9 Best Hotels in Northeastern New Mexico, New Mexico

Locals have long used this Southwestern-style Best Western to house out-of-town guests, where the rooms are spacious and pets are allowed (by prior arrangement).

Granny's parlor circa 1924 is the best way to describe the quaintly old-fashioned and warmly welcoming Brown Hotel, where the lobby furnishings include a rocking chair by the fireplace and hooked rugs and doilies. Antiques decorate the basic but very affordable rooms, some of which have chenille bedspreads—note that bathrooms are shared, although each room has its own sink. The café's (¢) claims to fame include the baked goods and made-from-scratch soups (try the yummy broccoli-cheddar); both New Mexican and standard American dishes (tacos, burgers, breakfast burritos, and such) are on the menu.

Of the several vintage no-frills motels in northeastern New Mexico, this funky little 27-room lodging on the north side of Downtown Raton offers outstanding value. The rock-bottom-priced rooms are spotless and nicely updated, with sturdy, functional furnishings. You can pull your car right up to your unit at this retro motor court with a fabulous old sign, and the staff is friendly and helpful.

On the Santa Fe Trail and directly below the Tooth of Time, this 1912 white adobe compound (the name means "House of the Hawk") on 225 acres is a romantic hideaway of the first order. The original owner, industrialist J.J. Nairn, used to entertain artists and other creative types here, and writer Zane Grey wrote Knights of the Range while he was holed up here. The rooms in the main house are furnished with Southwestern antiques and artworks by the likes of Frederick Remington and Charles Stewart, and the 12-foot ceilings with huge pine vigas (support beams) lend an airy feel to the massive adobe walls. A two-bedroom suite in the adjacent guest cottage is ideal for families or friends traveling together. Tasty breakfasts should be taken on the patio when the weather permits. During the winter months, dinner can be arranged for guests with advanced notice.

The renovated rooms of this rustic beauty of a building are comfortable and elegant, and each has custom-made furniture and a modern-but-period-style bathroom. Friendly staff help get you situated and will happily tell you about the hotel's history and things to do in the area. American standards and Southwestern fare are served in the dining room and saloon ($–$$). Old West elegance and the house specialty—hand-cut steaks—please locals and visitors alike.

Gregarious host Barbara Riley, who grew up on a ranch south of Springer, has filled the rooms of her inn with Victorian antiques and collectibles (many for sale). This 1885 former boardinghouse is steps from Downtown dining and the historic district. The top-floor hunting-and-fishing-theme suite has a full kitchen, TV and VCR, and two twin beds. In addition to a hearty breakfast in town, snacks are served in the evening.

The most upscale and contemporary of the hotels in town has clean rooms, fine views of Johnson Mesa and the vast grasslands, and a peaceful location south of Downtown. An extensive Continental breakfast buffet is included, as are snacks in the lobby from 4 to 8. Request one a room in the newer wing for extra legroom.

Lace curtains and Victorian-era antiques adorn 12 of the rooms here (there are also 10 modern, more affordable, but less distinctive motel rooms). The entire property underwent an elegant $1.5 million restoration in 2009, and rooms now look better than ever, but there's a bit of a chill in the air—and that's just what the ghost-hunting fans like about this supposedly haunted hotel. An extensive hot breakfast buffet is included, and the restaurant serves reliably good American fare.

Arrive early for the best choice among the fully developed sites at either of this park's two campgrounds, Lake Alice and Soda Pocket. Be sure to follow park warnings regarding the resident brown bears at Soda Pocket.