ABOUT US
RANCHO MANZANA was established in 1995 by current owner Jody Kent
With her lifelong connections to the art and design world, Jody has created a warm and beautiful space- where the spirit of celebration and true hospitality meet to honor
the history of Chimayo.
Jody has populated her space with art and furniture from her travels around the world, and in each of the rooms there are heritage pieces with a story: from the Taos made sofa covered in Museum of New Mexico fabric, to the hand-embroidered sheets from Morocco that dress the queen bed in the loft apartment: everything has been chosen with an incredible eye for detail.
RANCHO MANZANA ran for over twenty years as a destination Bed & Breakfast for international guests, and was home to 2,000 lavender plants for many years- birthing the Lavender Festival attended by many locals and tourists alike. The property has played host to chefs of international acclaim over it's life and was involved in the very beginnings of the 'Santa Fe Wine and Chile' festival: hosting world class chefs to hold dinners and classes out in the orchard. Today, RANCHO MANZANA still hosts guests from around the world: for outdoor special events in our orchard, and as a resting place for those who want to truly take an authentic view of the old New Mexico countryside.
Situated on four acres in the lush Chimayo valley, with our large apple orchard, pond, flower gardens and grape arbor, RANCHO MANZANA has a relaxed yet sophisticated country atmosphere and promises an inspiring and unique experience.
HISTORY
Rancho Manzana is on the historic Plaza del Cerro
which dates back to the mid-1700’s when Northern New Mexico was still largely unsettled.
The light is here magical, and the setting is in many ways unchanged from centuries past.
Reminders of these earliest beginnings are everywhere on our property, such as the plaza's
original torreon (watchtower) which still stands on our grounds, and the acequia madre (traditional mother irrigation ditch) that watered families' orchards for centuries, still providing tranquil views to our apartment upstairs.
A view into early Chimayo from one of our favorite reads:
"The village of Chimayo stands eight miles east of Espanola, at the eastern edge of
the Santa Cruz Valley, where bone-dry foothills start their climb to the
Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Ancestors of the present day Tewa Pueblos in the nearby Espanola Valley inhabited the fertile valley floor near Chimayo from at least 1000 AD. Tsi Mayoh, the prominent hill southeast of the plaza, remains a sacred Tewa site.
In long-lot fields surrounding the plaza, early Chimayo villagers raised
wheat, corn, chiles, pinto beans, apples, apricots and cherries.
Located on the heavily-traveled Truchas - Trampas - Penasco high road between
Santa Fe and Taos, Chimayo provided a welcome stopping point for travelers.
Chimayosos traded their chiles, fruit and renowned woven blankets
for (sheep), bolito beans, and potatoes grown at the higher elevations."
-The Plazas of New Mexico, Chris Wilson
and Stefanos Polyzoides
Plaza del cerro
Original Post Office of Chimayo on the Plaza
East Side of the Plaza
Historic Torreon on southside of the Plaza
"Jody is a gracious and generous hostess, the accommodations are attractive and comfortable, and the property itself is a delight."
"There are not enough stars to rate this magical place. ACCOMMODATIONS are superb. Just down the block was the small Chimayo museum and Ortegas shops w local art and crafts along with a well stocked bookstore. Excellent restaurant within walking distance. Peace and serenity plus"
"The grounds are beautiful, historic (older than the U.S.A.), and perfect for relaxing ."