Luxe Beat Magazine Special Edition Put a Pin in It! | Page 42

Put A Pin In It!

Cloudcroft, NM

9000ft Above Stress Level
By Debbie Stone

I

f things go bump in the night
during your stay at The Lodge
Resort & Spa, not to worry. It’s
most likely Rebecca, the friendly
and mischievous ghost that
wanders the hall of this historic
hotel in Cloudcroft, New Mexico.
In these parts, she’s a popular
legend, whose tale is one of passion,
betrayal and unrequited love.
A beautiful young chambermaid
with striking blue eyes and long
red tresses, Rebecca mysteriously
disappeared from her quarters after

her jealous and enraged lumberjack
boyfriend found her in the arms of
another. That was a century ago,
yet there are those who vow that
Rebecca’s spirit is still present in
the hotel today. Some have seen
her apparition in mirrors; others
note such unexplained incidents
as ashtrays sliding across tables
unassisted, doors opening and
closing for no apparent reason,
lights turning on and off by
themselves and even fires that have
spontaneously ignited in the lobby

fireplace. Over the years, both
guests and employees attribute
these odd happenings to Rebecca’s
ghost, who many believe is in search
of a new lover or friend who might
appreciate her playful and flirtatious
nature.
Rebecca is not the only famous
person associated with The Lodge.
Among the notables who have stayed
at this grand dame of a property are
Judy Garland, Clark Gable, Pancho
Villa and every New Mexico governor

since 1901. Originally built in 1899
as a residential hotel for timber
cutters working for the Alamogordo
and Sacramento Mountain Railway,
the property opened to the public
in 1906 and became known as the
“Queen of the Mountain”. It was
subsequently destroyed by fire and
rebuilt five years later at its current
location, where it has since been in
business as an upscale mountaintop
lodge, complete with its own
observation tower.
Though the property has been
refurbished inside and out, it still
retains its historical bones and is
a testament to a bygone era. Old
photos, newspaper clippings and
various factoids line the walls,
giving visitors a snapshot of the
hotel’s storied past. Each of the
resort’s 47 rooms are decorated
with a unique Victorian flair.
There are several types of
accommodations, including romantic
Parlor Suites, family-friendly Guest
Rooms and even a Honeymoon Suite
that’s a treat for lovers of all ages.
And of course, there’s the famed
Governor’s Suite, fit for royalty with
its four-poster bed, intimate sitting
area and elegant foyer. Nearby, the
Lodge also offers its Pavilion Bed
Breakfast Rooms ten cozy rooms
with knotty pine walls that provide
rustic yet quaint quarters. Then
there’s also The Retreat Suites,
four private luxury suites that share
a common area with kitchen and
conference facilities, making it
an ideal setting for small company
meetings or family reunions.
A massive copper fireplace is the