WHERE DO INNKEEPERS COME FROM?A look behind the scenesby Madelyn MillerBob Glass, and wife, Paula, owners of the “four-diamond” historic Apple Orchard Inn in Sedona, Arizona, literally came from life in California’s fast lane! Their choice to exchange careers positioned them in the forefront of the new millennium’s self-employed. Forsaking the demands of corporate pressures and boards of directors, the Glasses created a lifestyle that’s the envy of many of their upscale guests who visit America’s red rock country. Life then and now? As a hospital CEO for a major healthcare company, Bob was responsible for all hospital-related operations and development. For much of his 25 plus years in the healthcare industry he concurrently assisted staff physicians with medical practice management and real estate investments. For pleasure and a change of pace during this period he raced his GT-2 racecar on the SCCA national circuit, winning the Southern-Pacific Divisional Championship in 1995. Today in Sedona, Bob gads about on his Custom Soft-Tail Harley which sports special paint and a highly modified 96-inch “Stroker” motor. Paula Glass was a professional real estate broker and commercial interior designer. Her accolades were similar to Bob's with the venue being water rather than land. She was one of two professional women Offshore Powerboat Race Drivers in the United States, placing 3rd in the nation for 2 years. She narrated several shows for ESPN as their technical co-host. Prior to racing, Paula was a Flight Attendant for American Airlines for 13 years. “Serving coffee to our guests today is far less turbulent,” Paula says. Application of Bob’s CEO savvy and Paula’s interior design and hospitality expertise to the historic Jordan Road property in Sedona has resulted in AAA’s 4-Diamond Award designation to the Apple Orchard Inn within just ten months. Guests are steeped in magnificent views of Sedona’s Steamboat Rock, Wilson Mountain while surrounded by pinon pines and Arizona spruce on the inn’s two-acre site. The day begins with the owner/chef professional team choosing what should be prepared for breakfast from their commercial kitchen. Birds are chirping as the aroma of the Apple Orchard Inn’s private blend coffee whiffs by the outdoor patio and dining room. Menu offerings change daily from such delicious options as Eggs Florentine in a homemade puffed pastry, Custard French Toast, homemade cinnamon rolls and an array of fresh fruit and juice. Guests share in the lifestyle in the inn’s 7 rooms. Paula describes the décor as a “casually elegant blend of the Old West and the Southwest all wrapped up in a tranquil, magical, romantic atmosphere”. The Apple Orchard Inn boasts a collage wall of sports memorabilia from Bob’s idol, Joe Montana, and Bart Starr, a friend who asked Montana to autograph the picture for Bob. Their office includes a watercolor of Ricky Henderson sliding into base, a picture of Paula’s race boat, one of Bob’s racecars and a bookshelf of autographed books ranging from Ronnie Lott to Pat Riley. Recently having returned from a 3800-mile motorcycle trip to Banff, Canada, Bob and Paula are planning a new project, another inn on their adjacent acre. Back for the upcoming tourist season, Bob and Paula manage to take time at home in Sedona to enjoy red rock country themselves by hiking and occasionally taking a spin in their 1974 restored E-Type Jaguar with the top down for maximum appreciation of the crimson and lush canyon of Oak Creek. But this is a lifestyle a visitor can enjoy, even if only for a few days. Bob and Paula go out of their way to ensure their guests “the best visit possible”. They recommend: “If you’re looking for a restful, pampered and romantic getaway or want to experience the “8th wonder” of the world, Sedona, call Bob or Paula at the Apple Orchard Inn. 800 663-6968 |
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