Bordering on 1.5 million acres of Santa Fe National Forest, Bishop’s Lodge, Auberge Resorts Collection, has opened its doors just minutes from the city’s historic plaza. Dating back to the 1860s, when Santa Fe’s first archbishop built a chapel and lodge on the property, the resort pays homage to the past, while celebrating Santa Fe’s vibrant cultural, art and culinary scenes and the spirit of adventure that epitomizes the Rocky Mountains. Bishop’s Lodge provides state-of-the-art accommodations, a destination restaurant conceived by Chef Dean Fearing, an array of outdoor adventures and transformative wellness experiences set against one of the most starkly beautiful backdrops in the Southwest.
Inspired by the notion of community, the resort unfolds much like a village, with its ranch-inspired structures— some restored, some new—overlooking sweeping lawns, a stream, horse pastures and forest-cloaked mesas. The Lodge stands at the heart of the property beside the restored chapel and The Hall, while the Turquesa Healing Arts Studio rests in a peaceful, shaded spot alongside the fitness center and the main swimming pool. Guests can stay in 100 guestrooms, suites and standalone accommodations and enjoy a host of outdoor activities, including mountain biking, fly fishing, hiking and horseback riding. Bishop’s Lodge, Auberge Resorts Collection offers a pristine natural setting with panoramic views located only four miles from the rich cultural attractions of a UNESCO world heritage city.
Settled more than 150 years ago by Bishop Jean Baptiste Lamy, the storied property once served as the western home to the Pulitzer family and hosted several United States presidents over the years. In collaboration with Dallas-based Nunzio Marc DeSantis Architects and the Hospitality Interiors Studio of global design firm HKS, Bishop’s Lodge, Auberge Resorts Collection has been transformed for today’s modern travelers through a $75-million renovation and restoration.
The resort’s one-of-a-kind adobe structures are designed to flow with the land’s contours in an organic interplay of buildings and nature. Following the sun’s arc, their earthy hues complement indigenous vegetation, planted areas, creeks, fieldstone textures, natural juniper and pine treescapes.
Interior design was led by Mary Alice Palmer and Natalie Smith of HKS, who were inspired by the many creative cultures that have been drawn to this special place over the centuries—the native Navajo and Hopi tribes who have worshipped and settled here for thousands of years and the artists who have attempted for generations to capture the light. Of notable inspiration was international fashion muse Millicent Rogers, who settled in the region after discovering the genius of Native American artisanship.
“The resort is a destination and gathering place for families and friends who return year after year to recreate time-honored traditions,” said Palmer, principal/director of hospitality interiors, HKS. “Deeply imbued with the culture of Santa Fe and the Native American history, this iconic and beloved property was deeply in need of renovation after years of neglect. Some buildings were in such disrepair that they could not be saved and had to be replaced. Our design honors that most important sense of place while bringing a fresh face and interpretation to this ageless style combined with state-of-the-art luxury.”
The beating heart of the resort is The Lodge, home to SkyFire, the signature restaurant of Bishop’s Lodge, a bar lounge, living room and expansive outdoor decks with fire pits and breathtaking sunset views. Artworks from the property’s original collection dating back to the 1940s adorn the walls and the centerpiece attraction is an oversized alfresco Kiva fireplace, where guests can gather in the evenings to toast the setting sun.
Located beneath the Main Lodge is NATHALIE at Bishop’s Lodge, a boutique curated by former French Vogue fashion editor Nathalie Kent. NATHALIE’s boasts a bespoke collection of turquoise jewelry, cowboy boots and western wear alongside handpicked Southwest objects and one-of-a-kind treasures from around the world. Adjacent is the Gerald Peters Gallery, which displays an array of local artwork and a collection of historic Navajo rugs and artifacts while also hosting a visiting artist program.
