Shep's Artist Retreat is available as an 8 person cabin..
This cute cabin is located in the Lincoln National Forest & is the summer home for portrait artist, Shep. His private art studio is located next door to the cabin where he teaches his "Paint Like a Venetian" classes every August. If you are interested in purchasing any of the artwork in the cabin or take Shep's class, please let us know. Most are for sale with the exception of a few that are his wife's private collection. We feel that this cabin in this tiny village is our happy place & we would like to share it with you when we are not in resident.
The cabin has fantastic views of the trees and mountains from a private deck. It contains 3 bedrooms that sleeps 8 comfortably, 2.5 bathrooms, a 55 inch TV with YouTube TV, a wood stove to build a fire for those warm and cozy winter evenings. A propane heater is also available. Living, dining & kitchen create a large open space for family gatherings.
With a full kitchen with almost every gadget known to man, a washer and dryer, you will have everything you could need on vacation. It is also across the street from the OSHA Hiking trail for your outdoor cravings. Wildlife wander through the yard almost daily. We've also built a treehouse for both kids & adults which is outside the fenced area & is shared with Shep's Studio Hideaway next door..
Upstairs off the main living area is a large deck that looks out into the trees. There is a table & plenty of chairs for viewing wildlife & a BBQ grill. The yard below has a swing, picnic table & lots of chairs to chill out at the end of the day and is fully fenced.
Bunkhouse has 4 built-in bunks, couch, YouTube TV, mini fridge, microwave, coffeemaker, full bath with shower. Stairs to bunkhouse are located outside off the back deck. The bunkhouse is a totally separate area.
Cloudcroft has lots of shops & several great restaurants including the BEST Texas BBQ around at Mad Jack's & Brother-InLaw's BBQ, burgers at Dave's, home cooked meals at Big Daddy's and Dusty Boots, Cloudcroft Sandwich Shop, food trucks, coffee shops, amazing bakeries & the famous Cloudcroft Brewery which features pizza, live music & crafted beers, The Lodge with fine dining & golf course & finally, Mayhill Cafe in Mayhill. Check out all the great restaurants! Ruidoso is 45 minutes away where there are more restaurants, shopping, horse race track, ski area with a huge zip line, hiking. Alamogordo offers shopping, restaurants, zoo, train museum, art gallery, movie theatre, bowling, petroglyphs, White Sands National Monument & more.
Winter fun can be had skiing, cross country skiing, tubing, ice skating in outdoor arena, hiking. Summer fun offers festivals, hiking trails, fishing, melodramas, museum, horseback riding, ATV rentals.
We are pet friendly with a maximum of 2 pets & a $50 non-refundable fee per pet. There is a doggy door & fenced back yard. If you bring a pet, it must be kenneled anytime you are not at the cabin. You are responsible for picking up feces in the yard & disposing in dumpster.
You must be 21 to secure a reservation. This is a quiet neighborhood with many year-round residents. Please be respectable of others by not playing loud music. Please do not park in or block our neighbors driveways.
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Amenities
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Outdoor space
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Pets allowed: dogs less than 23 kg per pet (limit 2 pets total)
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Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Do not move furniture. It is heavy. Our cleaning lady cannot move it back without help. If she has to hire someone to help, you will be charged $25.
NO outside fires are allowed. A propane grill is provided
& this is the only fire allowed on our property. Includes smoking.
MAX # of overnight guests in cabin is NOT to exceed 8 unless prior approval. This includes children.
Important information
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock
Property Registration Number 03-536176-00-0
About the area
Cloudcroft
Located in Cloudcroft, this cabin is in the mountains. Cloudcroft Ice Rink and Cloudcroft Ski Area are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Trestle Recreation Area and New Mexico Rails-to-Trails. Sacramento Peak Observatory and The Tunnel Stop are also worth visiting. Enjoy the area's slopes with cross-country skiing and snowboarding, and don't miss out on the sledging and ice skating.
Alamogordo, NM (ALM-White Sands Regional) - 38 min drive
Restaurants
Cloudcroft Brewing Company - 7 min walk
Mad Jack's Mountain Barbecue - 14 min walk
Western Bar & Cafe - 13 min walk
Dusty Boots Cafe - 12 min walk
Big Daddy's Diner - 12 min walk
Frequently asked questions
Is Shep's Artist Retreat pet-friendly?
Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 23 kg per pet.
How much does it cost to stay at Shep's Artist Retreat ?
