Construction for the 36-unit Ambiente Creekside resort at 45 Art Barn Road in Uptown is scheduled to commence shortly after site grading in the first quarter of 2027. The project anticipates a two-year timeline for completion and follows preparatory groundskeeping work finalized before August on the 19.35-acre property.
Pre-construction efforts included clearing dead brush and mitigating fire risk due to overgrown greenery, dead trees, and brush, according to co-owner Jen May. An old house and an office formerly associated with the Hawkeye Trailer Park, both in disrepair, were also demolished after securing permits from the city. May confirmed that these structures were not suitable for the property's intended use, and the site is now being kept clean to prevent fire hazards.
Jen May co-owns the Ambiente Creekside project with her sister, Colleen TeBrake, and their parents, Kathy and Mike Stevenson. This is a family-operated venture, similar to their Ambiente Sedona property, which opened in early 2023 at 900 W. SR 89A. May indicated that the construction timeline is extended due to the family's hands-on involvement, with her family managing all interior design work and her father assisting with construction. She noted that this approach allows them to infuse their own family "flavor and touch on everything."
The resort's total footprint spans 58,290 square feet, encompassing 83,740 square feet of development. This includes 33 creekside atrium units, a 20,250-square-foot restaurant and grotto, a 16,200-square-foot health spa, and a 9,650-square-foot arrival building featuring three second-level atrium suites. Additionally, the plans incorporate a 5,100-square-foot maintenance building and 3,500 square feet dedicated to four apartment units for staff accommodation.
While the precise order of construction has not been finalized, May suggested a phased approach might be adopted, potentially starting with the atriums, then moving to the arrivals building, followed by the restaurant, and finally the spa. Regardless of the phasing, all components are expected to be constructed within the two-year timeframe.
A key aspect of the development is the provision of rent-free apartment units for employees, available for a limited term of up to six months. May explained this initiative aims to support new hires in securing permanent housing. The goal, she stated, is for employees to use this period to save money and find stable, long-term housing rather than remaining in temporary apartments.
Ambiente Creekside will also feature a shared-use path accessible to the general public. This path will extend from Owenby Way to Oak Creek, traversing the resort property to its southern boundary. This public amenity has the potential to connect with future city of Sedona Public Works projects, including a long-discussed crossing over the creek to the Huckaby Trail. May clarified that the resort is responsible for the section of the path on its property, which will run between Ambiente Creekside and Arroyo Robles' new development, ultimately ending at a platform without direct water access to the creek until the city establishes its corresponding connections.
In related local development, unrelated to Ambiente Creekside, work crews began clearing land in mid-September at 115 Schnebly Hill Road for the Senoa Resort & Spa. Formerly known as the Oak Creek Heritage Lodge, this project in Uptown is slated to open in late 2028, offering 70 guest rooms and four workforce housing units.
May also addressed broader concerns about new hotel projects, noting that little developable land remains in Sedona and few other hotels are expected to be built. She emphasized that the Stevenson family, which has been in the Sedona area since the 1950s, is committed to long-term ownership and operation of the resort, distinguishing their approach from corporate entities that might develop and then sell properties.