Stevenson Suite: A nautical haven for creative escapes

The summer heat in the south is almost palpable at times. Today was one of those days. Temperatures in the 90s and humidity on an equal basis create one hot afternoon. Some will tell you the best time to visit Eureka Springs is fall, when the leaves turn — but summer has its own sweaty appeal, especially when a cool suite is waiting at the end of the walk. I arrived at the Pink Building in the Cliff Cottage Campus. A wide welcoming porch with a table and two chairs and small couch that sit waiting for cooler temperatures this evening and tomorrow morning. Overhead a wood carved banana-leaf ceiling fan brought extra breezes to the residents sitting on the concrete porch. Coral colored stucco-clad walls covering the house exterior.

A treasure island retreat

Entering through the beautifully stained glassed door, the cool cozy interior beckoned. A lovely 4 poster bed draped in lace, surrounded by renditions of old time sailing ships. Paintings, antique Italian ceramic plates with sailing ship imagery and three-dimensional Chinese relief fish sculptures complete this nautical themed room — inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island. The wooden blinds lending a soft glow to the room.

A deeply plush burgundy carpet sank softly at every step. Plush robes stand waiting for you by your jacuzzi tub by the cedar wall. Numerous mirrors around the room give an air of spaciousness, while the illumination from a variety of antique stained-glass lamps contribute a soft glow. Copies of Robert Louis Stevenson’s books were placed around the room: Treasure Island and Kidnapped being the most noticeable. If you’re weighing romantic getaways in Eureka Springs, picture this: a four-poster bed, soft lamplight, and Stevenson on the nightstand.

A writer’s sanctuary

The Stevenson suite was an excellent spot for me to catch up on some much-needed writing. I was converting a screenplay that I had done a couple of years ago into a short story. The screenplay ended up not being used because of technical problems, and I hated to waste a good ghost story. Smells from the kitchen fill the air. Looking around the room I tried to imagine what it was like when it was a family residence when it was originally built in 1918. Picturing what was there before is a habit I have whenever I am in historic bed and breakfasts. I could picture children running across the floor laughing and playing — the suite had a very nice feel to it. I imagined that if there were spirits from the past that they would be happy to see how beautiful the rooms were decorated, and what care the house was given.

Settling in to create

An archway led to the adjacent bathroom and prep area — a sink with cutting surface, microwave, and mini-fridge (no stovetop, but everything you need for coffee, snacks, and light meals). A roughly triangular shaped hot tub set in the corner, behind a set of wooden room separator with a Middle Eastern theme. A rounded ceiling light situated overhead, I decided to use the small table in the prep area as my writing desk. Nearby, a convenient coffee station beckoned with the possibility of tea or coffee. Deciding on coffee, I readied the coffee maker and returned to my efforts whilst it brewed. Every suite has a microwave and mini-fridge, but this one adds a sink and cutting surface — a small thing that makes a longer stay feel like home.

The room’s quiet elegance helped relax and inspire me. Little and large touches abounding throughout the suite. Filtered sunlight streaming through the blinds. I settled in and sipped coffee as I finished my work. Overall, one of my favorite workplaces. It felt like home; maybe not mine, but home and welcoming.

Arkansas has no shortage of cool places to stay — treehouses in the hills, cabins by the creek, boutique hotels downtown. The Stevenson Suite is none of those, and all of those. It’s a nautical parlor in a century-old pink building, with a Treasure Island theme and a coffee station that smells like fresh coffee. If you’re looking for places to visit in Arkansas this summer, start here: on the porch with a banana-leaf fan overhead, waiting for the heat to break. Then head downtown — there are plenty of things to do in Eureka Springs once the evening cools.