La Fonda Hotel not only hosts travelers who are visiting Santa Fe, but it also hosts ghostly guests. A lot of people believe that the ghost of the Honorable Judge Slough still continues to walk the hotel’s halls. The ghost of a disheartened salesman who jumped into the well after losing the company’s money is often reported. The hotel’s dining room is located directly over the old well and hotel staff and guests alike have reported seeing a ghostly figure walking into the center of the room and disappearing into the floor.
See also: 10 Most Haunted Hotels in New Mexico
There are also reported apparitions in the Santa Fe room and La Terraza, the hotel’s restaurant which is located on the third floor. A guest in the 1970s reportedly called the front desk to complain that someone was walking up and down the hallway in front of his room. An employee was sent to investigate and he reported seeing a tall man wearing a long, black coat who disappeared into the stairwell.
History
At the corner of Santa Fe sits the historic La Fonda Hotel. The hotel opened in 1922. When Santa Fe was founded in 1607, there was already an inn in the same location as La Fonda. It was among the first few establishments in the location. According to local belief, a court used to be in the same location as the La Fonda Hotel. People found guilty were also hanged in what is now the hotel’s lobby.
Over the years, the hotel has been damaged and rebuilt so many times. One of the inn’s major features was the gambling hall. It is rumored that one unfortunate person lost his life in the gambling hall in 1857 when he was hanged by a lynch mob. After 10 years, the Honorable Judge Slough was shot dead in the hotel lobby. Around the same time, the hotel was sold and was named the Exchange Hotel. The current La Fonda Hotel was built in 1922 on the same site as the previous inns. From 1926 to 1968, La Fonda was one of the renowned chains of fine hotels, the Harvey Houses.
About
The historic La Fonda Hotel has set the standard for elegant and warm accommodations since as early as the 1900s. Each of the spacious 14 rooms and suites in La Fonda has balconies, hand-painted furniture, individual décor and motifs which have been down from generations.
The Terrace at La Fonda, a private rooftop retreat, overlooks Santa Fe. The La Terraza banquet room is the perfect option for wedding receptions or private galas. The large room with marble floors can easily seat 180 people. It has stained-glass skylights, chandeliers, and a hand-sculpted fireplace. French doors open to a lush private garden with views of the Sangre de Cristo and the St. Francis Cathedral Basilica.
The La Plazuela dining room will satisfy your cravings for good food and great ambiance. It offers guests contemporary interpretations of American standards. There are also New Mexico classics with locally sourced organic ingredients. If you want to savor a few cocktails, you can go to the Bell Tower Bar. The La Fiesta Longue also offers New Mexican buffet seven days a week, including holidays.
The hotel also offers a wide array of therapeutic spa services for people who would like to relax and rejuvenate themselves. Highly skilled practitioners will treat your body to a spa which will enhance your vitality and reinvigorate your senses.
Features
- Complimentary room service breakfast
- Complimentary newspaper
- Workout area
- Dedicated concierge
- Lush bedding
- Large flat-screen televisions
- Valet laundry
- Wi-Fi
- Covered parking
- iPod docking stations
- Spacious bathrooms
Things to Do
Santa Fe is a treasure trove of historic sites that will surely fascinate visitors. If you love history, Santa Fe is the place for you. You can explore Native American ruins that are devoted to Spanish Colonial life. You can visit European-style churches and centuries-old adobe. Cathedral Park, just next to the Basilica of St, Francis of Assisi, has plaques describing Santa Fe’s history.
The Cross of the Martyrs sits atop a hill and it commemorates the 21 priests who were killed during the Pueblo Revolt. El Rancho de Las Golondrinas is a living history museum which is dedicated to the history, culture, and heritage of 18th and 19th century New Mexico. The Palace of the Governors was built as a government building in 1610 and is the country’s oldest continuously occupied building.
Santa Fe also has a share of the best spas that will reinvigorate your senses such as the 10,000 Waves Japanese Health Spa and the Absolute Nirvana Spa. People who enjoy golf will be delighted with the fact that there are nearly a dozen of golf courses in the area, such as the Black Mesa Golf Club and the Marty Sanchez Links de Santa Fe.
Room Tariffs
- Traditional room king bed starts at $159
- Traditional room queen bed starts at $159
- Traditional room 2 double beds start at $159
- Deluxe room king bed starts at $189
- One bedroom suite starts at $249
- Terrace concierge-level king bed starts at $299