HISTORY OF GREER

Red Setter, Arizona’s Riverside Retreat, originally known as The Red Setter Inn & Cottages, was first envisioned in 1990 by Jim Sankey and his partner, Ken Conant. Although they were living in California at the time, working in corporate America, the two men had plans to open a bed and breakfast in the Pacific Northwest someday. However, a fortuitous visit to Greer changed everything, and in 1993, when Jim received an early retirement package from his employer, the couple decided to make their dream a reality in the village of Greer, AZ.

Constructed with lodge pole pine and spruce from Colorado, each log was carefully selected and hand-hewn to ensure authenticity. The chinking between the logs was applied over three months and done by Jim and Ken themselves. Finally, in 1995, their picture-perfect Inn opened and became a reality.

As the innkeepers lived on the property, rates included a full breakfast for guests, sack picnic lunches, and complimentary afternoon tea, coffee, and snacks, earning the two some prestigious awards and accolades over the years. In 2006, Fodor’s named the Inn among its Top 10 Choice Hotels, ranking it among the top 10 in the world.

In 2007, Jim and Ken passed the baton to Greer Lodge, who continued to host guests from all over the world. However, in 2013, the lodge suddenly closed, and in June of that same year, long-time Greer property owner Ramey Peru purchased The Red Setter Inn & Cottages with a vision to update, restore, and re-open it.

In recent years, Red Setter was purchased by Lonnie McCleve, a man born in the area who naturally fell in love with the property. Red Setter is now managed by The Lost Resorts. The team at The Lost Resorts is thrilled to work with Lonnie to bring the lodge back to its former glory, where rooms can once again be rented out individually. They are also planning many updates and improvements to the Red Setter throughout 2023, ensuring that this gem remains a beloved destination for travelers from near and far.