I wasn't really into antiques, but I love, love, loved this place. We stayed in the Prospector Room. It was cozy and beautifully decorated with such care and detail that I have a new perspective on southwest art and antiques. Each room is an adventure. There is so much to look at and admire. It is far off the beaten path, but I love that. It was very quiet and peaceful. The bed was amazing. The breakfast was the best breakfast we have ever had at a place like this. Mike was awesome and we loved hearing his stories of travel. He makes a super delicious souffle. We can't wait to go back. Tombstone and Kartchner Caverns are very close by.

I recently stayed at Down By The River, my homebase for events I was attending in Tombstone, an approx. 35 min drive from the B&B. The B&B is situated so that it requires about 5-10 min of driving on a dirt road (note: this road is not maintained, so can be bumpy in spots, but is easy to get used to. Just follow the directions on the B&B website!). The nights were *quiet* (and even the days), which was perfect. The stars were out in full force, which was wonderful. I had some late night/all night events to attend, and no problem if I chose to sleep in until after noon. I felt like I had "my space" while staying here - I think Mike wants his guests to feel at home, and I did! Note - the carport is a short walk from the house, and I was glad to have my flashlight with me when I returned in the early morning hours. It's *dark* out there! Keep that in mind if returning very late.

Mike's breakfasts are nothing short of delicious, with breakfast at 8 (coffee at 7). I stayed in the Bird Room, which has a private porch. Another reviewer commented on the "creepy garden gnomes" but they didn't bother me. I enjoyed opening the door to the porch while getting ready in the morning and letting the outside air in. The last night got a bit chilly, but there were blankets in the closet, and it was easy to warm up.

If seclusion with easy access to Benson, Tombstone, Bisbee and Sierra Vista are what you need (there will be a bit of a drive to some of these places, but doable, and the scenery is worthwhile), then this is a wonderful place to stay.

My husband and I chose this location because we saw the prior great reviews on this place. When we arrived, we walked inside a quiet, hot house (we were the only guests for the weekend). We called via cell phone to locate the owners.

When checking in, we made a few comments about how uncomfortable the temperature in the house was and we were told to just open some windows; it would cool down at night. The temperature did not cool down and when my husband asked the owner to turn the air on (temperature in the house was over 80 degrees), the owner didn't seem too enthused; like we were expecting too much. This was the case for any request. I had requested two additional pillows and he had brought me some off a bed that was being changed (not too sure if the pillow cases were fresh).

The two nights we were there were not restful. The bed was uncomfortable and I turned down the air further on the second night (to 77 degrees because the owner barely turned it down) so we could get some sleep. The bathroom was plagued with earwigs and the jacuzzi tub spewed out black mold when my husband went to use it.

The prior reviews are correct in that the breakfast meals are good and the inside of the house is decorated nicely. The outside is a bit run down with the creepy garden gnomes everywhere and dying plants; would have been better to stick with the minimalist, natural look.

From our conversations with the owner, he is trying to sell the place because his wife is sick. While my heart goes out to these folks, it is still a business and there are expectations for a bed and breakfast.

If you are looking for an out of the way, quiet and peaceful B&B, the Down By the River B&B in Southern Arizona is for you. The owners, Mike and Barb are gracious hosts with plenty of local information to help you get the most out of your visit to Arizona.
The back road drive to the B&B is remote so just follow Mike’s excellent directions and you will have no problem. I was visiting with my 88 year old mother so we arranged to arrive before dark. The B&B is set up so that guests stay in one section of the property while the owners live in another section. As you first walk in, there is an awesome, very large gathering room that boasts fireplace, TV with dish satellite, DVD and movies, pool table and areas for reading or just a chat. The back patio has plenty of chairs and tables for relaxing, star gazing, and an area to BBQ and eat your dinner, if you are so inclined.
We stayed in the Bird Room. Our hosts gave us a tour of all the rooms and they all are uniquely decorated and beautifully designed. Our room was very clean and neat. I am an early riser, so early coffee was ready for me as well as Mike’s delicious fresh fruit smoothies. Breakfast was a delicious fresh baked cheese soufflé and fresh strawberry crepes. We were very full and did not eat again until late in the evening.
Can’t wait to return to this B&B. It is a winner.