“This special place has drawn from many creative cultures attracted by its magical spirit; native tribes have worshipped and settled here for thousands of years; artists have come for generations to attempt to capture the light,” Palmer said. “Georgia O’Keefe left her most indelible mark by representing the minimalism of nature’s details in her most microscopic gaze at the essence of things. Our greatest inspiration comes from the search for beauty that was the life-long quest of Millicent Rogers, the New York socialite turned iconic fashion muse after settling in this desert landscape and discovering the genius of Native American artisanship. She acts as muse to generations of designers from Ralph Lauren to John Galliano. Her crisp ruffled white blouses, long prairie skirts with cinched waist, all dripping with layers of Navajo and Hopi jewelry have set the style for decades. Her portraits depict the slice of life that is the essence of Bishop’s Lodge. Her spirit is also with us in the landscape and distinctive color combinations of this unique environment so rooted in its earthly and heavenly origins.”
The guestrooms, suites and casitas at Bishop’s Lodge, Auberge Resorts Collection have a distinct yet modern Santa Fe aesthetic. Each of the resort’s 83 guestrooms has its own private terrace and Kiva fireplace, as do the freestanding suites. These include six junior suites, three one-bedroom suites, one two-bedroom suite and three signature Kiva Suites. The latter is located atop one of the most scenic overlooks on the property and features outdoor soaking tubs, stone rain showers and indoor and outdoor kiva fireplaces. The Casitas are three- and four-bedroom abodes with ensuite bathrooms, living and dining rooms, a full kitchen and an expansive patio with an outdoor grill and lounge seating.
“‘The City Different’ is a title that Santa Fe has held for many generations and well describes the experience of so many visitors as they discover a place like no other,” Palmer said. “Arriving in this high desert landscape, one quickly perceives the deep effect on all five senses; the smell of the ozone that precedes the summer rainstorms, heavy, earthy and full of desert blooms as the wind shifts and the thunder rolls over the mountains and the first full drops hit the dirt trails. Pinon pine, desert sage and chili smoke rising from autumn fires. You watch the sky like a movie with its ever-shifting light playing across the distant mesas and mountains; the sun in an ever-blue sky that transforms a high contrast dance of stark light and shadow casting sculptural adobe into high relief. Evening brings an intensity of raging hot color stretching beyond the blue mountains and dies into a deep purple twilight with a multitude of stars lighting the infinite night sky. There is something special here that inspires, not just in the magic of the natural landscape, but in the timeless inspiration of the native American and Hispanic cultures and the many generations descended from them who still inhabit and this land and inspire evolving and modern interpretations.”
The 12-bedroom Bunkhouse is crafted from reclaimed New Mexican barnwood with vaulted 36-ft. ceilings and provides a one-of-a-kind experience for large families, multigenerational travelers, wedding parties and intimate groups. Featuring an expansive great room with an oversized two-story stone fireplace, this unique retreat is inspired by cowboy culture, featuring Western tack and images by Jim Arndt whose iconic photography tells the story of the American West.
“Bishop’s Lodge tells the age-old story of Santa Fe; a story of deep respect for the native culture and what drew them to this place and its mystical spirit,” Palmer said. “One of the oldest continuously occupied communities in the United States, rich layers of culture are woven together with a creative thread attracting people from all over the world to immerse themselves in the uniqueness of the place. Bishop’s Lodge sits tucked here in this special place in the Tesuque Valley, deep in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo range of the Rocky Mountains, an iconic 1920’s ranch resort situated on 317 acres. This historic property represents great cultural and sentimental relevance to the Santa Fe community and visitors alike since the archbishop of Lamy called his congregation here to gather in the 1870s at a tiny chapel on the hill and the Pulitzer family called it their Western home. A story so deep and rich must be occasionally updated to evolve with today’s traveler, but it is also critical to honor the origins and important memories that have preceded.”
The resort’s distinctive 2,000-sq.-ft. Chapel House is designed for smaller parties with one master suite, one king room and a double queen suite. Spacious indoor living areas open onto ample private outdoor living spaces and a private lawn with a view of the historic chapel.
“The spirit of Bishop’s Lodge is alive in every detail as well as the creative spirit that dwells in this region in ways that cannot be compared to anywhere else in the world,” Palmer nted. “We have created the future for adventure, relaxation and authentic inspiration that was is and always will be the legacy of Bishop’s Lodge.”
