When you search “Sedona Cliff House,” you’re actually finding two completely different properties. One is a private architectural marvel built 200 feet up a red rock butte. The other is a luxury vacation rental you can actually book. Both share jaw-dropping red rock views and a design that makes you wonder how anyone built them. But understanding which one aligns with your interests saves time and sets expectations correctly. Let’s break down what makes each Sedona Cliff House special and help you figure out which one deserves your attention.
What Makes These Sedona Cliff Houses Different
The Sedona Cliff House term covers two distinct West Sedona properties with zero overlap beyond their dramatic locations. Red Tail Cliff belongs to furniture designer Glendon Good, who spent 23 years turning raw geological formations into livable art. You reach it by riding a tramway elevator that climbs 200 feet up solid rock. The three-minute journey through increasingly strong winds delivers you to a 2,150-square-foot home literally carved into the cliff face.
Good designed and built much of Red Tail Cliff himself, solving complex engineering problems that took years to figure out properly. The home sits on rock tested by geotechnical engineers who confirmed it’s twice as strong as concrete. Construction crews started work at 5 a.m., with Good arriving even earlier for his morning coffee at 4 a.m. Many workers initially balked at the site’s difficulty until Good showed them how to make the impossible possible.
The vacation rental shares the “cliff house” name but operates completely differently from Good’s private residence. This 5,877-square-foot property combines contemporary architecture with practical luxury you can actually experience. You book it through VacayAZ for group stays. The location provides seclusion while keeping Sedona’s restaurants and shops just three miles away for convenient access.
Both homes earned recognition from the Sedona Art and Architecture Tour over the years. Red Tail Cliff attracted national media attention in 2024, including features in publications that highlighted its engineering achievements. The vacation rental won the People’s Choice Award back in 2006, when feng shui principles guided its design and construction.
Red Tail Cliff: The 200-Foot Engineering Marvel
Glendon Good purchased a red rock formation in West Sedona back in 1998 with an audacious vision. He spent the next 23 years turning that raw geological feature into a home that defies conventional building logic. The project required learning architecture, engineering a tramway system, and personally fabricating many of the custom components himself. The tramway alone consumed 12 years of planning and engineering before it could safely transport construction materials up the cliff.
Building codes require installing a landline phone inside the elevator car for safety and emergency communication purposes. The Sandoval Elevator Company handled the installation, but Good solved most of the technical challenges himself through trial and error. No concrete truck could park at the site. No lumber delivery could pull up to unload materials conveniently. Everything traveled up the tramway in pieces small enough to fit through the narrow elevator car dimensions.
Interior space measures 2,170 square feet across three bedrooms and three bathrooms with contemporary finishes throughout. A 20-foot sliding glass wall connects indoor and outdoor areas seamlessly when weather permits. Multiple decks at different elevations provide 360-degree views of Oak Creek Canyon below and the surrounding red rocks. An interior elevator moves between floors in a cylindrical shaft that uses air pressure to function smoothly.
Solar panels on the roof deck generate the home’s electricity independently from the grid below. Good designed all the doors to slide into the walls rather than swing open on traditional hinges. No door knobs exist anywhere in the house. You press a button, and the door glides smoothly into a pocket in the wall. The foyer serves as a transition zone between outside and inside temperatures.
Good lived on the property’s lower level during construction and finally moved into Red Tail Cliff in October 2021. His furniture designs, typically crafted from aluminum with signature curves, fill the rooms with artistic coherence. The windows frame red rocks so close you could touch them from certain bathrooms and closets. The home remains strictly private. Good occasionally opens it for architectural tours, but you cannot simply show up and request a visit.
The Bookable Sedona Cliff House Experience
The Sedona Cliff House vacation rental sits on Red Rock Loop Road in an area locals consider one of Sedona’s best-kept secrets. The property includes a main house and a separate guest house, totaling 5,877 square feet of living space. Five bedrooms and multiple bathrooms accommodate up to 14 guests comfortably for group getaways or family reunions. Feng shui master Valmai Howe Elkins consulted on the design when the property was completed in 2006.
The layout emphasizes flow and natural light regardless of season, with passive solar design keeping summer spaces cool naturally. Ultra-low VOC materials throughout support the green building approach that prioritizes guest health and environmental responsibility. The negative edge pool creates the illusion of water flowing into the valley below dramatically. Heating the pool costs an additional $175 per night with a three-night minimum, which guests must request at least three days before arrival.
The infinity edge frames red rock views that shift throughout the day as light changes across the landscape. Outdoor spaces include multiple decks, a large grass area suitable for group activities, and a wood-burning fire pit. The game room in the guest house provides entertainment when guests want a break from hiking Sedona’s trails. Reviews consistently mention the comfortable furniture, particularly the leather sofas that remain inviting after long days exploring the area.
