are provided as well as a propane grill and charcoal grill (but not charcoal or lighter fluid), and firewood and kindling are provided (in season).

These are the housekeeping accommodations – except in an emergency, we will not go into your house while you are here. We do not provide daily maid service. Linens and towels are exchanged at the office as you need them.
 
Sleeping accommodations vary per house, however, no more than the stated maximum number/capacity of people (3 years old and older) shall sleep in any house. This is strictly enforced. Due to the small size, we cannot accommodate groups larger than 10 people regardless of the number of houses rented.

Pets

We welcome your furry family members, but we want to ensure that petless guests may enjoy a quiet and restful stay as well. Please adhere to the following policy:

Limit 2 pets: dogs, cats, birds, etc. per house. For dogs, each must be under 50 pounds. A non-refundable pet fee of $30 per pet is required. This is a one-time fee; it is not a nightly charge. We expect you to be responsible for your pet and to cover all furniture to prevent pet hair from getting on the sofas or bedding. If there is excessive pet hair or problems with your pet, we may ask that the pet/pet owner not be allowed to return. The pet owner agrees to be totally responsible for any damage to Forest Houses Resort, other pets and/or people caused by their pet(s).

Dogs must be leashed at all times. This includes when they jump from the car upon your arrival, early morning or late evening walks. Don’t just turn them loose, and please, clean up after their waste needs. This includes the walking trail to Junipine. (What’s a bar stool? What Daniel Boone stepped in.)

Please do not leave your dog outside unattended or allow it to lie, dig or play in the flower beds. Bring a crate if you need to leave your dog alone in the house; without a crate, pets are not to be left unattended inside. If your dog is a barker, please leave it at home. If your dog enjoys the creek, please bring your own clean-up towels.

PLEASE, pets are not to sleep on uncovered furniture or beds. Bring sheets or coverlets to protect the furniture and beds. One of our primary cleaning problems (because it significantly increases the time we must spend to clean the house) is dog hair on the furniture and bedspreads. Your pet may not be allowed to return if there is significant pet hair on beds and furniture. We have sheets available if you need to borrow them. 

Bugs and Critters

We live adjacent to the Red Rock Wilderness area, part of Coconino National Forest, deep in the woods at the bottom of a canyon with a small creek meandering through. Seldom too hot in summer or too cold in winter, it is the perfect haven for, among many others, Great Blue Herons and Zone Hawks, at least 5 species of Hummingbirds, Daddy-Long-Legged Spiders, and because of the Desert Shrew, relatively few Field Mice. If you are lucky, you may see a White-Tailed Deer, the migratory Painted Redstart and Western Tanager, Coyotes, Beavers, Javelina, an Arizona Mountain Kingsnake or the little Narrow-Headed Gartersnake, unique to Oak Creek Canyon, which is being studied by the Colorado Plateau Research Station at NAU. What amazes me is that there are not more bugs and critters: for example, there are virtually no ticks or fleas, mosquitos, no-see-ums, and ravenous black flies so common to many wetland areas. Raccoons and skunks let us know they are here by making a mess of any garbage left out, and the carnivorous Ring-Tailed Cat (hard-rock miners used to tame them, and they are also known as a Miner’s Cat) helps keep the small rodent/animal population under control.

I love the Zonies and Hummers; during the summer we go through about a gallon of hummingbird mix per day. The Kingsnake (protected in Arizona) is one of the few natural enemies of rattlesnakes – one of the reasons rattlers are scarce here. The Albert’s Squirrel is vital to a healthy pine forest because they open up the pinecones so the seeds may fall out and germinate, meanwhile making a mess with the chips and white, sticky sap. I live-trap and relocate the Skunks (the Raccoons are too smart to get trapped) and delude myself into thinking they are not back here before I am.

I understand that you may not care for these guys as I do, but I want you to be aware of their presence. They are part of the forest and wilderness area, Oak Creek Canyon and Forest Houses Resort, just as you and I are. Over the years, we have learned ways of dealing with them (it may involve bug spray or snap-type mouse traps) and can make your stay here as pleasant as possible. June is our hottest month, the time when the spiders (after hatching in the pine tree bark) are driven indoors searching for water and dark corners. During November and December, we trap more mice when they search for a warm place to nest and winter. 

If this closeness to nature is unacceptable to you, please let us know prior to our cancellation deadline so we may make your reservation available to another guest. There is no extra charge for these critters, and no refund will be given for shortened stays due to meeting up with bugs or critters.

Litter

Please help keep Forest Houses and the surrounding nature clean. Leave behind no trace of your passing. This definitely includes cigarette butts and dog offerings. We are deeply committed to recycling and strongly support our local programs. Please help.

Peace and Quiet

We’ve had the following policy since 1965:

Forest Houses Resort is for people who enjoy peace and quiet in this crowded world. Please help us keep it that way. Due to its small size, it is not suitable for noisy, shouting adults or children or large dogs. We reserve the right to deny reservations to those people who jeopardize the enjoyment of others through noise or lack of respect for other guests, the houses or resort grounds.

Suggested Items for Guests to Bring to Forest Houses

  • Groceries and coffee fixins – (we supply Mr. Coffee style coffee maker with filters, salt and pepper, dish washing soap & sponge).
  • Napkins, facial tissue (we provide paper towels); aluminum foil, charcoal briquets and lighter fluid for grill.
  • Personal toiletries (i.e. shaving gear, toothpaste and brush, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, etc). We supply a general-use soap bar and toilet tissue.
  • Flashlights with fresh batteries. Also, a radio and/or CD player for news, music, etc.
  • First aid kit.
  • Clothing that can be layered for those chilly evenings and mornings, and those sometimes surprise storms. Umbrella(s), mittens/gloves, and warm, water resistant or waterproof shoes/boots, slippers for comfort on hard surface floors.
  • Fishing gear and a valid Arizona fishing license with a trout tag. The immediate area around Forest Houses Resort has been designated by the state as a catch and release only zone.
  • Pet leash if you are bringing your furry family member, blanket or towel for pet to lay on, any other pet supplies including sheets to cover beds and furniture.
  • Beach towels, camp chairs, or a picnic blanket for playing in the creek in the warm months and for sitting on the lawn.
  • Sunscreen and insect repellent in the warm months.
  • Favorite books, games, playing cards and puzzles. (We have some of these items here for your use.)
  • DVDs are available from Redbox in town, but you must bring your own TV and DVD player.
  • A desire to have a very relaxed and quiet time!