Luxe Beat Magazine Special Edition Put a Pin in It! | Page 44

its trestles and bridges remain. In
the winter, with Mother Nature’s
cooperation, Cloudcroft is a magnet
for skiers, snowboarders and tubers.
For history buffs, the Sacramento
Mountains Historical Museum &
Pioneer Village helps bring the past
alive by providing a view of what
life was like in this region a hundred
years ago. Kids will particularly
enjoy seeing the antique fire trucks,
caboose, blacksmith shop, one-room
school, barbershop and an outhouse
built for two. Shoppers will enjoy
pedestrian-friendly Burro Street,
Cloudcroft’s main drag, with its
stores and galleries, offering eclectic
fare. Many talented artists and
craftspeople reside in the area, and
you’ll be surprised by the range and
quality of goods, from fine jewelry
and aromatherapy products to local
art, pottery and unique clothing. For
literary-inclined folks, Imaginary
Books is a must. And if wine and
cheese is your thing, make sure to
visit Noisy Water. The store features
some great made-in-New Mexico
wines and cheeses, along with a
selection of exquisitely-nuanced
balsamic vinegars and olive oils.
And yes, you can sample and taste
to your heart’s content.
in itself. For dessert, there’s an
array of delectable house-baked
sweets along with several flambéed
concoctions like Bananas Foster and
Cherries Jubilee. Have your afterdinner libation in the adjoining
lounge, with its bar that was once
owned by Al Capone – I kid you not.
You’ll never lack for activity at The
Lodge. Amenities include a fitness
room, swimming pool, full-service
spa, sauna and hot tub, onsite hiking
trails and a variety of lawn games
for some old-fashioned fun. There’s
also the resort’s popular golf course,
a premier attraction of the
Southwest. Built in 1899, the course
was designed with Scottish roots
in mind. It’s governed by the
Scottish tradition of playing
different tees and separate flags
on each hole. When played twice,
it becomes a challenging 18-hole
round. And at 9,000 feet above sea
level it’s one of the highest courses
in North American.
The Lodge enjoys a heavy repeat
business, with couples and families
who continue to make this
southeastern New Mexico oasis their
annual vacation destination. They
return year after year because they
appreciate the personalized service,
consistency of staff and warm
hospitality. A stay at the hotel takes

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them back in time, but without
sacrificing modern comforts.
Conference-goers also give the
place high marks, as they have plenty
of room to spread out within the
property’s 11,000 square feet of
meeting space. And it’s also a mecca
for weddings, with its indooroutdoor ceremony and reception
capabilities. A charming gazebo sets
the stage for a memorable affair –
or a summer concert.
In and around Cloudcroft, you’ll find

numerous recreation options, from
fishing and hiking to camping and
horseback riding, as the town is
surrounded by over 200,000 acres
of the Lincoln National Forest. Take
your pick of dozens of trails, some
that lead to picture-pretty streams
and waterfalls and others that offer
views of the old wooden trestles
that once took trains to the timber
forests and later carried tourists up
the mountain to the new hamlet of
Cloudcroft. Though the railroad line
was abandoned in 1948, vestiges of

When you’ve shopped till you drop
and need some sustenance, know
that you won’t have to go far for
a good meal. The Western Café, a
100-year-old Cloudcroft institution
with plenty of character, is known
for its Mexican food, as well as its
burgers, not to mention ample
portions. This historical
establishment is on New Mexico’s
famed Green Chile Cheeseburger
Trail, a designation that comes with
plenty of bragging rights. And it’s
also a popular watering hole in town,
offering live music and dancing on
the weekends. When you walk in,
the first thing you’ll notice is the
unique décor thousands of dollar
bills that have been affixed to the
building’s walls and ceilings.
Customers “donate” a bill, by signing
it with their names in permanent
marker, and then stapling it to a
spot of their choice. It’s just one
of the many traditions at the
Western Cafe.
Barbecue is also big in Cloudcroft,
and Big Daddy’s is the place to chow
down on all your favorite cowboy
grub. Dave’s Café specializes in
burgers and sandwiches; for killer
homemade pies, head over to the
Front Porch Bistro.
Attractions nearby that deserve
mention include Sunspot, one of the