by Madison Rutherford | Photography by Angelina Aragon
Jade Bar at the venerable Sanctuary Camelback Mountain, A Gurney’s Resort & Spa combines midcentury polish with modern panache.
In the 1950s, the property was home to Paradise Valley Racquet Club and John Gardiner’s Tennis Ranch before converting into its current incarnation as a chic boutique resort in 2001.
The bar space, where Valley cocktail royalty Jason Asher (UnderTow) and Micah Olson (Arizona Distilling Co.) started their careers, underwent a major redesign and expansion in 2013, but it also transforms daily.
“You can come in here in the morning or early afternoon, and it’s a quiet respite from the busy restaurant during breakfast or lunch,” says general manager Matthew Vandegrift, a hospitality vet who oversees all the property’s operations – from treatments at the spa to cocktails at the bar. “As you transition into the evening, as the sun sets and it becomes darker, it has a whole different energy to it.”
He refers to this effortless blend of casual and cosmopolitan as “comfortable luxury.”
Floor-to-Ceiling Windows
The bar’s anchoring element is the scenery visible from panoramic windows spanning the space’s north wall. “It was just another way to maximize the million-dollar views we have all over the property,” Vandegrift says.
Mirror Wall
Guests can also drink in the view via strategically placed mirrors behind the bar, a feature that was incorporated by designers during the space’s 2013 renovation.
Barrel Chairs
Last January, these midcentury-style seats replaced the stuffy banquettes and heavy barstools that formerly faced the bar, creating a more lounge-y gestalt favorable for groups and dining.
Layered Lighting
A curved ceiling featuring tiered uplighting and wood used in the building’s original construction “add a feeling of warmth, texture and color,” Vandegrift says.
Jade Onyx Backlit Bar
This glowing slab of jade is a nod to the property’s previous theme and color scheme – when each guestroom was named after a different gemstone and jade green was used in all of the resort’s logos and branding.
Jade Bar at Sanctuary Camelback Mountain
5700 E. McDonald Dr., Paradise Valley
866-241-5059, gurneyresorts.com
