Plaque Event at Los Pinos Ranch
September 12, 2-4pm
$15 for members, $25 for non-members

Los Pinos Ranch, founded in 1912 by Amado Chaves, has operated as a guest ranch for a century. Part of the phenomenon of wealthy and educated individuals from the East Coast seeking outdoor recreation in a rustic yet cultivated atmosphere, Los Pinos Ranch was the place of respite for many historically significant people. Notable figures who occupied the ranch include Charles Lummis, Marc Simmons, Paul Horgan, and Robert J. Oppenheimer. Oppenheimer frequented the ranch over a period spanning decades, starting when he was a teenager. His horseback rides with Amado’s daughter Kia Chaves, a lifelong friend, eventually led Oppenheimer to the site of the Manhattan Project in Los Alamos. Many of the guest ranches that once checkered northern New Mexico have now disappeared, as have many of the Spanish Log construction buildings in the region. Still operational and with great architectural integrity, Los Pinos Ranch is an enduring emblem of the economic activity and architectural typology that characterized the region during the early to mid-1900s. 

The ranch was added to the HSFF Register of Properties Worthy of Preservation in 2022. Alan “Mac” Watson researched and wrote the nomination for the property on behalf of the ranch’s owners Alice M. McSweeney and William J. McSweeney. The McSweeney family is one of two families who have owned and operated the ranch. The McSweeney and Chaves families both meticulously maintained guest registers, diaries, letters, photographs, and videos which provided Mac with a wealth of details on the ranch’s history. We are pleased to have Mac deliver a history of the ranch at this dedication event. 

Alice McSweeney will also be on-site to answer any questions you may have about the ranch and her family’s care of it. If you would like to stay at Los Pinos Ranch, please inquire with Alice at 505-757-6213 (if no answer, 505-757-6679).