The Hampton House is a retro-inspired compound with a 3-bedroom main house and 1-bedroom poolside casita that can accommodate up to 10 guests — perfect for work trips, family gatherings, reunions with friends, or couples looking for room to spread out. Other reasons to stay: great central location in a residential neighborhood, 1 mile from UA, 10 minutes from Downtown, lots of great restaurants and coffee spots nearby.
The space
Built in the mid-1940s, and restored in 2021, the 1,200-square-foot main house has three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Inside, the main house is outfitted with a mixture of new and antique furniture, the latter being striking pieces from Japan and Hong Kong that my parents collected during their two decades in the Far East.
The back of the house opens up onto a red-brick courtyard, which includes a casita — a one-bedroom, one-bathroom guest house with a compact kitchen. Outside, you'll find a 1970s-era swimming pool and a covered gazebo. Relax while sitting by the bar, or at the dining table, or in one of the lounge chairs. Grill up something tasty if the mood (and hunger) strikes.
The Hampton House is also perfectly located as its in one of the most central neighborhoods in the city. Tucson's airport is am easy 20-minute drive away. The UA campus is a five-minute drive from the house. Downtown is about 10 minutes away. The foothills are 15 minutes from the house. And with Tucson being an official UNESCO City of Gastronomy (one of only two such cities in the U.S.), there are plenty of great restaurants and bars nearby.
Since becoming an Airbnb in 2022, The Hampton House has been the site of family or friend reunions, both University of Arizona arrivals at the start of freshman year and college graduation celebrations at the end of senior year, as well as rest and recovery stays connected to medical or wellness visits.
Before its transition to vacation rental, this house was my family's home. My parents bought it in 1985 and I lived in the casita my final two years of college at the UA, the first of many students to call the place home. Now, I want to create a welcoming space for travelers who want to explore all that Tucson has to offer.
MAIN HOUSE
Bedrooms
• Primary Bedroom: large bedroom includes a king-size bed, walk-in closet, and en-suite bathroom with shower. This room also has French doors that open onto the backyard pool area.
• Second Bedroom: full-sized bed, dresser, and work desk with chair and lamp.
• Third Bedroom: queen-sized bed, dresser, large closet, with great sunlight exposure.
Bathrooms
• Primary bath has white subway tiles on the walls, black matte tiles on the floor, and a large shower.
• Second Bathroom: Pedestal sink and funky green and white tiles; this bathroom has a tub with shower.
Living Spaces
• Front Living Room: perfect for cocktail time and will transport you to the Far East in the early 1960s. This room also has a non-working fireplace.
• Dining Room: off the living room, it can seat six for a meal. Also good as a communal workspace.
• Back Family Room: is either an Arizona room or a sunroom; depending on who you talk to, both names fit. Full-sized couch with love seat and 50" TV.
Kitchen
• Plenty of room and equipment to cook or just make some coffee and heat up some takeout.
• Stocked with coffee maker, blender, pots, pans, plates, utensils: all the important stuff.
• With dishwasher, garbage disposal, refrigerator, gas stove, and microwave.
Laundry
• Washer and dryer tower (LG)
CASITA
• Bedroom with a queen-sized bed.
• Living area with a twin-sized day bed.
• Bathroom with easy access to the backyard and pool.
• Kitchen with an electric range.
• Portable and wall-mounted air conditioner, heating units.
BACKYARD
• Funky 70's-era swimming pool; always has water you can swim anytime, but the pool is not heated. The traditional swimming season runs from mid-late springtime to early autumn. In 2024, the water was still a comfortable temperature through most of October.
• Covered gazebo with seating area and bar.
• Gas grill with side burner.
• Dining table and large umbrella.
• Chaise lounges by the pool.
Guest access
Guests have access to the entire property: the main house, the casita, and the backyard. You will be the only guests staying at The Hampton House.
The main house is equipped with ADT security system, with entry coded for each guest during stays. The system also controls central air/heat as well as smoke and carbon monoxide detector.
A covered parking spot is available at the end of the driveway, which can also accommodate another car. More free parking is available on the street.
Other things to note
• The house is in a historic residential area north of the University of Arizona campus, one mile from the Arizona State Museum on campus, close to restaurants and shops just off the University's west entrance, and two miles from Arizona Stadium.
• Some of the house's neighbors are college students. As such, there will be times when students have parties— usually on some weekends and University of Arizona game days. Tucson has a strict noise policy for this neighborhood and others close to the university: no loud music after 10 p.m. Police will respond to complaints and will issue citations to offenders.
• While families with small children have stayed at the house and had a great time, it's important to know that the house is not child-proofed and the pool does not have a security fence around it. I also have some cactus in the backyard, which can cause injury if handled improperly.
