- This page was last modified on 12 June 2025, at 00:51. Suggest an edit.
Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm facts for kids
|
Los Poblanos Historic District
|
|
 |
|
 Location in New Mexico
|
|
| Location | Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, New Mexico |
|---|---|
| Architect | John Gaw Meem |
| NRHP reference No. | 82003321 |
| Added to NRHP | May 27, 1982 |
Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm is a special place in New Mexico, just north of Albuquerque. It started as a farm and ranch house in the 1920s and is now also a beautiful inn.
Contents
The Story of Los Poblanos
Early Days and Design
In 1932, a powerful couple, Congressman Albert G. Simms and Congresswoman Ruth Hannah McCormick Simms, got married. Soon after, they began building their dream ranch, Los Poblanos.
The famous architect John Gaw Meem designed the main buildings. He used the Pueblo Revival Style, which looks like traditional Pueblo Indian homes. The property was huge, covering 800 acres. It was their family home, a working dairy farm, a plant nursery, and a place for cultural events.
Many talented artists and craftspeople from the WPA (Works Progress Administration) helped. They worked on renovating the ranch house and creating the Cultural Center. The WPA was a government program during the Great Depression that gave people jobs.
Beautiful Gardens and Views
The gardens at Los Poblanos were designed by Rose Greely. She made sure the gardens on the east side had amazing views of the Sandia Mountains. The gardens on the west side looked out towards the Rio Grande river.
Greely used plants native to the area to create a peaceful, private feeling. Visitors would travel down a road lined with pine trees. They would then enter a bright, tiled courtyard with a bubbling fountain, making it a welcoming place.
La Quinta Cultural Center
In 1934, the Simms family built the La Quinta Cultural Center. It was meant to be a guest house, but they also used it for many other things. Ruth Simms, being a politician, hosted political fundraisers there.
The center also held recitals and parties. It featured a large ballroom, unique tin chandeliers, and beautifully carved wood ceilings. Part of La Quinta was even a museum for Ruth's collection of Western art.
A Pioneer Farm
Los Poblanos was also an experimental farm. It played a very important role in starting the dairy industry in New Mexico. The farm raised purebred Guernsey and Holstein cows. These herds later became part of Creamland Dairies, a well-known dairy company.
The farm also experimented with growing different crops. They tried growing sugar beets, alfalfa, oats, corn, and barley. This helped them learn what grew best in the New Mexico climate.
New Beginnings
Ruth Simms passed away in 1944, and Albert Simms in 1964. Many years later, in 1999, Armin and Penny Rembe bought the property.
The Rembes transformed the family home into a special place. It became a bed and breakfast, a restaurant, and a working farm. They also continued to host a variety of cultural activities, keeping the spirit of Los Poblanos alive.
Honored History
Los Poblanos is recognized for its important history. It is listed on both the New Mexico Register of Historic Places and The National Register of Historic Places.
In 2013, Los Poblanos received a special award. It was given the Trustees Emeritus Award for Excellence in the Stewardship of Historic Sites by The National Trust for Historic Preservation. This award celebrates places that do a great job of preserving historic sites.