Taos Unlimited | Hotel La Fonda de Taos

Hotel La Fonda de Taos

Taos is nestled on the west side of the Sangre de Cristo range of Northern New Mexico's Rocky Mountains, in the shadow of the sacred Taos Mountain. Here the Taos Pueblo Indians still live in a multi-level adobe structure over 1,000 years old. Now home to shops, galleries and restaurants, the historic Taos Plaza dates back 400 years to the time the Spanish first settled the area. The first "La Fonda" (Spanish for "the Inn") was built on the Taos Plaza as the St. Vrain Mercantile, supplying locals with tack and seed, and weary travelers with rooms and a bath, while the saloon was frequented by locals and travelers alike. Over the next 60 years, the Taos Plaza suffered numerous fires, which changed its face over and over again, and while the hotel changed hands many times, it escaped these tragedies. The Hotel La Fonda de Taos, rich in history, still stands on the south side of the plaza today, offering the only lodging on the Taos Plaza.

The perfect blend of historic detail and amenities
With the renovation of the Hotel La Fonda de Taos, it has been transformed into Taos’ newest upscale hotel, both inside and out, with 19 rooms, 5 suites, and the plaza penthouse. While focusing on 21st century standards of hospitality, comfort and amenities, the renovation was accomplished with great attention and respect for the architectural and historic integrity of the building. Guest rooms and suites offer every comfort and convenience in contemporary Southwestern surroundings. As an historic hotel, each room is configured differently and all rooms and suites have their own special charm and individual character. And its ideal location on the historic Taos Plaza makes the hotel convenient to shopping, galleries and restaurants, as well as seven museums, theaters and seasonal festivals and craft fairs. Nearby are New Mexico's Southern Rocky Mountains. Here the Sangre de Cristo range is a veritable playground for hiking, horseback riding, camping, fly fishing, and more. The alpine meadows offer wildflowers, butterflies and wildlife for painting and photographic subjects. And the Taos high desert mesa is perfect for hot air ballooning and whitewater rafting or tubing the Rio Grande.

For those who wish to combine pleasure with their business, the beautiful 700-square-foot Karavas Conference Center is perfect for conferences, weddings, meetings and private events. This state-of-the-art facility, equipped with DSL, phone and audio visual capabilities, has the historic charm of diamond plaster adobe walls, kiva fireplace, a stunning art collection and hardwood floors.

The tradition and future of art in New Mexico
With its massive hand-axed structural beams and corbels and its extensive art collection, the La Fonda has long been host to local, national and international artists; writers; film celebrities; and political dignitaries. During the first part of the 20th century, the face of Taos began to change, ultimately resulting in the remote and beautiful mountain community becoming an important art colony. In days gone by, Ernest Blumenshein, Bert Phillips and other members of Taos Society of Artists met at La Fonda on a regular basis, where their paintings hung in the lobby. Later, art patroness Mabel Dodge Sterne Luhan made Taos her home, inviting such luminaries as DH Lawrence, Ansel Adams, Georgia O'Keefe, and many others, to be her guests. Today, the La Fonda is the only place in the world where one can view representations of the "DH Lawrence Forbidden Art" collection.

The original nine oil paintings of this collection were confiscated by the police from the Dorothy Warren Gallery of London in 1929. Though the images are mild by today’s standards, early 20th century England viewed DH Lawrence as a rebel and a spokesman for sexual freedom, due to negative publicity surrounding the suppression of his most recent novel, Lady Chatterley’s Lover. As a result, the paintings were deemed obscene and banned in London. The paintings were in danger of being destroyed until Lawrence agreed to remove them from English soil forever, a ruling that still exists today. DH Lawrence is now viewed by many to have been one of the greatest literary figures of the 20th century, though he said of painting, “it gave me a form of pleasure that words can never give...” Today, the paintings and the hotel have both been lovingly restored, preserving two Taos treasures.

Upscale accommodations in an authentic setting
For an authentic experience of Taos art and Taos history, make La Fonda de Taos your destination. The hand-detailed, historic architecture and exquisitely comfortable surroundings in the best location in town, will inspire stories about historic Taos, and leave you with a desire to return.