LODGING and FOOD

Lodging nearby:

Owl Peak Pottery and Bed & Breakfast
Felipe Ortega
(505) 583-2345
japacheraven@hotmail.com

Felipe is a master potter and friend who has a wonderful B&B in La Madera about 10 miles north/west of Ojo Caliente and maybe 15 miles north of the school (you would need your own car, or better yet, carpool—this works quite smoothly as you will see after a few days here). Felipe is a wonderful host and a great cook who will feed you until you pop, which means, at least three meals a day. Truly a northern New Mexico house in the old New Mexico style (not dissimilar to a traditional French auberge): rooms have two to four beds (and though you could PERHAPS request and pay for a room alone you then might not only displace others who may need those beds during school sessions but also forfeit a great gift of sinking fully and deeply into the community living style of such traditional places.) Many of the most delectable meals are cooked in the horno (the great outdoor clay ovens) and for that reason alone (although the sweetness of time unwinding slowly is another) meals are not on a strict timetable, and the guests respect that (are even blessed by it). Usually the price for the full 10 days with three meals a day runs $670 with many possibilities for just lodging and just meals and also meals if you are staying elsewhere in town.

Group Rentals at Owl Peak: Because Felipe is such a friend to the school and because his large family seems to own many of the houses in the little town of La Madera, there are also several casitas belonging to family members which can be rented by groups of students. These are wonderful and much-loved houses, not “rental cottages”, often houses of a relative which the family retains and makes use of from time to time, so you will most often be staying in a home filled with love and many mementos, to be honored accordingly. Current students have enjoyed the sweetness, delight, communal style, convenience and relative inexpensiveness of these rentals. You can either do your own cooking or just breakfast and sign up for meals at Felipe’s for lunches and dinners – all the time, or occasionally. Contacts for these rentals are made (at least initially) through Felipe.

In the warmer months, there is also camping available at Felipe’s.

BOLAD'S KITCHEN

THE KISHIGTEN

THE NEW SPROUTS

THE SHOOTS
AND TENDRILS

Lomita Lodge and Taos Trail Inn
info@taostrailinn.com
www.TaosTrailInn.com
Pam and David Post
(505) 583-9215

Newly renovated, the Lomita Lodge is an old fashioned motor inn on the main road across the street from the turn-off to the Hot Springs, four miles or so north of the school on Highway 285, a two lane highway with some truck traffic. A clean and friendly place, with nice areas to sit behind the inn. There are many cabins with kitchens, some without. All have their own bathroom. The Taos Tail Inn is newly opened and beautifully fixed-up, very clean with a lot of character in the rooms. See their website for photos. Pam and David are offering a very affordable student rate of $35.00 per night per person for cabins and rooms plus lodger's and gross receipts tax. However no more than 4 persons per cabin please. One person in a cabin or room will be $70.00 per night.

The Inn and Mercantile at Ojo Caliente
www.ojocaliente.com
(505) 583 9131

Across the street from the Santa Cruz Church, on the road to the Hot Springs, 4 miles or so north of the school. A very nice and friendly little inn owned by a local family. In the past, if Bolad’s Kitchen students have been the sole guests in residence, The Inn has allowed them use of the kitchen for cooking lunches and dinners. A full, nutritious breakfast is included in the price. They are offering us a special student rate for the 10 days: $525 ($590 including tax) for a single.
$650 ($730 including tax) for a double (this is a great deal at $32.50 a person/night).
A $200 deposit with is required and if the reservation is cancelled, the deposit is returned only if a replacement is found within a month of the reservation date. Children under 12 are not accommodated.

Black Mesa Bed & Breakfast
lara@blackmesabnb.com
Mesa Prieta/Ojo Caliente, New Mexico
(505) 583-2545

A small B&B (two to three bedrooms) 4-5 miles south of the school. Lovely, funky, immaculate, much-loved and beautifully-decorated rooms with their own bath and a shared living area. They will do a package for 10 days, includes wonderful breakfast happily tailored to your eating needs—whatever they are! They have a private bathhouse and soaking pool. Very nice people. Dinners also available. Call for prices. Also they have a Straw Bale guest house next to the B&B; 2 double beds and one single bed, full kitchen, one bath, very wonderful; $1000 flat fee no matter how many students; good for up to five persons.

Sarah Wimmett’s Vacation Rentals:
Call Sarah at 505-753-2270 or 505-470-2892 or
email wimettre@newmexico.com

The Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Spa Lodging Options
www.ojocalientespa.com
(505) 583-2233 or 1-800-222-9162

Hotel rooms, cottages and houses four miles or so from the school. Price range about $90-$150/night for hotel rooms and cottages depending on single or double occupancy and seasonal rates, call for prices on houses. Camping/RV sites by the river, under the cottonwoods. Includes electric hook-up. Campfires aren’t permitted. Call for camping rates. To use the hot springs and showers, campers can get a daily rate or you can buy a package -- $99 for ten days. Prices do change, so check their website for accurate rate information.

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FLOWERING MOUNTAIN

Bob Hiland
wibrox@yahoo.com
(505) 583-2600.

