SPRINGER STATION, SPRINGER
In Springer, the Brown Hotel—where Judy Garland filmed scenes for The Harvey Girls (1946) and cafe regulars included Wilford Brimley—is once again welcoming travelers as Springer Station. Co-owner Steven Gore calls the budget-friendly place, which originally opened in 1924, “one of the remaining cowboy-style locations left in operation,” with new AC and bedroom furnishings, high-end linens, and more upgrades planned. DON’T MISS: The 102-year-old vibes. “The community as a whole has an emotional connection to the building,” he adds.
The Aldo Leopold House is a nature lover’s dream.
Photograph courtesy of Aldo Leopold House.
ALDO LEOPOLD HOUSE, TRES PIEDRAS
The 1912 Craftsman-style Aldo Leopold House was built by its naturalist namesake in Tres Piedras as the new supervisor’s headquarters of the Carson National Forest. Opened last year by the forest service for overnight stays, the rustic bungalow sleeps up to eight people and includes an extensive guest library. DON’T MISS: The view, which Leopold adapted house plans to accommodate. Longtime volunteer steward Richard Rubin says, “It stands up against the middle rock among the Tres Piedras and looks east 30 miles to the Sangre de Cristos across the Taos Valley.”
The Castañeda gets new life.
Photograph by Douglas Merriam.
CASTAÑEDA HOTEL, LAS VEGAS
In late 2025, a trio of longtime locals bought the 1898 Mission Revival Castañeda Hotel in the original Las Vegas. Co-owners Carlos Lopez and Dennis Lucero worked as contractors on the complete 2018 restoration of the former Harvey House, under previous owner Allan Affeldt; they’re also partners in the nearby Buffalo Hall & Cowboy Cafe BBQ. “It’d just be really cool to own the Castañeda Hotel,” Lopez remembers telling Lucero when it came on the market. DON’T MISS: Check out the new menus. The owners, who include Lucero’s wife, Annette, plan to reopen the bar and restaurant in March with a focus on norteño dishes, local craft beers and cocktails, and live music.
Read more: Step inside Santa Fe history at the Boyle House in the Barrio de Analco.
