It appears that it will be business as usual at the Sedona Creative Life Center — at least for now. In late June the facility, which sits on 15½ acres off Schnebly Hill Road, was purchased by Cyril Chiosa.
He and his business partners have purchased numerous properties over the past year including several Jeep and trolley tours, the vacant KFC/Taco Bell building and the lot next to it on State Route 89A, what’s now Steakhouse89, Alcantara Vineyard, residential rental properties, the former U-haul facility in West Sedona and the closed Steve Coury car dealership on State Route 260 in Camp Verde, to name just a few.
“All of these are pieces of a puzzle,” said Dieter Lehmann, one of Chiosa’s business partners who for now will be overseeing operations at the center. “We can house you. We can entertain you. We can feed you. Like I said, it’s a puzzle coming together.”
In terms of the Creative Life Center, Lehmann said they have lots of ideas for the property but for now things will be status quo.
“We’re honoring whatever has already been booked,” he said. “Right now we will continue to do the events that were planned.”
According to its website, the center was the brainchild of Shirley Caris, who moved to Sedona in 1986. She was an active member of the Sedona arts community and served on the board for the Sedona Cultural Park. Fulfilling a lifelong dream, in 2000 she established Sedona Creative Life Center as a nonprofit organization to “provide an uplifting and nourishing environment for spiritually enhancing programs and personal creative growth.” Caris died three years after establishing the center.
In 2017, the Sedona City Council approved the Schnebly Community Focus Area as well the Oak Creek Heritage District. According to a city report, the new zoning district allows for lodging and camping which could serve a different niche that would diversify the city’s lodging inventory with camping and small, intimate options such as cottages and cabins.
Although outside of the lodging area limits designated in the Community Plan, allowing lodging in this area as an alternative to residential could be an incentive for development that is consistent with the desired character of the CFA. The center falls within this CFA — and while hesitant to discuss the matter much at this time — Lehmann said lodging on the property is something they may consider.
The grounds will soon be a stop for their Jeep and trolley tours, which are now under the umbrella of Rainbow Adventures. The property will continue to feature hiking and a large botanical garden that the patrons can take advantage of.
“This will continue to be the Creative Life Center but we want to enhance what is here,” he said. “It’s a work in progress.”
He also noted that the name will remain the same and while they have brought in a few of their own employees, some of the former staff members have agreed to stay.
“It’s a gem — a diamond in the rough,” Lehmann said of the property. “It’s here and it could be so much more.”
If all goes as planned, he said they’d like to host things such concerts, wine tastings, stargazing and possibly a comedy night once a month.
“The sky’s the limit,” he said.
