Top 5 Things To Do at the Lodge in Cloudcroft, NM

So I know I live in Colorado now, but Cloudcroft, NM is and always will be one of my favorite mountain towns period!! It’s a tiny town that lies in the Sacramento Mountains in southern New Mexico, and it has an Old-West-style Historic Downtown along with beautiful scenery and tons of hiking!

I literally couldn’t tell you how many times we came up here while living in the hell-hole that is Carlsbad NM…so I have to admit that I feel pretty familiar with it!

Today I want to tell y’all about the Historic Lodge (officially called The Lodge Resort & Spa). I have never actually been a guest here, but I have toured the grounds on more than one occasion, gone up the tower on more than one occasion, and toured the golf course on more than one occasion.

So I’ve been here on more than one occasion. Just wanted to clarify that.

But first, a little background on The Lodge! It’s a historic establishment that made humble beginnings as a mountain retreat in the late 1800s. It was originally constructed from the railroad company building their tracks up the mountain from Alamogordo – remnants of which you can still see to this day! Over time, it grew into a luxury mountain lodge that’s hosted many a famous person over the years – including Judy Garland and Clark Gable! (As I’m typing this…I’m hoping y’all know who those people are!!) It’s famously haunted by the ghost Rebecca, a chambermaid who disappeared after being found by her lover with another man. There have been more than one guest or employee who have experienced unexplained phenomena and apparitions of the blue-eyed ghost throughout the many years!

I’m not here to comment on if Rebecca exists, but as my father-in-law says, “You’re gonna pay for her ghost whether you see her or not.”

Yes, the Lodge is a little on the pricey side (hence why I have never actually stayed here!). Not only are the rooms pricey, but the in-house restaurant (aptly named “Rebecca”) is on the pricey side as well. However, I have still managed to enjoy many a trip here (did I mention I’ve been here on more than one occasion?), and I still believe it’s a for-sure-must-see stop if you are in the area!

(Want to know what else there is to do in Cloudcroft? Click here for my other suggestions!!)

So without further ado, here are my tips for the top things to see and do at The Lodge Resort – whether you are a guest or not!

1. Take a walk around the inside of the hotel.

Cloudcroft NM's The Lodge Resort & Spa — This is the main reception area

When I first visited, my husband and I walked around the main reception area, poked our head in the restaurant, and walked up a flight of stairs to check out what the room hallways looked like. It all looked very cute and historic, and we enjoyed seeing everything!

I super suggest exploring at least the main floor of the hotel. In this area, there are a couple of gift shops that you can look through, as well as historic information and ghostly stories littered throughout the shops and walls in different locations!

And the best part? A great photo op with a stuffed bear!

2. Walk up to the Tower!

I’d been to the Lodge a few times already before I even knew I could walk up the tower! All you have to do is go up to the front desk and tell them you’d like to see the Tower. They then will pull out the key and give you directions (round the corner to the right and go up the first flight of stairs, then follow the signs!), and you’ll be on your merry little way! It’s a little dusty and dirty up here – I’m not gonna lie – but you have great views all around! You can even see the White Sands National Monument!

Another cool thing about the Tower is that there’s a framed off portion of the wall where Judy Garland and Clark Gable carved their names!

The Lodge in Cloudcroft, NM — Judy Garland and Clark Gable’s Graffiti!

3. Take a tour of the grounds and golf course!

The first time I visited here, there was a live band playing in the area pictured below with tables and chairs set up for people to enjoy. It looked like the type of event you were supposed to pay for so we decided to go take a walk through the Golf course. It was the most beautiful Golf course I’d ever seen! Maybe it was just the time of year (Labor Day) or the lighting (a couple of hours before sunset) or the weather (a cool, crisp late afternoon), but it was seriously awesome, and something I super suggest for you to do when you visit!

The Lodge & Golf Course, Cloudcroft NM — The Golf course. I don’t play golf, but I can’t think of a more beautiful setting to pick up the sport in!

4. In the market for special occasion/fine dining? Eat at Rebecca’s!

I will preface this suggestion by saying two things. Firstly, please check out the menu before deciding to dine here, because I don’t want to be responsible for breaking the bank! Secondly, I’ll say that my husband and I have eaten here once before for our fourth anniversary. It was fun for us to dress nice and go to a fancy restaurant because we really don’t ever do that! So when we got a $100 tab for 2 plates of pasta, 2 Caesar salads, and a Dr. Pepper, we decided not to sweat it, because you can pretty much expect to burn a $100 bill before leaving a restaurant such as this. It was a fun experience, and if you are OK with the prices, then I suggest giving Rebecca’s a try! They actually made their Caesar dressing at the table side for us!