If you like to ride horses and relax amidst nature but be close to arts, culture and history, this is the resort for you.

An historic property, The Bishop’s Lodge Ranch Resort & Spa is built on 450 acres of land surrounding the chapel and lodge of Jean Baptiste Lamy, the young French missionary chosen in 1851 as the first bishop of the southwest diocese. Renowned for his hospitality and generosity, The Bishop’s Lodge continues Lamy's tradition into the 21st century by welcoming families with sophisticated taste.

Located in the Tesuque Valley on the outskirts of the city, five minutes' drive from the Santa Fe Plaza, The Bishop’s Lodge offers a rustic setting surrounded by the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, gorgeous sunrises and sunsets, and stunning views of the distant Jemez Mountains. While you will be a short drive to the wonderful Georgia O'Keeffe Museum (505/946-1000)and the incomparable Museum of International Folk Art, (505/476-1200) you will be headquartered amidst the natural beauty of the valley.

The land and original buildings were owned over time by such diverse landlords as the Catholic Archdiocese, a dairy farmer, the Pulitzer family (it was their private vacation retreat to which they added several buildings) and James R. Thorpe, who added more lodges and established it as New Mexico’s first resort, selling the property to its current owners in 1998.

Comfort, Activity and Tranquility

Currently, 15 lodge buildings contain 111 accommodations decorated with Southwest touches – beamed ceilings, pine beds, painted chests, pottery, wrought iron fixtures and Mexican-tiled bathrooms, blending Spanish Colonial, Native and Anglo-American styles. Many rooms offer fireplaces and balconies or patios from which you can take in the astounding views.

Guests enjoy the swimming pool and tennis courts, and kids ages 5 to 11-years-old are entertained in the Camp Apalooosa daily activity program (June through August) which runs from 8am through 9pm with a break each afternoon. (Children under 5-years-old are welcome to attend along with a babysitter.) Days of hiking, arts ’n crafts, tennis, horseback riding, playing in the onsite playground and swimming keep their days full, and evening activities include campfires, movies and storytelling. Enrollment in Camp Apaloosa includes lunch and dinner, served in the Fiesta Room, the kid’s own dining room.

The Shanah Spa and Wellness Center is the onsite sanctuary featuring six indoor treatment rooms, two private massage gardens, a massage teepee, and an outdoor whirlpool. It was named the 2004 "North American & Caribbean's Most Outstanding Spa" by Conde Nast Johansens, the internationally acclaimed publisher of hotel guides, because of the unusual array of services imbued with native customs and focused on the healing powers of the treatments. Treatments range from classic massage to native stone and watsu massage, a variety of facial treatments and Tesuque clay wraps. Fitness classes in yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi, aerobics and nutrition are offered.

The main dining room, Las Fuentes Restaurant and Bar offers three meals daily, brunch on Sunday and boxed lunches on request. Sunset barbeques are family favorites, or if you hire a babysitter, you can enjoy a sunset dinner for two on the dining terrace. More casual food is available poolside from the Sunflower Bar and Grill.

Special Features

Perhaps the most unique aspect of a vacation at The Bishops Lodge is its location in the foothills and canyons of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, adjacent to the Santa Fe National Forest. This location makes a Nature Walk along a network of marked and unmarked trails, welcoming everyone from the novice hiker to the adventurous trekker, easy to accomplish. Make sure to stop by the main desk for a guide about the birds you are likely to encounter, and keep your eyes out for cottontail and jack rabbits, toads, deer and other wildlife.

The Bishop’s Lodge also maintains an impressive stable of horses and staff of wranglers at The Corral, so you can enjoy the surroundings on horseback through a variety of group trail rides (children must be at least 8-years-old to participate) offered in the mornings, at sunset and in the moonlight. For the more advanced, private rides which you can schedule at any time of the day, for any length of time are also available. Pony rides for children under 8 are also offered to resort guests during the summer season.

Plan a vacation at The Bishops Lodge and you will discover a luxury resort with the taste of an Old West dude ranch experience.