Rates vary by season, with premium pricing during peak times when weather and events draw visitors to Sedona. The property requires a minimum stay that changes based on demand and booking calendar availability. Contact VacayAZ directly for current availability and pricing information. Ask about pool heating if you want that amenity, as it must be arranged before arrival for proper setup.
| Property Feature | Red Tail Cliff | Vacation Rental |
|---|---|---|
| Access | Private, tramway only | Open for booking |
| Size | 2,150 sq ft | 5,877 sq ft |
| Bedrooms | 3 | 5 |
| Sleeps | Private residence | Up to 14 guests |
| Pool | No | Yes (infinity edge) |
| Booking | Not available | VacayAZ/VRBO |
| Key Feature | 200 feet elevation | Feng shui design |
Sedona’s Ancient Cliff Dwelling Heritage
The Sinagua people built cliff dwellings in Sedona between 1100 and 1400 AD, long before modern construction techniques existed. These ancient structures at Palatki and Honanki Heritage Sites demonstrate that humans have long recognized the advantages of building into cliffs. The Sinagua chose cliff locations for protection, climate control, and access to water sources below in the valleys. Their dwellings used red rock as both foundation and building material in remarkably sophisticated ways for the era.
Pictographs and petroglyphs on the walls document their lives and spiritual practices with imagery that survives today. Modern Sedona architects draw inspiration from this heritage, though their goals differ from survival and community needs. Where the Sinagua sought protection and efficiency, contemporary builders pursue aesthetic integration with landscape and views that justify difficult construction.
The red rock provides both challenge and opportunity for those willing to work with its unique characteristics. Its strength supports structures that would fail on softer ground or conventional foundations elsewhere. Its color and texture become architectural elements rather than obstacles to hide behind stucco or siding. Architects who work in Sedona learn to see the rock as a partner in design, not merely a substrate.
Why Sedona’s Red Rocks Attract Boundary-Pushing Architecture
Sedona’s geology creates natural platforms where cliffs meet relatively flat surfaces perfect for building ambitious structures. These ledges and benches provide building sites that combine dramatic elevation with structural stability rarely found elsewhere. The red rock formations act as both foundation and backdrop simultaneously. Views from these locations span miles across the desert landscape. You see other red rocks, distant mountain ranges, and the vegetation-filled valleys between them all at once.
The elevation provides cooling breezes and separation from ground-level heat during Sedona’s intense summer months naturally. Privacy comes naturally when your neighbors need binoculars to see you from their properties below. The artist and architect community in Sedona values pushing boundaries beyond conventional residential design. The annual Art and Architecture Tour celebrates homes that treat living spaces as artistic statements worth public viewing.
Judges and visitors reward innovation, especially when it responds to the landscape rather than imposing generic designs. Architects who work here must navigate strict building codes designed to protect viewsheds and natural character carefully. You cannot build anything anywhere without proper permits and approvals. Regulations limit height, require specific materials, and mandate that structures blend with surroundings rather than dominating them.
Planning Your Sedona Cliff House Visit
Red Tail Cliff remains private property that Glendon Good does not operate as a tour destination or vacation rental. The home occasionally appears on the Sedona Art and Architecture Tour or in special media features, but these opportunities are rare. If you want to see Red Tail Cliff, your best option is viewing it from a distance during hikes. Publications like the Wall Street Journal and Sedona Monthly published extensive photo essays that provide virtual tours for those curious.
The Sedona Cliff House vacation rental requires booking through VacayAZ or platforms like VRBO for confirmed reservations. Review all house rules carefully before booking to ensure the property’s quiet, family-oriented atmosphere matches your group’s expectations. The property sits just three miles from downtown Sedona’s restaurants, galleries, and shops for convenient access. Popular hiking trails like Devil’s Bridge and Cathedral Rock are within a short drive from the property.
When you book, ask about specific amenities like pool heating, extra towels, or special arrangements for larger groups. The property management responds quickly to questions and helps coordinate arrival logistics. Airport access from Phoenix Sky Harbor takes roughly two hours by car through scenic desert highways.
Your Sedona Cliff House Takeaway
The Sedona Cliff House search leads to two remarkable properties that showcase different approaches to desert architecture. Red Tail Cliff represents what’s possible when determination meets engineering over 23 years of relentless construction effort. The vacation rental offers an accessible way to experience luxury red rock living without tramway rides. Both properties prove that Sedona’s cliffs inspire architecture that respects the landscape while creating unforgettable living spaces.
Whether you’re planning a vacation or simply appreciate boundary-pushing design, understanding these two properties adds depth to Sedona’s story. Next time you see red rock formations, you’ll know someone might be living 200 feet up. That’s the kind of ambition that makes Sedona more than just another desert destination for tourists.