As of 14 Apr, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Shep's Artist Retreat on 16 Apr, 2026 start from S$183, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at Shep's Artist Retreat ?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Shep's Artist Retreat ?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Shep's Artist Retreat ?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Shep's Artist Retreat located?
Situated in the mountains, this cabin is within a 15-minute walk of Sacramento Peak Observatory and Sacramento Mountains Museum. Cloudcroft Ice Rink and New Mexico Rails-to-Trails are also within 1 mile (2 km).
Reviews
10
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
We loved our time at Shep's Artist cabin and enjoyed exploring beautiful Cloudcroft! There was plenty of room for my family of 4 and 2 dogs and my kids loved sleeping in the bunk room. It was beautiful to eat breakfast on the patio and watch the deer wonder through the woods behind the fenced in yard. We will definitely stay here again if we visit Cloudcroft in the future.
Host is amazing. She was so helpful and accommodating. The house is great, love the “pay it forward” pantry! This was the best experience and will definitely stay here again when returning.
This was our first stay in Cloudcroft and we loved it! It suited our family's needs perfectly and spectacular views! We loved it was minutes away from what we normally venture into *hiking, shopping, etc.
Rachel R.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 28 Oct, 2025
We are so happy your first stay in Cloudcroft was so enjoyable, and we are glad that the cabin met all of your needs! We look forward to hosting you and your family again on your next trip to Cloudcroft!
So many good things: Well equipped kitchen, comfy beds & linens, bunk room was perfect for our college kids, quiet neighborhood with beautiful views & spacious deck.
Barbara F.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 28 Oct, 2025
We are so glad that you enjoyed our cabin and it met all of your needs! We look forward to hosting you again if you ever come to Cloudcroft!
A truly wonderful well appoined cabin with everything you could need. We stayed in the smaller cabin last time which was also great. The water filter was a nice addition and keeps you from having to buy water in town. Very pleased looking forward to another visit.
James B.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 12 Oct, 2025
We are so glad you enjoyed your stay at our other cabin! We look forward to hosting you again!
The kitchen and pantry had everything needed I could tell the host put a lot of thought into insuring a pleasant stay with everything we might need and lots of extras. We also enjoyed the wood stove. We would like to return in the future.
Audrey S.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 28 Oct, 2025
We are so happy that the cabin was perfect for you guys! We would be glad to host you again in the future!
Our stay was amazing! The place was spotless, beautifully maintained, and exactly as described—if not better. Everything felt thoughtfully prepared, from the comfortable beds to the little details that made us feel right at home.The host was outstanding: friendly, responsive, and incredibly helpful from check-in to check-out. Communication was smooth, and any questions we had were answered quickly. The location was also perfect—convenient, quiet, and close to everything we needed.Overall, this stay exceeded our expectations. We would absolutely stay here again and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a comfortable, stress-free, and welcoming place to stay!
We had a nice little reunion with some family at this house. It was a lovely place, had everything we needed and had a nice view of the forest. It was convenient to town and hiking. We'd definitely stay again!
Ben K.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 19 May, 2025
We enjoyed hosting you and your family, and look forward to hosting you again!
We had booked our trip for my son's senior graduation. We could not have picked a better place. The home was so cozy and inviting and we loved being able to sit on the porch in the cool, crisp mountain air in the mornings to drink coffee. Highly recommended and will stay again!
Matthew F.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 12 Oct, 2025
We are so glad that you enjoyed the cabin and had such a great time for your son’s graduation! We would love to host you again!
We returned to Cloudcroft while on a family road trip 18 years after spending our honeymoon there, and were pleased to stay in the same house! The house was fantastic, with many improvements made since our last visit. The kids loved the spaciousness, the backyard area and the deer sightings. The kitchen was well stocked with basic essentials and the location is convenient for day excursions to White Sands, Carlsbad Caverns, trails, etc. We highly recommend!
Chad C.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 28 Oct, 2025
We were so excited to hear that you guys had stayed in the cabin previously and enjoyed yourself just as much this time as you did the first time! We look forward to hosting you again! Just try not to make it 18 more years! Ha ha!
We arrived with teenagers and the host had sat out snacks for them (and us). Because Cloudcroft has no grocery store, the host encourages guests to leave anything no perishable behind when leaving. There was plenty to snack on until we could grocery shop.The beds and rooms were very comfortable. The place was very clean. The fenced in yard and doggy door made it convenient for our pup to go in and out. Out of all the VRBO’s we’ve stayed in, I would rank this very high. I would definitely stay here again.
