If you’ve ever wanted to go back in time, you might not need a time machine.
You might just need to take a look at the National Forest of Arizona’s Room with a View program.
Through the program, you can rent cabins on National Forest land all around the state.
These are not your average rustic cabin rentals. They’re not exactly luxury, but they’re each historic residences, some are even on the National Register of Historic Places. And they’re in some of the most awe-inspiring spots around the state, from the rim of the Grand Canyon to the sky islands of the Coronado National Forest.
These are some old buildings, but they’re totally refurbished. Some were ranger sites or residences, one is an old Bunkhouse built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. And instead of allowing them to be abandoned or torn down, the Forest Service has, with this program, turned them into their form of an Airbnb.
There are 17 residences you can rent through this program. Annette McGivney has stayed in three of them. She’s a writer for Arizona Highways Magazine, and she says it’s an experience you won’t get very many places these days.
McGivney’s story on Rooms With A View appears in the May issue of Arizona Highways.
