Bargain! Charming Historic Garden Cottage Walking Distance to Downtown/NAU

Please note this cottage is now rented until Aug 1st 2026. We now only accept LT bookings until further notice. Please note we do not accept pets. One of three garden apartments in a large historic home (1901) located close to everything. Perfect and romantic for two but sleeps up to four comfortably. High-speed WIFI, natural light, wood floors, antiques & vintage ambience. Shabby chic bedroom with queen bed, Large kitchen, living room/dining with 2 twin beds. Patio door to private, fully-fenced garden w/ brick patio & dining. Front garden has wooded hillside & train views. Willow adjoins 2 other vacation rental cottages. Grand Canyon 90 min/Sedona 35/Ski 25 min. Walk to restaurants, breweries, coffee, grocers. Train runs nearby. PLEASE READ DETAILED DESCRIPTION BEFORE BOOKING!

Detailed Description:

Please read the ALL the detailed descriptions we provide to make sure our cottage is a good match for you. And feel free to ask questions about the train which runs across the street from the house. Preference given to guests without pets. ONLY ONE QUIET, WELL BEHAVED PET CONSIDERED. STRICT PET POLICY plus pet deposit APPLIES. ASK FOR DETAILS. You will love this space if a vacation rental for you means something cute, affordable, clean and close to everything, but you are not looking for an upscale neighborhood as a priority. Our shabby chic neighborhood is more shabby than chic but 2 -3 blocks away is the delightful historic and trendy South Side with every kind of eatery, bar or coffee shop you could desire. If any of the following pushes your button, Willow Cottage might be right for you: dining outside in the garden, a breeze in the Aspen trees, birdsong and butterflies, or room to build a snow man, unique tasteful decor, walking/cycling to town, a sense of community and history, an authentic experience while traveling, antiquing, trains, independent coffee shops and breweries, hiking, exploring and being in the city but having green space nearby. Willow cottage is light and bright with oak floors and 10 foot ceilings. The beds, linens, towels etc are brand new as is the toilet and bathroom sink. Most of the furniture is antique so we ask that you use it gently. We aimed for maximum comfort with historic charm. The bathroom is teeny and so is the vintage enamel bath tub. This is not a spa bathroom to hang in but the romantic cute bedroom, spacious kitchen and charming livingroom/dining room with patio more than make up for it. Please note: No TV, No A/C. We have super high speed WIFI. Not suitable for children under 2 year of age due to the need to respect the quiet enjoyment of the guests in the adjoining cottages.
LOCATION: Willow cottage is walking distance to great eateries, breweries and coffee shops at the Historic funky newly revitalized Southside of Downtown Flagstaff...as long as you follow our directions. The house is also in the historic register for Southside. The house was built in 1901 by the Arizona Lumber & Timber Company as employee housing for a manager and moved to its current site mid-century. Many other houses on the street date from the early 1900's and have been occupied by the same families for generations. This working class neighborhood is close nit and safe but by no means upscale with landlords allowing rentals to fall into disrepair where historic restoration is badly needed. But head down the street, cross the intersection at Matador Coffee and turn Left down Mike's Pike and you're in Downtown. Head up the street to the end and meet the path along the railway tracks and the underpass that takes you to Thorpe Park. Directly across the train tracks from the house you'll find the spring that started the settlement that became Flagstaff.
Please note: The train goes by above on the hillside across the street from the house; the engine is noisy and the breaks do screech on some trains. We don't get as many trains here as in the center of downtown but they do run regularly throughout the night. In Winter they are less noticeable (Windows closed). Trains are a regular feature in Flagstaff. Some people will be bothered by the trains at night, especially in summer with the windows open. In summer: Earplugs recommended/Using a fan by the bed is helpful. Just like anywhere in Downtown, if you are outside when the train goes by, the noise will interrupt your conversation. Flagstaff folk are used to the train and living in a busy hub with millions of visitors per year. But other than a passing train, our end of the street is surprisingly quiet for the inner city. Be mindful of kids playing in the street!
Summer Guests: Please note like many Flagstaff homes, we do not have AC.
Mornings are cool but Lilac gets the morning sun in it's large bedroom and kitchen window, so, early in the morning, close the windows, keep blinds down/curtains drawn and use fans until later in the day when things cool down again. At night, keep windows open and fans on for hot spells.
Any questions about the trains or the suitability of Willow Cottage for you, just ask. We also have two other cottages adjoining this one, Sweet Pea which is smaller and in the back, and Lilac which is similar in size to Willow.

The Neighborhood

This is a friendly, diverse inner-city neighborhood close to everything where old homes are being torn down to build apartments and historic preservation is sadly missing. Don't expect a manicured residential area! The neighborhood has not been gentrified and some of the historic residences are in disrepair; think Boo Radley's place but with students inside. NAU is a couple of blocks away. We share this pocket of town with businesses, students, working class families and a collection of mid-century motels on nearby Route 66. The cottage is in the oldest part of town which pre-dates Downtown.. There is a community ballpark half way down the street. At the beginning of our street you'll find Natural Grocers, Haven Montessori School, Matador Coffee and nearby Barnes and Noble. This is an urban getaway. If it's a gated community or country club you're looking for this is not your place. It's not the suburbs, and some parts of the neighborhood are not being cared for as we would like, but aspects of the street, like the back yard chickens across the road and the forested hillside above the house feel like the country. You can walk to Flagstaff's award winning Himalayan Grill, (All you can eat Indian lunch buffet $8.99) Not to be missed. Also walking distance; Mike & Rhonda's is a popular down-home, affordable breakfast spot. Willow Cottage is walking distance to Downtown Flagstaff, particularly the newly revitalized South-side district known for unique funky eateries and bars. At the end of our street, cross Route 66, and turn down Mike’s Pike and you’ll find The Toasted Owl for a more relaxed truly Funky Flagstaff breakfast or lunch on the patio. Mother Road Brewing company is across the street from the Toasted owl. Fratelli's Pizza and Beaver Street Brewery, both highly recommended, are around the corner. Walking in the opposite direction to town there is a walking path along the railroad tracks at the end of the street. An underpass leads to the dense forest of Thorpe Park. It's so great to be in town but close to trails. We love staying here when we visit town and we hope you will too.

Getting Around

You can arrive by car, train or bus and staying at Willow, you'll be in the center of everything Flagstaff has to offer. Without a car you can still walk to many city attractions like Riordan Mansion Sate Park or Thorpe Park or to the concerts in Wheeler Park but for sightseeing a car is recommended.


Guest Access

Willow Cottage is next door to Lilac Cottage. There is a stairwell between the two walls that is not used by the guests so you are not sharing a wall, but this is not a stand alone cottage. Willow Cottage also has a shared wall with Sweet Pea Cottage in back. Guests have access to the whole apartment, the private fenced side garden which is just for Willow Cottage and the front garden on the right hand side of the house but not the left side which is for guests of Lilac Cottage. A pathway clearly delineates the two gardens. There is a parking space next to the cottage for Willow guests only. Additional parking is in the rear down the driveway on the left hand side of the house. Please let us know if you are bringing more than one car.

I am often out of town as I live in Colorado but I stay in one of the cottages when I can. THE CHECK IN IS SELF-SERVICE THROUGH A LOCK BOX & CODE. A cleaner/janitor and a handyman is on hand should you need anything.