Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
309
accommodations of a level one would find in Santa Fe. They come in 1- and 2-bedroom
sizes and have large rooms with high ceilings, comfortable beds with fine linens, contem-
porary furnishings in muted earth tones, and gas fireplaces fashioned from stacked
sandstone. The tiled bathrooms are large, with Jacuzzi tubs and steam-showers. All have
fully equipped kitchens with stainless steel appliances. Calling this a “resort” is a bit of a
stretch, as it has few amenities, but all else here is stellar.
1016 Mechem Rd., Ruidoso, NM 88345.
&
888/762-8551
or 575/258-1234. www.theescaperesort.com.
5 units. $229 1-bedroom casita; $279 2-bedroom casita. Rates include complimentary wine. AE, DISC, MC,
V.
Amenities:
Outdoor pool (seasonal).
In room:
A/C, TV, hair dryer, kitchen, Wi-Fi.
Hotel Ruidoso
Value
This new hotel, set in the center of town, but a little back
from the main street and surrounded by pines, offers clean, contemporary rooms with a
bit of flair. Currently, it's one of the town's best values. It's a big, blocky-looking three-
story building, but it has well-appointed accommodations. Rooms are medium size and
come in standards or minisuites. All have comfortable beds and are decorated in earth
tones, with medium-size bathrooms with granite sinks and tilework in the tubs.
Minisuites have a sofa bed, a good option for small families. Service is good. The break-
fast room is a comfortably airy place to spend the morning.
110 Chase St. Ruidoso, NM 88345
&
866/734-5197
or 575/257-2007. Fax 575/257-2008. www.hotel
ruidoso.net. 55 units. $79-$99 Mon-Fri; $119-$169 Sat-Sun. Rates include continental breakfast. AE,
DISC, MC, V.
Amenities:
Exercise room; Jacuzzi; medium-size indoor pool.
In room:
A/C, TV, fridge, hair
dryer, microwave; Wi-Fi.
11
Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort & Casino
What's most impressive about
this resort is its location, set on a grassy slope above a mountain lake on the Mescalero
Apache Indian Reservation, 3
1
/
2
miles southwest of Ruidoso. In 2004, the original resort
was leveled and a new one built, much in the style of a Lake Tahoe casino, with glossy
gaming rooms, a variety of restaurants, and a golf course. Though the architecture has a
cold modernity, the rooms are comfortable, with luxurious touches. You're greeted out-
side by an impressive Crown Dancer fountain, and inside by banks of windows looking
out on the lake. The rooms come in a few sizes, though standard ones are pretty spacious,
all with quality bedding, very comfortable beds, and medium-size bathrooms. I recom-
mend paying a little more for a lakeside view.
Wendell's,
with a mountain and lake view,
features steak and seafood, with extensive wine offerings. The resort also has a sports bar,
a nightclub with live music Friday and Saturday nights, and a casino with more than
1,000 slot machines and 34 table games.
287 Carrizo Canyon Rd., Mescalero, NM 88340.
&
800/545-9011
or 575/464-7777. www.innofthe
mountaingods.com. 273 units. $129-$209 forest-view double, $169-$289 lake-view double; $269-$349
suite, depending on the season and type of room. Golf and ski packages available. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V.
Amenities:
3 restaurants; 2 bars; golf course; Jacuzzi; indoor pool; room service; watersports equipment/
rentals.
In room:
A/C, TV, hair dryer, Wi-Fi.
The Lodge at Sierra Blanca
Surrounded by a golf course and plenty of quiet,
this hotel offers clean, reliable rooms in a picturesque setting. However, if you find con-
vention traffic daunting, you'll want to ask what's scheduled at the next-door convention
center before reserving. When I visited, the hotel was quiet and serene. The lobby is
centered on an Anasazi-style stacked sandstone fireplace, creating an elegance that carries
into the rooms. The rooms are medium size, decorated in a contemporary Southwestern
style, with comfortable beds and medium-size bathrooms. The suites, which are large,
have sofa beds, fireplaces, and balconies. Many of the rooms have two-person Jacuzzi
tubs. The hotel offers golf packages.
