A CANOPY OF TREES
Photos by C.Whitney-Ward
A FIELD OF LAVENDER
THE FRONT DOOR
The Los Poblano lands are ancient, originally inhabited by Anasazi in the 14th century and deeded as part of a sprawling land grant in the early 18th century to Elena Gallegos.
In the 1930s, Albert Simms and Ruth Hanna McCormick (Simms), who met while both served in the U.S. Congress, reunited much of the original lands and hired famed architect John Gaw Meem to design and remodel the ranch house (now the inn) and to design the beautiful Cultural Center. The Los Poblanos lands now belong to the Rembe family, who are committed to serving as the ongoing stewards of this extraordinary property.
When you step inside the Inn's front door, you're transported to another time. An open Spanish hacienda-style courtyard - with a gently burbling fountain in the center - is surrounded on three sides by a handsome portal, filled with vintage furnishings and cozy tables and chairs - a perfect spot for a morning coffee.
Off the portal are the original guestrooms and suites (there are 20 guestrooms in all) and the Inn's lovely formal living room (filled with antiques), and the light-filled dining room, where guests are privy to breakfast each morning. The menu changes daily and everything is organic and sourced from local farmers.
The pastries are house-made and amazing.
And several evenings during the week, dinner is served.
Do try the cheese tray. We had it in our room before dinner - sitting in front of a cozy fire.
The Los Poblanos grounds are lovely. There are huge Cottonwoods, willows dipping into a diminutive pond, beautiful formal gardens, and critters.
Roosters, goats, pigs and if you look up, you just might spot Albert, the albino peacock.
There's a terrific farm shop.
Everything from lavender...to twine. Lots of wonderful take-home gifts.
Just to the side of the Inn is the gorgeous cultural center with its 1930s pool, and just behind are the formal gardens. The perfect wedding spot!
The buildings feature significant artwork commissioned during the WPA by prominent New Mexico artists - Peter Hurd, Gustave Baumann, R.C.Gorman and Laura Gilpin.
Photo courtesy of Los Poblanos
Los Poblanos is very much a working, organic farm, with 25 acres of lavender. And the day we arrived, fresh produce was available on tables outside the farm shop.
And, there's a nifty Bocce court...
But the best entertainment is to get up early, grab your camera and capture this...
LOS POBLANOS HISTORIC INN & CULTURAL CENTER
4803 Rio Grande Blvd. N.W.
Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM
505.344.9297
