The Alpaca Barnhaus in the Jemez Mountains-Quiet & Comfortable
- Minimum stay:2 nights
- Internet:No
- Pets allowed:No
- Wheel chair accessible:No
Being in nature is magical, a retreat from the workplace. In fact, infusion of nature is the antidote to nature-deficit disorder. Get smarter. A business retreat had this effect as cited by Richard Louv in The Nature Principle: 'New ideas bubbled up each morning .... several breakthroughs were the direct result of the outdoor experience that allowed our childlike awe, openness, and creativity to flourish.' The Barnhaus has no cell phone service. Enjoy an isolation vacation to recharge your own batteries. Enter a world of nature.
Relax in the mountains in a perfect getaway/base camp--winter, spring, summer, or fall.
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! For your viewing pleasure, we recently purchased DVD movies that were filmed in this area.
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. 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
Amanda’s Country Store in La Cueva is minutes away from Aspen Ridge Alpacas. Check out Amanda’s website for information about groceries, snacks, ice, bait, area info, and camping supplies.
Drive twenty-five minutes from Aspen Ridge Alpacas and experience the amazing Valles Caldera. The Valles Caldera National Preserve was a private ranch until 2000, when Congress created it from a well-known ranch known as “the Baca Ranch” in New Mexico’s volcanic Jemez Mountain Range. This 89,000 acre property is situated inside a collapsed crater. Studded with eruptive domes and featuring Redondo Peak (11,254 feet), this old ranch property is now being developed to explore a new way of managing public lands. The preserve is open to the public, but we guarantee you’ll find the visit unlike any other you’ve had in a park or national forest.
Keywords: Cozy house with wood-burning stove and plenty of wood. Clean and well furnished,
Anatolian Livestock Guardian Dogs, Alpacas, Near Recreation Areas,
Property Type
- 2 story
- House
- 1300 sq. ft.
Accommodation Type
- Vacation Rental
Meals
- Guests Provide Their Own Meals
Suitability
- Pets Not Allowed
- Non Smoking Only
Bedrooms
- 2 Bedrooms, Sleeps 6, Beds for 5-6
- Other (See Description)
- Bedroom 1
- 1 double
- This is one of two bedroom in the loft area.
- Bedroom 2
- 1 double
- This is one of two bedrooms located in the loft area.
- Living area sleeping 3
- 1 twin/ single
- The bed is located in the living area on the first floor.
Bathrooms
- 2.0 Bathrooms
- Bathroom 1
- Shower, Toilet, Sink
- Bathroom 2
- toilet
- Sink and Toilet. Located in loft.
Kitchen & Dining
- Dining
- Kitchen
- Dishes & Utensils
- Refrigerator
- Stove
- Oven
- Microwave
- Cooking Utensils
- Coffee Maker
- Toaster
- Ice Maker
Amenities
- Iron & Board
- Hair Dryer
- Towels Provided
- Washing Machine
- Clothes Dryer
- Parking
- Heating
- Linens Provided
Other Amenities
Entertainment
- DVD Player
- Books
- Games
- Satellite / Cable
- Stereo
Outdoor Features
- Deck / Patio
- Outdoor Grill
Theme
- Romantic
- Family
- Away From It All
- Historic
- Sports & Activities
- Tourist Attractions
- Adventure
Location & View
Activities
- Churches
- Mountain Climbing
- Ice Skating
- Hunting Big Game
- Fly Fishing
- Hiking
- Rock Climbing
- Cross Country Skiing
- Mountain Biking
- Fishing
- Massage Therapist
- Groceries
- ATM/Bank
- Sight Seeing
- Walking
- Scenic Drives
- Bird Watching
- Sledding
- Wildlife Viewing
- Museums
- Health/Beauty Spa
- Restaurants
- Recreation Center
- Library
- Mountaineering
- Skiing
Other Activities
Reviews
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Relaxing in the Woods
Relaxing in the Woods
- Guest Andrea L.
- Date of stay 03/08/13
- Review Submitted 03/12/13
Perfect place to relax in the woods! We happened to have snow, and the kids loved being able to sled down the hill until they got cold, come in and warm up, and then do it all over again. Evelyn & Mickey were welcoming and friendly (as were the alpacas and dogs!). The cabin has a nice open layout, wonderfully stocked kitchen, and lots of books and games. Great place. I would definitely recommend 4WD in the winter.Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, pet owners, romantic getaway, families with teenagers, families with young children.
