Story by Darren Willett, writer for
Mountain Monthly

One of Cloudcroft's most history-rich landmarks has undergone a complete transformation- the new Cloudcroft Hotel and Gift Shop now resides on Burro Avenue where the Emporium Mall and Kokopelli's restaurant used to be. Gary and Wendy Mack purchased the building in December of 2000 and immediately went to work on the remodeling the entire premises. With the perimeter and foundation of the building still being the original stone walls that were built in the 1930's, the Macks enchanced the exterior by replacing the ordinary wooden deck supports with skinned pine logs creating a look congruent with the frontier and Old Mexico influences that were prevalent in the southwest over a century ago. While the Macks kept this look throughout the shop downstairs and in the hotel's rooms upstairs, the lifeblood of the building essentially underwent a quadruple bypass--electric, water and propane lines were given thorough inspection and rerouted or repaired to bring the building up to modern standards and a new roof, essentially, was added to prevent any further water damage.The remodeled hotel has nine rooms, five with kitchenettes, two suites with balconies looking over Burro Avenue and all rooms have case iron pedestal or claw foot tubs.(Each room has its own 100 gallon water heater ensuring plenty of water for a nice long, hot bath!) Each room also has individually controlled heating and the space to stretch out comfortably. As much as possible, room furnishings will be authentic antiques.

Gary and Wendy built the hotel hoping to give visitors a choice somewhere between rustic cabin experience and the high scale lodging experience. Gary believes that, "People can park their cars and are within walking distance of everything they would want to do. Downtown (Cloudcroft) is where the action is." Gary pointed out that food and drink, shoping, hiking and biking, and many festivals and plays are all within walking distance of the hotel.

Interestingly, in 1903 a hotel called the North Cloudcroft Hotel was located on the stretch of boardwalk that once housed the Coonskin Cap and now houses Emerald Forest Real Estate. Constructed of wood, this hotel burned to the ground along with its other Burro Avenue neighbors in 1909. Now almost 100 years later, a hotel has returned to Burro Avenue.

This stone building (built in the 1930's) has survived a myrid of tenants, one murder, and a gut ripping fire. Originally the building served as a railroad commissary and boarding house for the rail workers. In the 1950's the Skyland Bar and Cafe called the building its home and one of the cooks is rumored to haunt the downstairs. A man by the name of Mr. Jenkins was involved in a dispute with a patron who shot Mr. Jenkins in the chest and he is reported to have died right there on the floor of the cafe.(Gary's sister Susan and his mother, Kathy, have seen his ghost in the early morning hours.) In fact, a local resident was in the Skyland Bar the morning of the shooting and withnessed the entire event. As to whether or not Mr. Jenkins' ghost haunts the halls, well.....

After the Skyland, the building was vacant for over ten years. Layne & Sue Preslar purchased the building in the late 1970's. During remodeling for what would evenually become Susie's Pleasure Palace, a fire started and destroyed everything inside the rock walls. The building boasted an indoor miniature golf course and video arcade and then the Whistlestop Cafe ice cream and sandwich shop during the 1980's, owned by Prentice and Sally Blancett. Carl and Toni Wright purchased the building in 1992 and moved Coonskin Cap and Kokopelli's in, calling the building the Emporium Mall.

The Macks have brought the place full circle by bringing a hotel back to downtown. It seems only fitting that travelers cam again stay right on the boardwalk and get a taste of local flavor. The old addage " the more things change, the more they stay the same" is the truth in this case.

If you're interested in making a room reservation, call 505 682-3414. The hotel is open year round. Also, if you have any historical information or photographs from the 1930's through the 1950's, Gary and Wendy would be interested as there is not much historical documentation of the building during this time period.