The Bishop’s Lodge Ranch Resort & Spa

The Basics

Sitting on 450 wooded acres at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, The Bishop’s Lodge Ranch Resort & Spa is a natural sanctuary minutes from central Santa Fe.  The bishop was Jean Baptiste Lamy, a 19th Century catholic priest who inspired Willa Cather’s novel “Death Comes for the Archbishop,” and whose tiny chapel is a favorite venue for weddings at the lodge.  As a resort, The Bishop’s Lodge has been in existence since 1918, and while it underwent a major renovation a few years ago it still exudes much of the guest ranch feel it developed in its early days. Horseback riding is among the more popular of its many outdoor activities, and the décor of Las Fuentes Restaurant & Bar is heavy on Navajo rugs, beamed ceilings, and Native American folk art. The lodge’s 91 rooms, many with kiva fireplaces, balconies, and private courtyards, are in 15 adobe-style lodges. The outdoor pool is the largest you’ll find in Santa Fe.

Wedding Details

For small weddings, one of the more popular ceremony venues is Bishop Lamy’s Chapel and its adjoining garden. The chapel, which is built of adobe, is on the National Register of Historic Places. Other ceremony and reception possibilities include the Little Tesuque Gazebo, surrounded by oak, cottonwood, and juniper trees, the Mesa Vista, with mountain views and a lawn that makes it perfect for tented events, and the Tesuque Pavilion ballroom, big enough to host banquets for up to 300 people.  A professional event staff can help with everything from menu selection to choosing a photographer.

Keep in Mind

The lodge’s ShaNah Spa & Wellness Center, which incorporates natural Native American healing remedies, herbs, baths, and teas, and has among its massage areas an authentic native American tepee, offers special packages for brides, bridesmaids and wedding guests. Signature treatments include a clay wrap featuring a full-body clay masque followed by a massage with oils infused with herbs grown in the archbishop’s garden.