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An enchanting place to renew the body, mind and spirit
An enchanting place to renew the body, mind and spirit
- Guest Moon
- Date of stay 03/02/13
- Review Submitted 03/06/13
Our family of 6 braved the heights and the 4 mile dirt road in our non 4 wheel drive van to arrive at a wecoming and meticulously clean barnhaus. It was great with more than enough space for our family with room to spare. The owners were amazing hostesses and I look forward to spending time with them again. The alpacas were amazing and the children had a great time building a snow fort. On top of the barn is a lovely little shop featuring clothing, accessories and yarn all made from beautiful alpaca wool, so soft and allergen free. An absolutely great place for families, we are looking forward to going again in the early fall.Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, romantic getaway, families with young children, sightseeing.
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Winter Wonderland!
Winter Wonderland!
- Guest The Bobulators
- Date of stay 02/22/13
- Review Submitted 02/24/13
From the moment we arrived at the Barnhaus, we felt like "family." We settled into the beautiful and comfortable Barnhaus immediately and enjoyed the views, the quiet, and the feeling of totally getting away from it all. We will be back. The owners run a very nice operation, the Barnhaus was clean and had everything we needed to enjoy our time there. We will recommend to our friends who love to visit Jemez Springs or the Valles Caldera. It was an easy drive [even with snowy roads] to get down to Jemez and enjoy the Giggling Hot Springs. We had a great anniversary weekend here and will be back this year.Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, romantic getaway, families with young children, girls getaway, sightseeing.
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A relaxing weekend in a well-equipped house
A relaxing weekend in a well-equipped house
- Guest dena
- Date of stay 02/16/13
- Review Submitted 02/18/13
We had such a good time at the Barnhaus! It was exactly as described and more. It has everything you need, including lots of dishes and cookware in the kitchen and games of all kinds. The beds are very comfortable as is the wood-burning stove keeping us toasty warm. We had a wonderful ski into the nearby National Forest. The neighborhood is very quiet with little traffic in the winter, and the night sky is spectacular. It was fun to see the alpacas and the dogs and Mickey and Evelyn were such good hosts. I highly recommend this rental for a quiet but fun retreat away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, romantic getaway, families with young children, girls getaway.
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A wonderful winter getaway!
A wonderful winter getaway!
- Guest Victoria
- Date of stay 12/26/12
- Review Submitted 01/15/13
My husband and I brought our three children and mother-in-law to the cabin after Christmas to experience a "white Christmas." As promised, there was snow on the ground, a wonderful hill to sled down, and plenty of wood for the fireplace. This cabin comfortably slept the 6 of us and had plenty of room for more. The atmosphere was relaxing and serene and the cabin was spotless and comfortable. Although my kids weren't too fond of the snow (we're from Texas), we loved it so much that we would like to stay again in the summer so that we may thoroughly enjoy the outdoors and neighboring park.Recommended for: Romantic getaway, families with young children.
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Getaway
Getaway
- Guest operahiker5
- Date of stay 11/14/12
- Review Submitted 11/25/12
Great place to get away and have a quiet period. The place is very comfortable and nice. Shopping is limited. Take most if not all of what you need.Recommended for: Age 55+, romantic getaway, girls getaway.
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Our second time..........pleased once again!
Our second time..........pleased once again!
- Guest Craig B.
- Date of stay 09/21/12
- Review Submitted 09/30/12
This was our second stay at the Alpaca Barnhaus. Another great experience. The cabin you stay at is a fully furnished abode. It has a porch all the way around two sides with a great BBQ that we used twice, picnic table, and chairs. It's set on the side of a hill about 100 feet away from the owners cabin and 100 feet away from the Alpacas which they raise. We enjoyed going out daily and fishing the streams in the Jemez area, walking to and soaking in the hot springs, hiking on local trails, and driving 20 minutes to a state park with a lake for lake fishing. The cabin is far enough off the highway to feel like you are away from the 'loudness' of society. The place is quiet, peaceful. The hosts, Mickey and Evelyn, delightful and caring, and welcome everyone not just in staying at the cabin but also to enjoy and visit the Alpacas. A great place to stay for a few days while you enjoy the area of Jemez SpringsRecommended for: Age 55+, romantic getaway, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, sightseeing.
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Great place, lovely alpacas!
Great place, lovely alpacas!
- Guest family_from_ABQ
- Date of stay 09/07/12
- Review Submitted 09/18/12
Our family (2 adults and 2 small kids) loved the Barnhaus. A beautiful setting, peaceful, quiet, and a great, fully-stocked home. We loved meeting the Alpacas and getting a tour from our gracious hosts. We also found this to be a great base camp for exploring the beautiful Jemez Mountains.Recommended for: Age 55+, romantic getaway, families with young children, sightseeing.
