Santa Fe’s Bishop’s Lodge Joins Historic Hotels of America ®
Santa Fe, N.M., June 7, 2010 - Bishop’s Lodge Ranch Resort & Spa is pleased to announce it has joined Historic Hotels of America®, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and brand of Preferred Hotel Group.
Bishop’s Lodge is one of more than 200 hotels and resorts throughout the country that are recognized by Historic Hotels of America for preserving and maintaining their historic integrity, architecture and ambiance.
“The trend of cultural travel in America continues to grow,” said Thierry Roch, executive director of Historic Hotels of America®. “By inviting Bishop’s Lodge into our collection of distinguished properties, we are continuing to encourage historic preservation while at the same time showcasing this hotel’s rich history. Our goal is to bring these historically special hotels and their authentic experiences to the attention of the traveling public.”
To be selected for membership in National Trust Historic Hotels, a hotel must be at least 50 years old, listed in or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places or recognized locally as having historic significance.
“Given Bishop’s Lodge’s extraordinary history and significance to the culture of New Mexico,” says Rich Verruni, the Lodge’s Managing Director, “it is a natural fit for our resort to be included in the Historic Hotels of America.”
The Bishop’s Lodge Ranch Resort & Spa is rich in history and architectural integrity. Once the site of ancient ruins inhabited by the native Tesuque people, the land in the Canoncito del Rio de Tesuque was given as a grant to a settler in 1743. Here, successive generations of Spanish farmers grew squash, corn and wheat in the fertile canyon. In 1853, a French priest, Jean Baptiste Lamy, was appointed Bishop of Santa Fe. A tireless priest with a huge parish to serve, Bishop Lamy recognized the need for a retreat from the pressures of his office. He found this in Canoncito just three miles north of Santa Fe. Little by little, he bought small parcels of land and eventually built a house for himself with a small chapel. An avid gardener, he planted and landscaped extensively. After the Bishop’s death, the property passed through a succession of owners, including the famous Pulitzer publishing family, until the Thorpe family bought it in 1918. Responsible for most of the expansions of the 152 acre property which include many of the present lodges, the equestrian area, the swimming pool, tennis courts and skeet shooting range, the Thorpe heirs sold the lodge to its present owners in 1998.
The Thorpes were very sensitive to the Lodge’s origins. The chapel that was Bishop Lamy’s original residence has been faithfully preserved. Just this year grape vine cuttings that were thought to have come from Bishop Lamy’s vineyard were re-planted on the property with the hope that the Lodge will one day produce its own vintages, just as Bishop Lamy did more than a hundred years ago.
For press inquiries, please contact:
Gina Galatro
Historic Hotels of America
Manager, Marketing Communications
Tel: +1 646 465 9778
Fax: +1 212 541 7245
ggalatro@preferredhotelgroup.com
Rachel Silva
Bishop’s Lodge Ranch Resort & Spa
Public Relations
Tel: +1 505 216 0889
Cell: +1 505 795 5353
Fax: +1 505 214 5677
rachel@ballantinespr.com
About Historic Hotels of America®
Historic Hotels of America® is a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation that was formed in 1989 and a brand of Preferred Hotel Group. Historic Hotels has identified more than 200 hotels located in the U.S.A that have faithfully maintained their historic integrity, architecture and ambiance. To be selected for this prestigious program, a hotel must be at least 50 years old, listed in or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places or recognized as having historic significance. Historic Hotels of America is aligned with Historic Hotels of Europe, a federation of 20 European hotel associations in 20 countries, and with Historic Hotels of Mexico, an association of hotels and restaurants located in buildings of historical significance including haciendas, palaces, monasteries, convents, fortresses, country estates. For more information please visitwww.historichotels.org
About Bishop’s Lodge Ranch Resort & Spa:
Ranked by Travel & Leisure magazine as one of America’s premier retreats, the Bishop’s Lodge Ranch Resort & Spa offers the resort-style family vacations, weddings, and conference facilities.
Bishop’s Lodge Ranch Resort & Spa is managed by Prism Hotels & Resorts, whose clients also include Marriott, Hilton, Radisson, Embassy Suites, and Holiday Inn. To make a reservation, call 800-732-2240 or visit www.bishopslodge.com.
