Location: Jemez Springs, New Mexico, USA (90 Minutes Fm Albuquerque/Santa Fe Off Scenic Byway NM Hwy 4)
Accommodations: House, 2 Bedrooms + Other (See Description), 1.25 Baths (Sleeps 5-6)
Relax in the mountains in a perfect getaway/base camp
Centrally located in the Jemez/Valles Caldera area. The Barnhaus is ideal for small retreats for writers or artists. Plan your next adventure or romantic getaway at the Alpaca Barnhaus. You will be back!
The Alpaca Barnhaus is located on one acre in the Santa Fe National Forest just 3.5 miles off the National Scenic Byway known as “The Jemez Trail” (NM Hwy 4). This two-bedroom home is surrounded by aspen and conifers. Perched at the top of a mountain, the quiet serenity of the surroundings makes it a perfect getaway for couples or individuals looking for a retreat in nature.
Walk across a large meadow to the spring-fed pond. Continue up the ridge to a gorgeous overlook of San Antonio Canyon where the San Antonio River offers great fishing (but you have to drive around because the steep cliffs don’t invite even the most adventurous!)
You may choose to hike to the river through Mushroom Basin. The hike takes about an hour one way. A picnic lunch may be in order. During the winter months, snow is on your nature menu. Close by is an excellent hill for sledding, and cross-country skiing is ideal. Near Los Alamos are down-hill ski runs.
The house has two bedrooms and a half-bath upstairs in the loft. A queen-sized sofa bed and a single bed are downstairs. On the first level is a full bath with a shower. The cabin has a forced-air furnace, ceiling fans and wood stove. At this altitude air conditioning is unnecessary since the temperature in the summer rarely gets above 80.
The Alpaca Barnhaus is furnished in a way that makes you feel like it's your home too. The kitchen is fully stocked with cookware. If you’ve forgotten to bring something, Amanda’s Country Store is just down the hill in La Cueva. The Ridgeback Café is next door to the country store if you want a wholesome meal. For your convenience there's a washer/dryer with eco-friendly washing products. A picnic table is on the side deck. If the night is clear, take the comfortable air mattress outside and enjoy stargazing from the deck. The bird feeders and hummingbird feeders invite feathered friends.
OH, ALPACAS! The owners have an alpaca ranch near the Alpaca Barnhaus. Mickey and Evelyn will be happy to introduce you to these friendly fur-bearing animals. They are quiet, odor-free, gentle on the environment, and produce exquisite fiber that is made into yarn and other alpaca products. As you stand in the barn area, the alpacas will run down the rocky hill, enter the barn, and weigh themselves! Indeed, you will get up close and personal with the alpacas as you learn about them and get a chance to feed them with their special pellet supplements. Alpacas are known to be the most intelligent of all livestock. Our guarantee: You and the alpacas will smile.
About 20 minutes south in historic Jemez Springs are restaurants, a saloon, a historic hot-springs bathhouse with massages, and an outdoor hot-springs pool. Jemez Springs is home to several outstanding artists, too. Farther south on Hwy 4 is the Jemez Pueblo Walatowa Center with its fine museum and native-American crafts.
In the other direction toward Los Alamos you will enter the awe-inspiring Valles Caldera National Preserve. Tours can be arranged online or in Jemez Springs. Off the road in the Valles Caldera you will wonder at the Valle Grande where you can usually spot elk herds.
Continue driving to Bandelier National Monument with its ancient cliff dwellings. This is another good place to have a picnic. Afterwards loop back up to Los Alamos and visit the two outstanding museums. The museum run by the historical society takes you back to the formation of the plateaus and the foundation and operation of the Los Alamos Ranch School. For the making of the atomic bomb, the Ranch School gave way to Los Alamos Scientific Lab. The second museum, The Bradbury Museum, takes you through the war years to the present.
Barnhaus Amenities
• 1296 sq ft
• 2 bedrooms w/half-bath in loft
• 1 bath with shower on ground floor
• Fully furnished (2 double beds, 1 single bed, sofa bed)
* Deep air mattress can be used for two more guests
• Washer/Dryer
• Vaulted ceiling with loft
• Deck and covered front porch
• Wood-burning stove
• Forced air furnace (propane)
• Full-sized refrigerator and propane range
• Ceiling fan
• Nestled in conifers and aspen
* Fully equipped kitchen
Great location • Quiet and private
8700’ elevation • Maintained dirt road
Vacation Rental Features
- Amenities
- Washer
- Dryer
- Linens Provided
- Off Street Parking: Off Highway 4 there are 3.5 miles of dirt road leads to Thompson Ridge. a graveled long driveway leads to the house. There is plenty of parking area.