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Mountain Therapy!
Mountain Therapy!
- Guest Andrea, Scott and boys
- Date of stay 07/01/12
- Review Submitted 08/07/12
The Alpaca Barnaus was a perfect summer mountain getaway from our busy work-school schedule. Our two boys (5 years old and 8 years old) were completely happy the entire time, they completely forgot about TV and video games with all the room to run around, look for horned lizards, rocks, and watch/care for alpacas. Mickey and Evelynn are great hosts and provide everything and more in the house. They stock it with every pot/dish/utensil you need for cooking delicious fresh-caught rainbow trout and more. Also, they leave great books, films, puzzles, and games handy to help everyone relax and get into mountain-mode. We highly recommend the Alpaca Barnhaus.Recommended for: Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, sightseeing.
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Beautiful, Comfortable, Relaxing!
Beautiful, Comfortable, Relaxing!
- Guest Annie
- Date of stay 06/22/12
- Review Submitted 07/06/12
My family and I shared the Alpaca Barnhaus with a friend for a week, and our experience was simply wonderful. We had three adults and a 10-yr old boy in our party, and there was plenty of room for all of us and something for everyone to enjoy. The Barnhaus is beautiful and amazingly well-appointed. The owners have thought of everything! The kitchen was well-equipped and spotless, and we so enjoyed eating our meals on the beautiful wooden deck. We found several places to hike right from the property and enjoyed all the wildlife--hummingbirds, rabbits, chipmunks and an elk--that we saw nearby. We also loved seeing and getting to know the alpacas. When we wanted to go somewhere, we found the Barnhaus was a good base to explore the various springs in the Jemez Mountains, the stunning Valles Caldera, Los Alamos, Santa Fe, and Abiquiu. Finally, our hosts were charming, helpful, and friendly. We very much enjoyed meeting them and are very grateful for their hospitality. I have stayed in several VRBO rentals and this was one of the very best! We look forward to visiting the Alpaca Barnhaus again someday.Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, romantic getaway, families with teenagers, families with young children.
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Rates
| Dates | Nightly | Wknd Night | Weekend | Weekly | Monthly * | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base Rate 2 night min stay |
$140 | $700 | $1400 | |||
Additional information about rental rates
Once you confirm your dates, we will e-mail you a contract. Dates are secured with 1/2 the payment (or you may choose to pay full price) by check. Also send a refundable check in the amount of $100 cleaning/breakage fee.
This owner accepts HomeAway's most secure form of payment.
HomeAway PaymentsSM is the most secure way to pay and automatically protects your payment up to $10,000 (learn more). Call the owner directly to confirm payment details.
Location
- Nearest Airport: Albuquerque at 80 Miles
- Nearest Motorway: NM Hwy 4 at 4 Miles
- Nearest Barpub: Jemez Springs at 13 Miles
- Nearest Ski: Los Alamos at 35 Miles
- Nearest Golf: Los Alamos at 37 Miles
- Nearest Restaurant: Jemez Springs at 13 Miles
Owner info
Year Purchased: 2007
About the owner: 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 at 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 September 2012 we're expecting the births of four alpaca babies. In May the alpacas are sheared. Bags of the most incredible fleece are collected for sale or to be made into rugs and yarn. We have a store featuring quality alpaca products. Come and experience this most unique area as well as the alpacas. This part of New Mexico is truly enchanting.
Contact us
- Primary: (575) 829-3312 (New Mexico, USA)
Links to more information:
Photos
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Recently painted exterior
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Vaulted Ceiling and Loft. Pine floors. Wood-burning stove.
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Bedroom #2 with double bed
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Patio Area at the Barn.
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During the winter park between the barn (left) and the back of the Barnhaus (rt)
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Baby alpaca named Chimayo. Sept 2012 is when we will have four babies born.
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Training alpacas on the obstacle course
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A twin bed is on the first floor.
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Aspen Ridge Shalako--Meet him and other alpacas at the barn.
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Bedroom #1 with a double bed
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Kitchen Area
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There's the roof of the Barnhaus on the left. Alpacas are playing on boulders.
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My new best friend!
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On the road to The Alpaca Barnhaus. Fall is especially beautiful.
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Tinker and Belle, our Anatolian Shepherds (livestock guardian dogs),love people.
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FOR SALE:scarves, yarn, socks, gloves, headwear, sweaters, vests, teddy bears...
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Date last modified - Monday, May 20, 2013
(575) 829-3312 (New Mexico, USA)