Touring Buffalo Thunder’s La Mesita Ranch Estate

Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on January 24, 2016
- 5:21 pm

As part of Thursday’s VIP Tour of Buffalo Thunder Resort and Spa, guests were treated to a visit of La Mesita Ranch Estate in Nambé. Pojoaque Pueblo recently puchased the estate, which is managed along with Buffalo Thunder by Hilton Hotels. This is one of the entrances to the Grand Hacienda. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com

Guests gather in the living room at the Grand Hacienda during Thursday’s VIP tour. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com

Los Alamos Medical Center Marketing Director Mary Beth Maassen chats with Helen Ortega in one of the Grand Hacienda sitting rooms. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com

Staff Report

As part of Thursday’s VIP Tour of Buffalo Thunder Resort and Spa, guests visited La Mesita Ranch Estate in the heart of the Nambé Valley at 23 La Mesita Road, not far from Buffalo Thunder.

This lush, quietly elegant private ranch was re-purchased by the original owners – the Pueblo of Pojoaque – and is now available to guests seeking a retreat, a getaway oasis or a celebration destination. It is managed by Hilton Hotels, which also manages Buffalo Thunder.

Designed by legendary architect John Gaw Meem, the gated property – roughly 144 acres in total – offers five residential structures:

Grande Hacienda;
Barranca Cottage;
Badlands Cottage;
Escondido Cottage; and
Ristra Cottage.

The property features indoor and outdoor equestrian facilities, a large outdoor swimming pool and cabana, tennis court, duck pond and grassy pastures. Stables on the property house horses that can be taken out for rides.

The Grande Hacienda has four bedrooms (one bedroom on the main floor and three bedrooms upstairs). The casitas can be rented separately in the off season.