Heritage Hotels and Resorts has completed renovating Santa Fe’s Hotel Plaza Real, located one block from the historic Santa Fe Plaza, and has renamed the newly reopened property the Hotel Chimayó de Santa Fe.
The Hotel Chimayó de Santa Fe's lobby features handmade custom art by Chimayo artists
The remodeled Hotel Chimayó de Santa Fe is dedicated to offering its guests an authentic glimpse into the culture of Chimayó, a distinctive community in Northern New Mexico.
Chimayó is a historical agricultural community nestled in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains 30 minutes’ drive north of Santa Fe. Founded in the 17th century as a traditional fortified central plaza, the close-knit community of Chimayó is centered around traditional artistic traditions, culinary customs, spiritual devotion and familial bonds.
Santuario de Chimayó is said to be the Lourdes of America and is 30 minutes' drive north of Santa Fe
The renovation began when Jim Long, Heritage Hotels and Resorts’ CEO, formed partnerships with Chimayó’s community leaders and artists. Construction started in January 2011 and was completed in August.
“Chimayó is such a special place with a unique story and history,” says Long. “By partnering with the Chimayó community in this project, we hope to help inform visitors about the history and culture of Chimayó and to preserve the original community heritage for future generations.”
The Hotel Chimayó's guestrooms feature custom weavings from Northern New Mexican artists
A percentage of the hotel’s room revenue profits will be donated to the Chimayó Cultural Preservation Association. This association works to preserve the culture of Chimayó by building an archive of historical photographs and documents, gathering oral histories, maintaining historic buildings and increasing community awareness of local history and culture.
Visitors to Hotel Chimayó will encounter a variety of custom authentic Chimayó art. More than 70 artists from Chimayó contributed to the hotel’s decor. Chimayó community members crafted 500 hand-made crosses from found materials to accent the fireplace mantels in each hotel room. Weavings designed and crafted by Chimayó artists adorn the lobby and hotel rooms.
The Hotel Chimayó de Santa Fe's bar and restaurant have ample patio seating for visitors to enjoy the high desert Santa Fe air
The hotel features a new bar and restaurant. Low ‘n Slow Lowrider Bar at the Hotel Chimayó de Santa Fe features authentic lowrider elements crafted by Chimayó specialists. Named after the book Low ‘n Slow – Lowriding in New Mexico, by Jack Parsons and Carmella Padilla, the bar is designed to capture the exuberance, style and artistry of the low-rider culture. On the street outside the bar will be an exclusive “Lowrider Only” reserved parking space.
Tia’s Cocina New Mexican Restauranté at Hotel Chimayó de Santa Fe features rustic village foods prepared by Santa Fe chef Estevan Garcia in a family dining atmosphere. Heritage Hotels and Resorts has commissioned a Chimayó agricultural grower to provide the hotel with the Chimayó chile, a small heirloom chile known for a distinctive robust flavor. (The first chile crop of the fall 2011 harvest is now available.)
The Hotel Chimayó's Low ‘n Slow Lowrider bar features lowrider photos by Jack Parsons, as featured in the book 'Low ‘n Slow: Lowriding in New Mexico'
Personalized guided and self-guided tours in Chimayó are featured on the hotel’s website, www.HotelChimayo.com. Visitors can also find out more information about Santa Fe and Chimayó on the website and make reservations at the Hotel Chimayó de Santa Fe.
Heritage Hotels and Resorts offers a collection of culturally designed hotels in the southwest United States. In new mexico, Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town and Nativo Lodge are located in Albuquerque; Hotel St. Francis, The Lodge at Santa Fe, and Hotel Chimayo de Santa Fe are located in Santa Fe; and Hotel Encanto is located in Las Cruces. The company also operates a golf resort, Esplendor Resort, in Rio Rico, Arizona.
To find hotel deals in Santa Fe, click here.
Related to this story:
- Hotel Review: Inn on the Alameda, Santa Fe, New Mexico
- Shore Hotel Opens as Santa Monica’s First LEED Silver New-Build Hotel
- New Eco-Friendly Resort Focuses on French Polynesia’s History and Culture
- Mövenpick Opens Its First Singapore Hotel, near Resorts World Sentosa
- Remodeled Cancun Property Reopens as Beachscape Kin Ha Villas & Suites