- Wood Stove
- Beds
- Double Bed (2)
- Twin/Single Bed
- Convertible Bed: queen size sofa bed in living room
- Entertainment
- TV (No Cable/Satellite): We have a TV available to play DVD's. Since we now have a digital converter, programs are available.
- DVD
- Video Library: We have a few DVD's available. Please bring your favorite DVD's, too.
- CD Player
- Stereo System
- Kitchen
- Full Kitchen
- Cooking Utensils Provided
- Refrigerator
- Microwave
- Ice Maker
- Outdoor Features
- Gas/Electric BBQ Grill
- Deck/Patio
- View/Location
- Mountain View: We are located at the top of the mountain. An easy hike takes you to a spectacular view from a rocky ledge overlooking San Antonio canyon!
- Other Amenities
- Near our Alpaca Barn, and we love to show off our barn facilities and our alpacas. The house is on one acre among aspen and pine trees, close to a meadow, surrounded by a national forest. Ideal for x-country skiing and hiking and relaxing in mountain serenity at 8700'. During the winter 4x4 or AWD vehicle may be necessary. Please call for road conditions. County maintains the road as needed.
- Suitability
- No Pets Allowed
- Kid Friendly: Everyone, especially kids, enjoy meeting the alpacas and our two, very friendly, Anatolian Shepherds named Tinker and Belle.
- Minimum Age Limit for Renters
- Smoking Not Allowed
- Activities (on site and nearby)
- Mountain Biking
- Cross Country Skiing
- Sledding/Tubing
- Wildlife Viewing
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Museums
- Other Activities
- Meet our alpacas and learn all about these gentle animals. You can choose to relax, hike or bike or cross-country ski. It takes about 20 minutes to drive to Jemez Springs where you will find spa services, local artists and galleries, and fine dining. The Jemez Pueblo Walatowa Center featuring Native-American crafts and a museum is south of Jemez Springs. Don't miss visiting the awe-inspiring Valles Caldera National Preserve, a likely place to see wild animals (especially elk). The Jemez Mountain area is filled with history from ancient cave dwellings to Los Alamos (50 min away) where two museums take you back to the time before the development of the atomic bomb to present day scientific research. We are proud of "our" mountain location and enjoy sharing its riches.
Rate Details (In US Dollars)
All-inclusive rate of $125/night up to 5 people. $665/week .. $2000/month
We request a $125 deposit for two nights or 50% of total. We accept checks only.
Please call or email us directly to make your reservation.
Once your reservation dates are made, we will give you detailed directions.
We request that you leave the house and surrounding area as clean as you found it.
We do not charge a cleaning fee. ($10 extra per person per night over 5 people.)
Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.
Owner's Profile
Owner Description
Year Purchased: 2007
Since retiring from teaching in 2000, sisters Mickey and Evelyn began a whole new venture breeding and raising alpacas. These gentle and intelligent animals have been our full-time pleasure. In 2009 the Alpaca Barnhaus was ready for vacation renters.
Why the Owner Chose Jemez Springs
Thompson Ridge, where Aspen Ridge Alpacas of Northern New Mexico and the Alpaca Barnhaus are located, is in the midst of a National Forest. At at altitude of 8700' we enjoy aspen stands and conifers, mild summers, colorful autumns, white winters, and delightful springs. The climate is perfect for us.
The Unique Benefits of this House
Nature abounds with mountain flowers, hummingbirds, eagles, deer, elk, rabbits, chipmunks, squirrels, and more. Just open the door and walk in any direction to discover the blessings of the natural world. To make your stay at the Alpaca Barnhaus really unique, Mickey and Evelyn invite you to learn about their wonderful alpacas and what alpaca ranching is all about. Their two livestock guardian dogs, Tinker and Belle, are people friendly, too. In May four alpaca babies will be born. Toward the end of May the alpacas are sheared. Bags of the most incredible fleece is collected for sale or to be made into rugs and yarn. Come and experience this most unique area as well as the alpacas. This part of New Mexico is truly enchanting.
Property Photos
- Alpaca Barnhaus in the Jemez Mountains of Northern New Mexico - Jemez Springs Vacation Home with Mountain View
- Aspen Ridge Shalako--Meet him and other alpacas at the barn. - Jemez Springs Vacation Home with Mountain View
- Vaulted Ceiling and Loft. Pine floors. Wood-burning stove. - Jemez Springs Vacation Home with Mountain View
- Kitchen Area
- Patio Area at the Barn.
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Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #217221
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This listing was first published here in 2008.
Date last modified - November 28, 2009


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