Passenger Trains > More on The Castaneda Hotel, Las Vegas, NM

http://www.abqjournal.com/385849/news/new-owner-shows-off-historic-las-vegas-nm-hotel.html
SUBSCRIPTION, but I've heard it can be worked around.
.
"LAS VEGAS, N.M. – It has stood forlorn and mostly empty alongside the railroad tracks in Las Vegas for decades – a throwback to when train travel opened up Southwest tourism and visitors needed places to rejuvenate mind and body, and fill their stomachs...."

Interesting price:
http://tours.tourfactory.com/tours/tour.asp?t=1048944

TCnR Wrote:
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> Interesting price:
> http://tours.tourfactory.com/tours/tour.asp?t=1048
> 944

It is in pretty lousy shape. La Posada, at least, had always been used.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/18/14 10:34 by Ptolemy.

Having worked in the Fray Marcos, and seeing it's "Unrestored" portions (rode HARD and put away soaked) I'm amazed at the time capsule condition of the Castaneda....

Ptolemy Wrote:
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> TCnR Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Interesting price:
> >
> http://tours.tourfactory.com/tours/tour.asp?t=1048
>
> > 944
>
> It is in pretty lousy shape. La Posada, at
> least, had always been used.

Yes the La Posada was used by the Santa Fe, but only portions of it. The guest room wings weren't and they were in very rough shape. I walked through the building several times in 1981 and 82 while working the ticket office relieving the regular clerk who was on vacation. What else was there to do? I didn't drink when away from home on the companies dime and the only place that might have been worth hitting up anyway, was the "Prairie Moon", but it was off limits for all railroad employees. If the PO's caught you there it was bad news, or so I was told. Yes I spent a lifetime in Winslow one month.... The areas used by the railroad were modified and all the buildings character was gone from those portions. The grounds were mostly in great shape though.
The Castaneda doesn't look in any worse shape overall and hasn't suffered from the same sort of remodeling done to the La Posada by the AT&SF. I'm sure Allan and Tina know exactly what they are getting into, if anyone can pull this off it's them. I expect they were looking for new challenges as the La Posada is just about a finished work, is sold out most of the time, makes money, almost too much to keep it's non-profit status so I expect they are ready to take on something new.
By the way I don't fault the Santa Fe in any way, they could have done far more damage to the building, at least up through the 1980s the company was still a class act.

One more thing.

The Sunset route across West Texas passes through a number of small towns like Marfa, Alpine, and Sanderson that all have surviving railroad and cattlemen's style hotels. All are in very nice condition and noted for the quality of their restaurants. The Hotel Paisano is a real gem and great if your a movie fan. The cast and crew for the movie "Giant" was based there during principal photography, can't get much better than that.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 04/19/14 09:21 by GettingShort.

I will second the quality of the Paisano--I was there recently. Is there actually a hotel surviving in Sanderson? It looks pretty bleak every time I pass through, whether by car or train.

Lurch_in_ABQ Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> http://www.abqjournal.com/385849/news/new-owner-sh
> ows-off-historic-las-vegas-nm-hotel.html
> SUBSCRIPTION, but I've heard it can be worked
> around.
> .
> "LAS VEGAS, N.M. – It has stood forlorn and
> mostly empty alongside the railroad tracks in Las
> Vegas for decades – a throwback to when train
> travel opened up Southwest tourism and visitors
> needed places to rejuvenate mind and body, and
> fill their stomachs...."

Answer the Journal's two inane survey questions and you can read the article for free. It's a lengthy but well-written article with photographs that is well worth taking the time to read.

Ptolemy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> TCnR Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Interesting price:
> >
> http://tours.tourfactory.com/tours/tour.asp?t=1048
>
> > 944
>
> It is in pretty lousy shape. La Posada, at
> least, had always been used.

I was thinking just the opposite - very good shape considering how long it's been unused (except for the bar). It will take several millions, at least, to renovate and bring up to modern building and fire codes. Those real estate pictures are beautiful and the Spanish guitar music puts you in the mood to visit.

Cumbresfan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Ptolemy Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > TCnR Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Interesting price:
> > >
> >
> http://tours.tourfactory.com/tours/tour.asp?t=1048
>
> >
> > > 944
> >
> > It is in pretty lousy shape. La Posada, at
> > least, had always been used.
>
> I was thinking just the opposite - very good shape
> considering how long it's been unused (except for
> the bar). It will take several millions, at least,
> to renovate and bring up to modern building and
> fire codes. Those real estate pictures are
> beautiful and the Spanish guitar music puts you in
> the mood to visit.

You're probably right. I walked around the property a while back, and there were lots of boarded and broken windows and trash, but those are more cosmetic issues.

other than Amtrak, is this still on an active rail corridor?

Ptolemy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I will second the quality of the Paisano--I was
> there recently. Is there actually a hotel
> surviving in Sanderson? It looks pretty bleak
> every time I pass through, whether by car or
> train.

You're right, I was thinking of the Gage Hotel in Marathon.

Las Vegas is pretty nice as towns go in NM. It should do well.

Now just get him to become involved with the Santa Fe roundhouse, what a wonderful home for a certain 4-8-4...

BigDave Wrote:
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> other than Amtrak, is this still on an active rail
> corridor?

No, Amtrak's #3 and #4 are the only trains that travel between Lamy and Trinidad. Lots of past TO posts on switching these to the Transcon through Belen, Clovis, Amarillo, etc. or maybe losing the trains altogether if money can not be found to keep it on the current route.

PumpkinHogger Wrote:
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> Las Vegas is pretty nice as towns go in NM. It
> should do well.
>
> Now just get him to become involved with the Santa
> Fe roundhouse, what a wonderful home for a certain
> 4-8-4...


The Santa Fe "roundhouse" is the home of the governor and state legislature. They do need to become involved to save the SW Chief (there are efforts underway). When restored the 4-8-4 will be looking for a home at the long closed Santa Fe shops in ABQ.

Erm, am referring to the still-standing Santa FE RH in Vegas.

Cumbresfan Wrote:
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> The Santa Fe "roundhouse" is the home of the
> governor and state legislature. They do need to
> become involved to save the SW Chief (there are
> efforts underway). When restored the 4-8-4 will be
> looking for a home at the long closed Santa Fe
> shops in ABQ.

My bad - didn't know that one was still standing.

GettingShort Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Ptolemy Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I will second the quality of the Paisano--I was
> > there recently. Is there actually a hotel
> > surviving in Sanderson? It looks pretty bleak
> > every time I pass through, whether by car or
> > train.
>
> You're right, I was thinking of the Gage Hotel in
> Marathon.

Yes, that's a very nice place.

Last I read, years ago the LV roundhouse was turned into a bunch of small antique, etc, shops, which closed.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/19/14 15:36 by Abqfoamer.

Pie in the sky, but the Las Vegas roundhouse would be where I'd put all those ATSF engines
that are in Sacramento and not receiving the best of care.
Call me Jerry Joe's cousin.
How to pay for all this? How about a casino in part of it?
Yep, the world needs more casinos.