About Us
Our Sedona story is really our family story. We arrived in 1986 with our daughters, who were just 3 and 5 years old, in search of a business where we could bring our kids along since childcare was beyond our budget. The motel turned out to be the perfect solution. For the first few years, we lived on-site, taking turns watching the kids while handling everything from the front desk to maintenance and housekeeping. The motel quickly became our home, our business, and the heart of our lives. After nearly 40 years, it still acts as a central hub for our family.
Our journey to Sedona was a bit of a happy accident. After getting married and having our first child Lee, we moved from Woodland Park, Colorado, to Flagstaff, where we managed the Whiting Brothers motel—a popular chain of Route 66 motor lodges. It was there we learned the ropes and thought, “We could do this ourselves!” We began searching the Flagstaff area and came across Cedars West in Sedona, owned by the same family as the Cedar Motel (now Cedars Resort). Sedona was just starting to become a nationally-renowned tourist destination, and we decided to invest our future and savings into this vibrant community in the red rocks.
While we love the natural beauty of Sedona, the best part of this job is the people. Sugar Loaf attracts the most wonderful guests, who appreciate our simple, no-frills approach to business. We owe much of our success to our loyal guests, many of whom have been returning for decades.
The 1980s and ’90s were a wonderful time to raise a family in Sedona, and we’re thrilled that our children are now raising their own families here. Sedona’s close-knit community has given us countless cherished memories, and Sugar Loaf has been a source of immense pride. Today, our youngest daughter Fara and both son-in-laws, Thor and Jakobe, manage the motel, and their own young children are growing up here. As our children take on more of the day-to-day management of the motel, we stay busy with motel maintenance, our garden, goats, chickens, rabbits, and five grandchildren. From our family to yours, welcome. We hope you enjoy your stay.
-Lori and John Baidinger
History
The “C” Motel was built in 1971, the same year construction began on Tlaquepaque Village, and was one of the first motels on the west side of Sedona. Paul and Suzanne Dort were listed as “hosts” on the matchbook cover. It was later purchased by Terry Tamplin and Mario Matinho of Cedars Motel and renamed Cedars West. In 1986, the motel became the Sugar Loaf Lodge under the ownership of John and Lori Baidinger.
What our visitors are saying!
“This place is awesome! Great location for walking in town or restaurants. Great price. Comfy bed, clean room, big bathroom. Really, a wonderful find”
Lisa R
via Google
“We stayed at Sugar Loaf Lodge and were very impressed with our stay! The beds were very comfortable, the room was clean, excellent water pressure, and very pet friendly. The hot tub was wonderful. I loved the retro red fridge and microwave! I don’t feel the photos do it justice. We would definitely stay again and would give it more than 5 stars if I could.”
Jona E
via Google
“Absolutely wonderful little motel! It does have a vintage feel to it, but everything is super clean and works great. The beds were very comfy with really nice blankets. I know the lodge was fully booked while we were there and you’re relatively close to the road, but noise was never an issue. The front desk staff were amazing and gave us such great food recommendations, plus really fun conversation! ”
Haley B
