High Hopes: Gratitude and Adventures that Feed the Soul By Stacey Lane and C. Scott Palmer
O
verlooking the White Sands National Park, in the heart lenging 18 hole-round. Teeing off on the first hole, a 150-foot of the Sacramento Mountains, a small village gives rise vertical drop starts the round. These links once were the to inspiration this holiday season. This high-country advenhighest-altitude course in the nation at 9,000 feet above sea ture playground in southeastern level, and the terrain is as chalNew Mexico was founded as a lenging as it is beautiful. logging town in the late 1890’s Nearby hiking includes The by the developers of the El Paso Old Cloudcroft Trestle Trail, and Northeastern Railroad. The a surprisingly immersive trail steam engines chugging into the with historic discoveries along hills deposited passengers at a the way. The path leads to newly erected hotel named The an overlook with a majestic Lodge. Although the train stopped command of the forest and the running in 1938, the mountain air White Sands National Park in and incredible views from what the distance, then splits into was nicknamed “The City in the different legs which reconnect. Clouds” are still intact, drawing 21st Sections of an 1898 train trestle century visitors from around the are visible as wooden ruins at world to Cloudcroft, New Mexico. the bottom of steep plunges, Enjoy the conveniences of a but one undemolished section modern-day world in a charmoutclasses any debris. ingly historical setting. The Lodge The promise of seeing a Resort and Spa, which graces Seasoned by a rich and cultured past, The Lodge Resort and Spa trestle still standing after all the lofty, evergreen heights of towering 9,000 feet above sea level, awaits its guests. these years, with its powerful yet Cloudcroft, is crowned with a Photo by Stacey Lane. elegant architecture of braces spiral-staircase watchtower overand supports is an incentive to looking the town with a shimmering view of nearby White venture deeper into the forest. Sands, laid out like a silver ribbon. A guest entering the lobby Just north of the village of Cloudcroft, yet another, is the will be struck immediately by the mammoth iron chandelier, Osha Trail, named after the Osha plant, is a 2.2-mile loop, textures of leather and wood, stained glass, and a spirit-lifting which also offers a rewarding trestle view, and with the 396hearth. The lobby is linked to two gift shops selling crafts foot elevation change, several benches for a breath-taking appealing to a wide range of tastes. The Lodge also boasts view. Its proximity to Cloudcroft and the popular vistas gourmet dining at Rebecca’s, named after the red-headed showcasing the White Sands and the Tularosa Basin make it chambermaid, said to make ghostly appearances. Guests an attractive destination throughout the year. and employees continue to relay odd incidents attributed to People are attracted to Cloudcroft for fresh, mountain Rebecca’s spirit of fun and playful nature. air. Fishing, golf, biking, and outdoor recreation with cooler It’s high tee time as guests who bring their golf bags will temperatures in the summer or snowmobiling, ice-skating, enjoy The Lodge Resort’s 9-hole course, established in 1899, and exploring the vast wonderland with cross-country skiing playable for a full game. Governed by the Scottish tradition in the winter makes for a year-round destination. Discover for of playing different tees and separate flags on each hole, this yourself the fascinating history of the area, including what the dramatic 9-hole course, when played twice, becomes a chalMescalero Apaches once called Pisacha, “a place of plenty.”
14 November 2020 • enchantment.coop
