7 Pueblo-owned hotels and resorts in New Mexico

New Mexico’s 19 Pueblos are deeply woven into the state’s identity. They are also an important economic driver for tourism. Pueblos brought $608 million into the state, and Native Americans owned nearly 6% of all businesses in New Mexico, according to a 2019 report from the University of New Mexico’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research.

Here are 7 Pueblo-owned hotels and resorts in New Mexico with unique experiences and events, plus a bonus Native-owned property.

Located on sovereign Native American land 15 miles north of Santa Fe, the Pojoaque Pueblo manages the dual Hilton and Homewood Suites hotels at the Hilton Santa Fe Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino, a 587-acre resort with a Native art gallery and artwork and furnishings designed by Native craftspeople. Some rooms include kiva-style fireplaces.

The resort features indoor and outdoor pools, award-winning golf courses, 6 on-site restaurants, and the Wo’P’in Spa, which means “medicine mountain” in the Tewa language. Among the treatment offerings are a Medicine Mountain Facial and an Herbal Cocoon Awakening, which includes an herbal infusion wrap. Rates start at $152; AAA discount available.

Sandia Resort & Casino in Albuquerque has views overlooking the Sandia Mountains, as well as 7 restaurants, an amphitheater showcasing live music, a golf course, a spa, and outdoor firepits.

The Council Room Restaurant serves traditional New Mexican specialties: red chile pork tamales, stuffed sopaipillas, and slow simmered green chile stew. Bien Mur Indian Market Center, the largest retail arts and crafts store in the Southwest, operates a gift shop out of the resort. It is filled with locally made handicrafts like jewelry and pottery. Rates start at $255.60; AAA discount available.

Just 7 minutes from Albuquerque International Airport, Isleta Resort & Casino boasts captivating views of the Rio Grande Bosque. Fish at one of the 2 Isleta Lakes, play a round of golf, or take a dip in the indoor/outdoor pool.

The resort’s Jar Spa, designed like an oversized pottery jar, encases a large hot tub with a cascading waterfall flowing into it. It’s such a beautiful setting that many couples plan weddings here. Rates start at $165.

Enjoy a peaceful night at Sky City Casino Hotel Acoma, which is situated off Route 66 in Acoma. Guests can enjoy the pool, plus a gift shop offering Native American–made jewelry and other handicrafts.

Dine at the Huwaka’a Restaurant and order up local favorites like a Pueblo taco prepared with fry bread topped with beans, ground beef, red or green chile, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and sour cream. Rates start at $79.

It’s all about retro theming at the Route 66 Casino Hotel, 10 minutes west of Albuquerque. Throwback decor pays homage to the Mother Road with neon and classical design throughout the rooms and common areas.

Thunder Road Steakhouse & Cantina, one of 3 on-site restaurants, serves tempting dishes such as fried green chile strips, green chicken chile posole, and chuckwagon chile. Rates start at $129; AAA discount available.

In 2020, TownePlace Suites by Marriott Albuquerque Old Town opened just across from the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center (IPCC), a trove of information about New Mexico’s rich indigenous past and the 19 Pueblos that represent New Mexico.

The IPCC offers rotating exhibits, activities, and an on-site café, the Indian Pueblo Kitchen. TownePlace Suites has a complimentary buffet breakfast, an indoor pool, and a fitness center. Rates start at $159; AAA discount available.

The second hotel in the Indian Pueblos Marketing portfolio is the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Albuquerque Historic Old Town, which was partially renovated in 2019 and is less than a 5-minute walk from the IPCC. The hotel offers a heated indoor pool and a complimentary breakfast. Some rooms showcase views of the Sandia Mountains. Rates start at $121; AAA discount available.

Though not a Pueblo people, the Mescalero Apache tribe owns and operates the Inn of the Mountain Gods in Mescalero. It offers a little bit of something for everyone. The Apache Eagle Ziprider takes zipliners over Lake Mescalero. There’s also horseback riding, kayaking and rowboat rentals, bicycle rentals (kids and adults), and even big-game hunts for elk and bears. After a busy day, unwind with a Serenity River Hot Stone Massage at the spa.

There are 7 dining venues. Fine dining at Wendell’s Steak and Seafood (named for Wendell Chino, leader of the Mescalero Apache nation for 4 decades) offers stunning views of Sierra Blanca, the Sacramento Mountains, and Mescalero Lake. For a quick bite, there’s Apache Tee and The Market at the Mountain. Rates start at $135 plus a $20 resort fee; AAA discount available.

Cynthia J. Drake is an Austin-based travel writer who enjoys road-tripping across New Mexico.