Virginia W.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 3 Jan, 2026
I’m so glad you guys enjoyed the snacks and your time at the cabin! We definitely know how that is when you can’t get to the store late at night and you’re hungry. We look forward to hosting you guys the next time!
Beautiful cabin, even better than pictures. Saw elk, deer and hummingbirds right outside of cabin.
Highly recommended
kelly m.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Jul, 2022
Thanks, Kelly. We are so happy that our guests love our place as much as we do. We appreciate you taking the time to review us as well. We’d be happy to host you again next time you’re in Cloudcroft.
Donna
The cabin is pretty and clean, and located close to the stores in town and to hiking trails. The kitchen is very well-stocked :) The owner was quick to respond to messages and answer questions.
Corrie B.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 16 Nov, 2020
Thank you for this lovely review. Our main objective is that you enjoy your stay with us. Reviews like this help us immensely & we very much appreciate it.
We hope that you will look us up again for your next trip to Cloudcroft.
Bob & Donna Shepherd
It was the best stocked VRBO we stayed at in a long time. It was great having the bunk beds on the lower floor for the kids. It was great seeing the deer and receiving 5 inches of snow in April.Mike
Mike Winslow 8.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 5 May, 2025
We are so glad that you enjoyed your stay and the kids had fun in the bunkhouse! You guys were great guests and we would love to have you back anytime!
We felt right at home during our stay. The kitchen, pantry, and bathrooms were well stocked. Bedrooms were delightfully decorated and extremely comfortable. I will definitely keep this property in kind for our next getaway.
Gina H.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Jan, 2023
Thanks for the great review. We try hard to make our guests feel at home. We hope to host you again in the future.
Perfect for a weekend getaway the bunk house allowed me and my family to get away from the rest of the group and have alone time
Cynthia B.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 25 Mar, 2020
Thank you so much for your kind words & leaving a review. I know that when I travel, I always look for reviews before booking a place. Reviews are so important & we appreciate you taking the time to leave one.
If you can think of any ways we can improve our guest experience, please feel free to let us know. We hope you will consider us for any future stay you may plan in Cloudcroft.
Donna & Bob Shepherd
From the first moment we walked in we were met with awesome hospitality, such amazing hosts. My wife and I visited Cloudcroft to celebrate our wedding anniversary, and we couldn’t have picked a better place. The location is perfect—peaceful, scenic, and close to everything the area has to offer. The cabin was spotless, cozy, and stocked with everything we needed for a relaxing and memorable vacation.The paintings throughout the house are amazing. It was truly special to see the amazing animals in the backyard. We took the time to take the suggestions in the welcome book and we were not disappointed. We truly felt at home and can’t wait to come back!
Billy A.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 3 Nov, 2025
It was an absolute pleasure to host you guys for your anniversary! We look forward to having you back as often as you would like!
Great weekend, great cabin. Plenty of room to spread out, cabin had everything we needed and a great view off the back porch. We will be back for sure!
Sean S.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 8 Feb, 2021
Thanks for taking the time to review our cabin. We appreciate all the kind words. Hope you’ll look us up on your next trip.
Donna
About the host
Hosted by Donna Shepherd
We are Bob & Donna Shepherd. We are Texans that fell in love with New Mexico. NM is truly the Land of Enchantment & we hope that when you stay in our cabin, you, too, will become enchanted. We are both retired from careers that we enjoyed. Bob is an artist, specializing in portraits but he dabbles in most anything that translates to a canvas. You'll see a number of his paintings that decorate our cabin.
Why they chose this property
Donna grew up going to Ruidoso to ski & summer camp. Her parents, being chaperones on these trips, fell in love with the area & eventually purchased land outside of Cloudcroft. When her parents passed on, she & Bob were going to build something on the property but decided that they wanted to be in the village. They bought Shepherd's Artist Retreat & the land now belongs to Donna's sister.
What makes this property unique
The minute we walked into to this cabin, we knew it was THE one. We loved everything about it, mostly. We had to do some redecorating & updating as most everything was original to this 1991 cabin. We love that it's in the village & close to everything. Being from the Houston area, our commute in Cloudcroft is in minutes, not hours. This cabin is our happy place & our kids & grandkids love coming here. There is so much to do in this area & it is a jumping off point for us to travel. We've hosted many family & friends & they, too, fell in love & many of them have purchased cabins as well.
Languages:
English
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests