On May 20th &21st, there will be a public grand re-opening of the landmark Shaffer hotel in Mountainair. The reopening is timed to coincide with the Mountainair Arts Tour. The famous Shaffer Hotel has been a draw for visitors from around the world for more than 80 years.
http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/ShafferGazebo.jpg
The Gazebo on the Shaffer Hotel's beautiful grounds
speaks of marvelous days of old.
Photo Credit: www.shafferhotel.com (http://www.shafferhotel.com)
Eccentric blacksmith, Clem 'Pop' Shaffer created this treasure in 1923. Tired of wood buildings that were constantly burning down, Clem created his masterpiece in concrete, reinforced with iron parts from his blacksmith trade. He ornamented the facade of the building with Indian motifs in a style that today is called Pueblo-Deco.
http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/fence.jpg
The fence around the Shaffer's garden is an
amazing work of art.
Photo Credit: Madeline Gutwein
Along the front of the garden he built a unique stone fence, decorated with creatures in stone mosaic. The dining room ceiling is a geometric montage of more Indian designs set off with colorful handcrafted wood chandeliers.
Pop Shaffer was a heavy drinker and a ladies' man who left the operations of the hotel to his wife, Lena 'Ma' Shaffer. She ran the place with a gracious but iron hand for most of their lives. Famed journalist Ernie Pyle wrote about Ma, Pop and their unique creation.
http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/Shafferceiling.jpg
Even the ceilings in the old Shaffer have a beauty
all their own.
Photo Credit: www.shafferhotel.com (http://www.shafferhotel.com/)
Over the years the building fell into disrepair, but in 2004, Albuquerque businessman Joel Marks purchased the building and invested over a million dollars to bring it back to its past glory. The hotel features 19 totally remodeled rooms, each with cable TV. Most rooms have private bath, and there is high speed internet hook-up available.
http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/1225-Shaffer-Hotel.jpg
Nothing about the Shaffer Hotel is ordinary
as the tables in the dining room testify.
Photo Credit: www.shafferhotel.com (http://www.shafferhotel.com)
Downstairs in the hotel dining room, Shaffer Country Vittles, a restaurant, has recently moved in. Formerly located on Central Avenue in from Albuquerque, Country Vittles is hosted by owner Charles Devore and offers locals and visitors tasty down-home cuisine. Along with the standard menu, the restaurant plans to offer a fine dining buffet for the grand-opening weekend. For more details on the hotel and restaurant. check the Shaffer website at www.shafferhotel.com (http://www.shafferhotel.com/). Or call (505) 847-2888.
Whatever you do, don't miss this unique chance to welcome one of New Mexico's most famous architectural treasures back in the twenty-first century! Visiting this grand old part of New Mexico history is worth the trip to Mountainair all by itself. But the good news is there's lots of other fun stuff going on in town that weekend during Mountainair's May Art Tour too! For more details on arts events planned for the weekend, see Steppin Out's Mountainair forums (http://www.steppinoutnewmexico.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=16)
By PenGwen
© 2006 SONewMex.com - Reprint Permission Granted
On May 20th &21st, there will be a public grand re-opening of the landmark Shaffer hotel in Mountainair. The reopening is timed to coincide with the Mountainair Arts Tour. The famous Shaffer Hotel has been a draw for visitors from around the world for more than 80 years.
http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/ShafferGazebo.jpg
The Gazebo on the Shaffer Hotel's beautiful grounds
speaks of marvelous days of old.
Photo Credit: www.shafferhotel.com (http://www.shafferhotel.com)
Eccentric blacksmith, Clem 'Pop' Shaffer created this treasure in 1923. Tired of wood buildings that were constantly burning down, Clem created his masterpiece in concrete, reinforced with iron parts from his blacksmith trade. He ornamented the facade of the building with Indian motifs in a style that today is called Pueblo-Deco.
http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/fence.jpg
The fence around the Shaffer's garden is an
amazing work of art.
Photo Credit: Madeline Gutwein
Along the front of the garden he built a unique stone fence, decorated with creatures in stone mosaic. The dining room ceiling is a geometric montage of more Indian designs set off with colorful handcrafted wood chandeliers.
Pop Shaffer was a heavy drinker and a ladies' man who left the operations of the hotel to his wife, Lena 'Ma' Shaffer. She ran the place with a gracious but iron hand for most of their lives. Famed journalist Ernie Pyle wrote about Ma, Pop and their unique creation.
http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/Shafferceiling.jpg
Even the ceilings in the old Shaffer have a beauty
all their own.
Photo Credit: www.shafferhotel.com (http://www.shafferhotel.com/)
Over the years the building fell into disrepair, but in 2004, Albuquerque businessman Joel Marks purchased the building and invested over a million dollars to bring it back to its past glory. The hotel features 19 totally remodeled rooms, each with cable TV. Most rooms have private bath, and there is high speed internet hook-up available.
http://steppinoutnewmexico.com/images/1225-Shaffer-Hotel.jpg
Nothing about the Shaffer Hotel is ordinary
as the tables in the dining room testify.
Photo Credit: www.shafferhotel.com (http://www.shafferhotel.com)
Downstairs in the hotel dining room, Shaffer Country Vittles, a restaurant, has recently moved in. Formerly located on Central Avenue in from Albuquerque, Country Vittles is hosted by owner Charles Devore and offers locals and visitors tasty down-home cuisine. Along with the standard menu, the restaurant plans to offer a fine dining buffet for the grand-opening weekend. For more details on the hotel and restaurant. check the Shaffer website at www.shafferhotel.com (http://www.shafferhotel.com/). Or call (505) 847-2888.
Whatever you do, don't miss this unique chance to welcome one of New Mexico's most famous architectural treasures back in the twenty-first century! Visiting this grand old part of New Mexico history is worth the trip to Mountainair all by itself. But the good news is there's lots of other fun stuff going on in town that weekend during Mountainair's May Art Tour too! For more details on arts events planned for the weekend, see Steppin Out's Mountainair forums (http://www.steppinoutnewmexico.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=16)