Four Bar Cottages - Portal, Arizona

Maria Thi Mai

Bill and Jill are the consummate hosts. Bill is a cowboy encyclopedia of local history. You will be enchanted by his stories. Jill sparkles country charm. The cottages have her stamp of artistry and creativity.

There are two cottages; one with a partial kitchen and the other a full kitchen. The beds are comfy and the rooms clean. Each cottage has its own outdoor space to birdwatch and glimpse the wandering javelinas.

The charm of this place is in its surrounding landscape and abundant wildlife. It's a haven for birds including the Elegant Trogon, Inca Dove, Greentailed Towhee to name a few.

Four Bar Cottages is an oasis in the desert. It attracts astronomers, herpetologists, biologists, outdoor enthusiasts, and anyone who wants a break from the urban jungle.

Book early, especially during peak birding season!

Dean H

Bill is very accommodating, and went out of his way to tailor our stay to our birding goals! Saw many awesome species on his property and he gave us great tips on cool birds in the area. The cottages were clean, stocked with everything you could need, and comfortable beds. Perfect stay! Will definitely be back!

Alexander Fenlon

I stayed here with my mother and brother on an ad hoc trip to the Chiricahuas. I am just barely a naturalist, and my mother and brother even less so, but Bill supplemented our limited knowledge and experience generously. Never before had I seen a screech owl or barn owl so close, or witnessed so intimately someone's love for the land.
We stayed in the Hacienda cottage, which, despite its rustic furniture and remoteness, had all of the amenities I would expect of a hotel. There was a pool in the back with a one-of-a-kind hydraulic cover. Feeders, which Bill made sure were always full, attracted plenteous birds and a few rabbits, even in the middle of the day. A haven for a novice birdwatcher like myself!
I would love to visit again, and I would recommend for anyone with a curious soul.

Ellen P

As good as it gets. Clean, comfortable self-catering cabins with fantastic birding on the grounds. Owner Bill Cavaliere is a terrific, friendly host and excellent birder. The garden and surrounding property teem with birds. We really loved this place and would not hesitate to visit again. No need to stay at Canyon Creek Ranch as this place is just another 10!min of driving and lots of great birding along that drive including Scaled Quail. Quiet, wonderful vibe, super-relaxing.

Maggie W

I really enjoyed my three-night stay at Four Bar Cottages. The cottage was very clean and comfortable, with good a/c and wifi. Was really lucky to snag this booking as the place is booked up pretty solidly this time of year.||||I booked the larger Apache cabin so I could prepare all my meals. The mini fridge in the room held most of the food I brought, and there is a full-size fridge in the common area between the cottages for extras. The kitchen was well equipped with stovetop, microwave, coffee pot, sink and cleaning supplies, pots and pans, utensils, and dishes. The guest notebook was handy, with maps, local menus, and birding hotspots.||||Bill thoughtfully left the door unlocked for my arrival as he and his wife were out; so glad to have had access immediately. He was as friendly in person as he was on the phone. I appreciated that they do not raise the price of the cottages during high season, but do require a minimum stay.||||The ranch is very near the entrance to Cave Creek, a wonderful place for birding, hiking, plein aire painting, and just "being." There are numerous feeders across from the cottages which were replenished each day. It was pleasant in the morning to sit outside with coffee and watch the birds.||||Hope to return in the fall or early spring when it's cooler and less windy.

Lee_and_Paul

We spent three wonderful nights in the Lodge at Four Bar Cottages. The Lodge is the largest accommodation with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, living room, and full kitchen (with full size fridge, stove/oven and sink. There is also a microwave, toaster, coffee maker, plates, cups, etc.). Note: there are two smaller cottages on the property as well. It was very clean and there is free wifi. There is also a covered porch that runs the length of the lodge with patio furniture. Lots of windows and it was wonderful to wake up to a view of the mountains and birds at the multiple feeders. Although we are not birders, it was fun to see the great variety of birds that call southeastern Arizona and the Chiricahua mountains home. Owner Bill was very welcoming and gave us a tour and made sure we knew that if we needed anything to knock on his door (he and his wife live on the property). He is also extremely knowledgeable about the area and local history. This area is very remote and there are only a handful of dining options, so I would recommend bringing some food to cook and eat while staying here or at the very least, some basics. You should also make sure you have enough gas before arriving. If you are looking for solitude and vast natural beauty, Four Bar Cottages is a wonderful place to get away from it all.

Mike P

We were a party of 6 so booked both cottages & cooked breakfast in the larger of the two. Bill & his wife were very helpful & allowed us to pay on arrival as we could not sort this out over the internet. Here for birding so the feeders & water features around the property were fantastic. We ate at the restuarant down towards Stateline Road but beware of the time diference between New Mexico & Arizona!! Also fuel up ahead of Rodeo/Portal as nearest gas station is a 40 mile round trip.||Have now stayed at Portal three times but wished I had stayed here on previous two.

Anna Vitale

Absolutely stunning! Four Bars Cottages was far beyond our expectations - we stayed an extra night (and would have stayed longer if we didn’t have a plane to catch!)! The cottage had every accommodation you would need, it was exceptionally clean and well-kept, and the property was pristinely maintained.
Best part of it: the owners were incredible! Friendly, hospitable, and great fun to talk with. I didn’t feel I was staying at a ‘stranger’s cottage...we felt we were at a friend’s guest house. Bill was extremely well-versed with anything you wanted to know about the area...the mountain trails, the history of the area, birds, etc and we were very impressed each time we talked with him how keen and knowledgeable he is and how readily he shared helpful information.
We stayed in the Apache cottage, which had everything we needed - a mini-kitchen, a main room with a dining area, two twin beds (which will be perfect for future stays when we bring our birding friends), desk, stovetop, microwave, and a private bedroom. There is an outdoor veranda with a patio table and anything else you can think of (grill, firepit, lounge chairs, etc).
The owner’s welcome guests to sit in their backyard and watch the birds. This backyard has huge trees offering shade and respite from the sun and heat, there is a small waterfall that birds come into, and many flowering bushes/plants for birds to ‘bug’ in.
The location was nearby to our target birding areas and we met wonderful, friendly, helpful birders all along the way.
Can’t wait to go back!