Jenny's View
March 2022
Dear Friends,
From Willa Cather to Simone de Beauvoir, Edna Fergusson to Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter, the famous Harvey Girls and Ethel Ballen to La Plazuela’s stalwarts like Carol Anglin and Araceli Sotello, to Lisa Bertelli our Human Resources Director who’s worked for us for over 39 years – the women of La Fonda hold the keys to our successful 100 Years of Hospitality.
Those of you familiar with La Fonda know our guiding muse for all design and architectural decisions is Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter. Colter was a true trailblazer and visionary – originally hired by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway in 1910. From a base in Kansas City until her retirement to Santa Fe in 1948, she took all or partial credit for buildings that include: the Canyon’s Watchtower, Hopi House, and Phantom Ranch; El Navajo Hotel, in Gallup; La Posada, in Winslow, Arizona; and Union Station, in Los Angeles – and of course, her influence is ever-present throughout La Fonda on the Plaza in the heart of Santa Fe.
In 1929 the hotel revealed Colter’s design genius to a world of travelers eager to experience the authentic southwest. At La Fonda, Colter’s vision was on full display through handcrafted light fixtures, painted headboards, tiles, commissioned murals and handwoven textiles – all by local artisans. We carry her creative influence forward to this day.
Join us on March 25, 2022 for a panel discussion with Barbara Felix, the award-winning architect and designer of our restaurant, La Plazuela, along with Katrina Parks, producer of “Route 66, the Untold Story of the Mother Road” documentary series, and myself for an in-depth conversation about the ladies of La Fonda and The Mother Road. We’ll discuss how women have impacted our region’s rich and storied past – laying the foundation for the emergence of new voices and ideas, and forging a vibrant and inclusive present and future. Moderated by Meredith Schweitzer, former curator at the New Mexico History Museum, the talk promises to be insightful and entertaining! It takes place in La Fonda’s New Mexico Room from 2 – 4pm MST. If you can’t make it, don’t worry, we’ll record the entire session and post it to our YouTube channel.
Spring Break is around the corner and Santa Fe is the perfect launchpad for your New Mexico adventure. Whether you’re into catching big air into fresh powder, exploring ancient ruins or road tripping along The Mother Road, the Land of Enchantment has it all. Book a Spring Break Escape and pack your bags for a trip back in time!
We hope to see you!
Jenny
