In Sedona, the Phil Morris imprimatur is the ultimate shorthand for architectural significance. As the visionary behind the region’s most seminal hospitality landmarks like the Enchantment Resort and Ambiente (deemed "North America's first landscape hotel" when it opened in 2023), the late Morris was equally celebrated for the rare custom homes he built for private clients.
The Santa Cruz Estate, a clifftop marvel perched above Oak Creek just a half-mile from Red Rock State Park, stands as one of his most distinguished residential works. Now offered at $3,500,000 by Jerry Bergis and Jeanne Wilson of Coldwell Banker Realty, the home was commissioned specifically for the Santa Cruz family.
"There is a brass plaque bearing his name at the driveway entrance," says Wilson, noting that the sale includes the original building plans and a comprehensive documentation binder. The plaque not only serves as a marker of the estate's provenance, but it also speaks to the lasting legacy Morris left behind. "Many of our senior Coldwell agents recall going to social events where he was always present," Bergis adds.
Masterfully engineered to embrace its red-rock theater, the 4,100-square-foot home’s sweeping terraces and negative-edge pool appear to dissolve into the horizon. A spiral staircase rises to an upper deck with 280-degree views stretching to Cathedral Rock to the east and clear-night star gazing year-round. "From the upper view deck, you look down on your own private expanse of Oak Creek," describes Bergis. The property’s most singular amenity is a feat of pure ingenuity—a private four-person funicular that whisks guests down the cliffside to the water’s edge and a cascading red-rock waterfall. This is perhaps the purest expression of the Morris ethos: architecture in genuine conversation with its landscape.
The estate announces its arrival through private gates, where a circular copper roof and three matching copper garage doors crown a one-level semi-circular structure. Tucked amid lush trees and shrubs and set directly into the red rock cliff, it is a residence that is in constant dialogue with its natural surroundings.
Inside, octagon cathedral wood ceilings and custom circular ceiling lighting set the tone. The open living room is anchored by a three-sided gas fireplace and finished throughout in Pietra Italian marble floors and counters, fiddle-back maple cabinetry, French doors, copper trim, lighted art niches, and modern Franklin brass hardware. A private office off the main living area features custom bookshelves, a TV area, and a hidden vault, with views to the front drive. A whole-house Bose sound system and Lenox dual-zone HVAC run throughout.
The gourmet kitchen is appointed with a Viking 8-burner dual-oven range, Sub-Zero refrigerator and freezer, two Marvel wine coolers, a Bosch dishwasher, a large butcher block with a stainless double sink and Franke faucets, Italian marble counters, and a custom marble kitchen table with cushioned seating.
The split floor plan accommodates four bedrooms and three baths. The largest primary suite features a Kohler whirlpool bath, double sinks, a lighted salon area, and a walk-in closet, with private access to a shaded artificial turf area, a fenced dog run, and the four-person tram. The second primary suite offers a sitting area, a wall-to-ceiling gas fireplace, a full en-suite bath, and its own private access to the pool and patio. Two additional bedrooms share a common bath — one of them currently configured as a dedicated yoga and barre studio with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the pool.
The resort-like grounds make the final case. The pool and built-in spa anchor the main terrace, joined by an outdoor built-in BBQ and gas fire pit with ample room for gatherings in total privacy and full sunshine. An oversized three-car garage rounds out the property with three skylights, three parking bays, and a Tesla charging station.
View the complete listing by Jeanne Wilson and Jerry Bergis of Coldwell Banker Realty in Sedona.
