By Last Updated on July 10, 2021
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Perhaps no Arizona community captures the colorful spirit of the Old West like Prescott. Once the capital of the Arizona Territory, Prescott still radiates the image of a western town in all its glory, harkening to a bygone era of quaint Victorian homes with bustling streets and saloons once filled with pioneers, miners, gunslingers, merchants, and ranchers.
One such Victorian beauty provides the perfect place to lay your hat after a long day exploring the town’s Wild West history: the Pleasant Street Guest House in the Whipple Historic District.
The Pleasant Street Guest House
The warm and welcoming Pleasant Street Guest House is ideal in both location and character for a fascinating visit to Prescott. The stately yellow Victorian with gingerbread trim sports a front porch with a wicker bench, chairs, and colorful pillows. Potted red geraniums line the front steps and an oh-so-small-town-America white-picket fence surrounds the property.
What It’s Like to Stay in This Historic Vacation Rental in Prescott, Arizona
Built in 1883, this lovely home was originally called the Eli P. Clark house. Today, a bronze plaque identifies this classic beauty’s inclusion on the Department of the Interior’s National Register of Historic Places.
Walking up the porch stairs and entering the front door was like stepping into a perfectly preserved yesteryear. Warm and inviting, charming and elegant are words that can’t even give this remarkable residence its due justice. A stunning crystal chandelier hanging over the foyer and a curved hardwood staircase leading upstairs added to our delightful astonishment of this amazing home.
Claire and John Trinkle are this gem’s current owners. They purchased the home in October, 2016 completely refurbishing and redecorating it to its former grandeur. Their chosen theme was one of casual and warm elegance designed to make guests feel right at home. Period furnishings and vintage relics add to the ambiance reflecting the rich history of the house.
All homes have stories to tell. And it was clear to us at the git-go that this 135-year-old home was full of warm, happy ones. We could easily imagine the sounds of laughter and children’s feet pitter pattering on the hardwood floors echoing through the house. Or the smell of freshly baked cookies and the rich aroma of an apple pie baking in the oven.
Claire mentioned that’s she’d met a smiling elderly woman standing on the sidewalk one day in front of the house. The lady explained that her grandmother had once lived here and that her heart was filled with many wonderful memories of happy times she’d in this home.
Historic Victorian Charm: The Bedrooms and Baths
Today, this restored 3,800-square-foot 5 ½ bedroom, 5 ½ bath guesthouse still retains that same warm and inviting presence. Able to host up to 11 guests, each uniquely decorated bedroom features amenities that include a modern flat-screen TV and private bath. Most baths have walk-in showers but two include classic vintage cast-iron clawfoot bathtubs.
Four of the bedrooms are upstairs. Two of the bedroom suites feature king-size beds and warming fireplaces to cuddle up on a cold evening. A third contains a queen bed and the last bedroom sports two twins. All beds very comfortable with top-quality bedding, soft blankets, quilts, and spreads.
A cozy downstairs bedroom has a small adjoining room with a twin bed, ideal for a couple with a small child.
Relaxing in the Parlor and Living Rooms
The roomy downstairs parlor functions as the main living room. The décor is decidedly Victorian but its main attraction is an old-fashioned working jukebox that plays a host of oldies like Big Band era music and the crooning of legendary icons like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.
A large and elegantly appointed formal dining room off the parlor can seat large parties. My favorite room of the house was an eclectic media area adjacent to the dining room. It contained an impressive array of movies, books, and old-fashioned board games for kids of all ages. Two gaming tables adorned the room, one electronic that wows even older adults with over 200 1980s throwback video games like Pacman, Space Invaders, and Donkey Kong.
The Fully-Equipped Kitchen with Vintage Charm
My wife fell in love with the homey fully-equipped green and white kitchen with its myriad of antique utensils, period cookware, and vintage cookbooks. Whether guests want to prepare a full-blown meal or just start their day with a pot of hot, steaming coffee, this kitchen can handle it all. It’s easy to imagine the many happy times this kitchen must have shared with all the wonderful people who once lived here.
Just behind the kitchen is a washer and dryer room and a back door leading to a spacious green backyard with a gazebo and colorful patio furniture. Outdoor tables and a barbeque are all set up for grill-masters and their diners. Extending from the house to the gazebo, party lights provide the perfect twilight ambiance for evening fun.
Enjoy Historic Prescott Year-Round
This stunningly impressive guesthouse has hosted family and friends’ get-togethers, holiday celebrations, wedding parties, milestone anniversaries, birthdays, and more. The delightful home away from home is also ideally located just a few short blocks from the heart of Prescott’s historic downtown. Only 1.5 blocks away from Courthouse Plaza and Whiskey Row, it’s an easy walk to some of the best Prescott has to offer.
Filled with shops, saloons, vintage buildings, and eateries, the downtown is home to many iconic vestiges of Prescott’s storied past. Adjacent streets lined with historic homes invite guests to explore more of Prescott’s amazing Victorian splendor.
Check out the other historic homes we’ve stayed in and loved around the country
The Alluring Charm of Prescott, Arizona
John and Claire had been looking for a new place to call home after retiring from California where John was a crop duster pilot and successful business owner, and Claire, a realtor. They immediately fell in love with Prescott. Its preserved history, old-town charm, warm people, wonderful weather, mild four seasons, and natural beauty appealed to them instantly. Adding in the proximity to Phoenix, Sedona, and the Grand Canyon made it the perfect place to settle down for good.
There’s no doubt they chose well. The guestbook in the foyer on a turn-of-the-century credenza will attest to that. One stay here and you’ll feel the tug on your heartstrings to return once more to the undeniable charm of Prescott and its Pleasant Street Guest House.
Book The Pleasant Street Guest House for your next trip to Prescott
Eloy
July 26, 2022Excellent post. I’m going through a few of these issues as well..