Bob has renovated the old original trading post – just across the street from Oliver’s Store on Highway 285, three miles north of the school; several bedrooms (all with more than one bed and hopefully to be shared rather than taken by a single person) all have a private entrance and bath and share a kitchen. There is also a separate casita. Call for rates.

Carson National Forest Camping: www.fs.fed.us/r3/carson
Or call the El Rito Ranger Station at (505) 583-4554

If (and only if) there are no forest fire restrictions, you can camp almost anywhere in the Carson National Forest - they have maps at their web site. The El Rito Creek campgrounds and the Pilar campgrounds are the closest semi-developed campgrounds (with composting toilets and grills – no hook-ups) about 20-30 miles away (maybe 40 minutes or less. If you look at a map, you can find all the other non-developed areas of Carson National Forest near Ojo Caliente. Go to the website for information about getting camping permits.

Lodging not far but not quite so near:

Casa Del Rio Bed and Breakfast
Chile, New Mexico
(505) 753-2035

A nice B&B right on the Chama River, at the turn off of 285/84, about 15 minutes from Ojo Caliente. Old adobe house with two rooms at $110/night and a private casita at $135/night both include a full breakfast and a wake-up tray of coffee or tea. Lowest price: $100. May think of doing a deal for the whole 10-day sessions-please call.

Abiquiu Inn and Hotel
Abiquiu, New Mexico
(505) 685-4378

Located just below the old Abiquiu pueblo, along the Chama River, about 45 truly beautiful minutes from Ojo Caliente, shorter if you drive fast. Prices range from $80-$145/night, some with full kitchens and living rooms others small private casitas or just a room. Weekly rates are available. They have a restaurant that is open breakfast, lunch and dinner. Nice grounds. (Georgia O'Keefe country)

The Inn at the Delta
Española, New Mexico
(505) 753-9466

Located in Española, New Mexico right off of Hwy 285-84 about 20-25 minutes from Ojo Caliente. A privately owned inn in the heart of Española (the main small city of Northern New Mexico, not a flashy town!) which is a direct run to Ojo Caliente, only one turn…Rooms range from $100-$150/night all rooms are 600-700 square feet with a kiva fireplace and Jacuzzi tub, most rooms are queen beds, prices are for two people- no cooking facilities, continental breakfast included.

Days Inn
Española, New Mexico
(505) 747-1242

Like all the other ones: $69/night for two or three people. 20 minute drive to Ojo Caliente.

Places in Taos, New Mexico

Taos is an hour to an hour and 15 min. commute from Ojo Caliente, if you are going to commute from Santa Fe or Taos they are equal distances from us, but Taos is a nicer, quieter city. There are 100’s of hotels, inns, B&Bs and hostels. Please visit the Taos website for details and choices:
http://www.taoschamber.com/ or call (505) 758-3873
Taos B&B association: (505) 758-4747

RESTAURANTS AND GROCERY SHOPPING

There are several restaurants (depending on the season) within walking distance of central Ojo Caliente: Mesa Vista Cafe and El Taquito Cafe are friendly family run New Mexican-style restaurants which serve enchiladas, burritos, tacos, burgers, pasole (some days), and lots of chile; some fish and vegetarian options as well, pretty well rounded menus. The Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs’ Artesian Restaurant has a friendly staff and a “nouvelle New Mexican” menu plus really good hamburgers and is open for breakfast/lunch/dinner. Just opened is The Red Mountain Café across from Mesa Vista, serving soups, sandwiches, juice drinks and smoothies, baked goods, and coffee drinks. We don’t know as yet if Felipe will be able to offer occasional meals to folks NOT staying with him. It all depends on the number of folks already there.

There are good restaurants in El Rito and elsewhere which can be lovely especially on the evening of an afternoon off, when there is just a bit more leisure time.

For those camping, or renting places with kitchens, the closest natural food stores are in Santa Fe: the Montanita Co-Op on West Alemeda just off St. Francis Drive, Wild Oats is now Whole Foods right on St. Francis Dr., along with another Whole Foods on Cerrillos Rd. In Taos, CID’s, a locally owned natural grocery, is on the northern end of town on the main drag on Paseo del Pueblo Norte.

Other stores nearby: In Espanola, Center Market is a full grocery store with some organic selections, and Super Save is the main local food store. Oliver’s Store in Ojo Caliente is an old-time corner store which can supply you with gas, milk, eggs, onions, wonderful avocados, very basic canned goods, toiletries, hardware, beef jerky and a nice talk with the lady at the cash register. Bodi’s up Rte. 84 toward Abiquiu has a pretty good selection including some organic produce, local eggs, etc.

Other local shopping: Ojo Caliente has two natural fiber clothing/gift shops: Tienda Ojala, now on the main road, and The Mercantile at the Inn at Ojo, on the road to the mineral springs. The herb shop Dragon River Herbals which used to be on Hwy 285 in Ojo Caliente has moved to Española.

Bolad's Kitchen

Description of Bolad's Kitchen
The Kishigten & Registration
The New Sprouts & Registration
The Shoots and Tendrils & Registration
Lodging

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