Taos Unlimited | The Taos Inn

The Taos Inn

Experience the ultimate in Southwestern charm and history in this quintessential New Mexico inn located in the heart of Taos' historic district and the heart of Taos history. Acclaimed by National Geographic Traveler as "One of America's Great Inns" and listed on the National and New Mexico Registers of Historic Places, The Taos Inn is on Travel America's "Top 10 Romantic Inns" list and named the "First Choice and Best Value in Taos" by Travel and Leisure.

The Inn was founded on a rich legacy of excellence. Guests are eager to sample the atmosphere of old Taos, yet expect modern amenities. And the goal is to deliver just that. Everyone at The Taos Inn is committed to providing the finest personal service in warm, relaxed surroundings.

Since 1936, The Historic Taos Inn has welcomed famous folks like Greta Garbo, D. H. Lawrence and Pawnee Bill. More recently, Robert Redford, Jane Fonda, Jessica Lange and Julia Roberts have been spotted sipping margaritas in the lobby.

Step into the Taos Inn, and Step into Taos History
Dr. Thomas Paul (Doc) Martin and his wife Helen came to Taos in the 1890s, purchasing the largest of several adobe houses which at that time surrounded a small plaza with a community well in its center. A rugged individualist himself, Doc's concern for the town he had adopted made him a popular and well respected man, and one of a very few of that time who was not touched by one scandal or another. Doc could often be seen traveling the county to treat his patients, first with his horse and buggy—and later in his tin lizzie—covering miles of mud and snow to set bones, break fevers and deliver babies.

Doc's wife, Helen, was noteworthy in her own right. A gifted batik artist, she was also the sister-in-law of The iconic Thunderbird neon sign at the Taos Inn has been a fixture on the main thoroughfare of Taos since 1952

The iconic Thunderbird neon sign at the Taos Inn has been a fixture on the main thoroughfare of Taos since 1952

artist Bert Phillips, one of the founders of the Taos Society of Artists. It was in the Martin's dining room that Phillips and Ernest Blumenschein founded the Taos Society of Artists in 1912, and where many early meetings of The Founders were held.

From Colorful Family Histories to the Center of Taos Nightlife
Over time, the Martins bought the other buildings on the plaza, which they rented to artists and writers. When the only hotel in Taos burned the same year that Doc died, Helen bought the Tarleton house, which was the last remaining property on the plaza (and now the site of the Adobe Bar). The Tarleton house has a history of its own, having been purchased by Thomas Tarleton for his mother Minnie in 1926. His father Wallace had worked for Buffalo Bill's show in England and New York.

With the aid of Doc's former patients, Helen enclosed the plaza and opened the Hotel Martin with a big fanfare and a host of dignitaries. Among those present for the opening was Gordon William Lillie, better known as Pawnee Bill. Helen had invited the showman, who often spent summers in Taos, to join her and her other guests for the June 7, 1936, celebration. Indians from Taos Pueblo entertained her guests by performing songs and dances.
This beautifully appointed guest room at the Taos Inn features viga ceilings and a kiva fireplace.

This beautifully appointed guest room at the Taos Inn features viga ceilings and a kiva fireplace.

Through the years, the Hotel Martin was the hub of Taos' social, intellectual and artistic activity. Later owners renamed it the Taos Inn, adding the popular neon thunderbird sign in 1952, which has since become an icon on Taos' main thoroughfare. In 1982, the Inn was placed on the National and State Registers of Historic Places. The plaza's community well, now a fountain, is part of the Inn's stunning two-and-a-half story lobby, with hand-hewn vertical vigas rising the entire height to a stained glass cupola. And the Martin's original home is now Doc Martin's Restaurant.

Authentic Southwest Charm with All the Amenities
Douglas M. Smith and Carolyn Haddock have owned the Inn since 1989, and have overseen renovations to the property as they worked to preserve the historic structures. The Inn's 44 unique and authentic Southwestern rooms and suites are located in four buildings: The Main Building, Sandoval House, The Courtyard, and Helen's House. Most include vigas and traditional pueblo style kiva fireplaces.

The Martin's tradition of service and commitment to the arts continues today at the Taos Inn. The Inn's "Meet The Artists" series, continuing invitational exhibits of the best Northern New Mexico art, and its founding sponsorship of the Taos Talking Pictures Festival pays tribute to the Martins and the vibrant tri-cultural community served by the Taos Inn. The Inn’s 14 curio shops include window displays that exhibit this work by artisans such as Thom Wheeler, Ed Sandoval, and Bella Sue Martin.