There are at least as many places of lodging in Bisbee as there are reasons to visit Bisbee in the first place. Most of the hotels & inns are old … a hundred years old or more. They are definitely charming, but sometimes inconvenient or uncomfortable, and almost never handicap-friendly. (Except the Copper Queen Hotel which at least has an elevator. Although if you’re confined to a wheelchair, as I once was, you will have to get to the lobby through a somewhat inconvenient rear entrance.)
In other words, if you plan on staying a night or more in Bisbee, plan on climbing stairs to get to your bed. That said, we do adore the old, historic hotels and inns. Staying in them helps get us into a frame of mind to appreciate this fabulous historic mining town, once the largest between St. Louis & San Francisco.
However, sometimes we prefer a modern inn, one in which amenities, such windows, doors, showers, toilets, A/C units, & refrigerators, work as intended. The 10-year-old Copper City Inn is one such modern place. Fred Miller, the innkeeper, has furnished his 5 units with period pieces and accessories, so you will still feel part of the history. But everything, including a modern shower in which guests can actually control the water temperature, works properly.
The Copper City Inn is located on Main Street within easy walking distance to just about anything of interest in Bisbee. Off street parking is on the street level. The large Warren Suite ($150) is on the second floor with its own private balcony. It has a full kitchen, comfortable chairs for reading or watching TV, and an immediate feeling of spaciousness.
The rooms on the 3rd floor are about half the size of the 2nd floor suites, but they seem spacious because they open onto a balcony that overlooks Main Street & the Mule Mountains.
Of the 3 rooms I saw, all were beautifully decorated, including many quaint accessories. Each had its own character. The Mary Jane Colter room ($125) is art deco. My room, the Louie de Bisbee ($125), is definitely French antique. The Warren Suite downstairs is a comfortable Mission-style with Saltillo tile floor.
The beds are firm, but comfortable, European pillow-top queens. They all have a complete allergy barrier which, as a long-time allergy sufferer, I really appreciate.
I write dining & lodging reviews, so I tend to be more critical than most people who stay at a Bisbee hotel or inn. Once in my Louie de Bisbee room, I started to take a few notes about all the things that were wrong with it so I could warn visitors to our SouthernArizonaGuide.com. I quickly ran into a problem. There wasn’t anything wrong with it.
Amenities
The floors didn’t squeak. The thermostat worked perfectly. There was a desk for my laptop; and lots of pleasant lighting. Even candles.
Fred had thought of everything. A complimentary bottle of red wine was on the wet bar along with two classy wine glasses. In the mini-frig were ice, a chilled bottle of white wine, and several bottles of purified water. Loved the balcony from which I could sit around a patio table, wine in hand, and watch the world go by beneath me.
The linens & towels were … the word “plush” comes to mind. He had even provided several different kinds of pillows, some firm, some softer. In the mirrored French armoire was hidden a flat-screen HD TV with DVD player. Free WiFi, of course.
The list of amenities is extensive: hair dryer, quality body-care products, emergency supplies, magnifying mirror, a large mirrored closet, etc. etc.
I should point out that the rooms all have a combination lock that is easy to use. No keys. I like that a lot. Fred sends you the combination via email along with your reservation confirmation.
Breakfast
Copper City is a Bed & Breakfast inn … sorta. Fred does NOT cook you breakfast. Instead, you will find a voucher in your room for a continental breakfast at High Desert Market 2 blocks up the Canyon.
To some, this may seem an inconvenience. It isn’t. First, it’s a pleasant walk to the Market. Bisbee is a walkabout town, and going for breakfast just gets you into the right mood.
Second, breakfast at the High Desert Market is exceptional. Instead of using my voucher for a fresh scone and cup of coffee, I applied its $3 value toward a freshly baked cheese & bacon quiche & a hot coffee mocha. Delicious!
Note: Fred Miller is the beverage manager & bartender at Café Roka about a block from the Inn in the heart of Old Town Bisbee. Why is this bit of information important? Only that Café Roka is arguably the best restaurant in all of Southern Arizona. In our vernacular, it has a 5-Saguaro rating; the Best of the Best.
Do we recommend you go to Bisbee? Indeed we do! Do we recommend you stay at the Copper City Inn? Totally! History without the inconvenience.
For a list of more Lodging Reviews in Southern Arizona see our Lodging Review page.
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Copper City Inn
99 Main Street; Bisbee, AZ 85603
(520) 432-1418
