Ghost Ranch — Attraction in Four Corners States

Wow! Loved visiting! The scenery is priceless and the anthropology museum was wonderful.

I would’ve given 5 stars, but ONE staff member nearly ruined our visit in the museum. I’ve never been made to feel uncomfortable for being a “tourist” as he put it (I’m in Santa Fe) in a tourist driven business/location before. This person must’ve had one heck of a bad experience with someone because he really made me and my 75 year old mother feel VERY unwelcome and uncomfortable.

He was apparently giving a breakdown of duties to some college students who were going to be working/studying there and kinda went off on how “jaded” he is about telling TOURISTS they have to wear masks and where the door to the paleontology museum was….”even though there’s a sign clearly stating it on the door but people REFUSE to read it.” (Also about the masks, as a visitor it was a bit confusing as they weren’t required in the gift shop, so when we entered the museum we had them in our hands in case they were required in there. We were prepared and promptly put them on in the doorway…that’s when the staff member started to go off on the students about tourists yadda yadda)

I, personally, didn’t see the sign for the paleontology museum because the door was propped open. No biggie, right? Wrong, it was wrong to not see the sign and it was really wrong that he had to point us in the right direction. (This is only a small taste of his rudeness. I truly think he dislikes working with the public. Or, at least this day he did.)

I get it, people have bad days. I grew up in a small tourist town in CO. People can be horrible, but they can also be wonderful and sometimes they’re just being people trying to enjoy their day. However, when you work in a museum you should be a little more pleasant. It’s not difficult. And, if you need to step away and count to ten, please do so! My mother and I did after our interaction with this gentleman.

We will be back! There are no hard feelings towards the staff member. I hope he’s had time to cool off and remember how unique his job is! He gets to meet so many different people and do so in a beautiful place full of...

I've heard about Ghost Ranch for years and years, and finally got there to spend a week. My wife and I spent a week during the Festival of the Arts week. The scenery is absolutely stunning! Mesas, mountains, plains, arroyos, and canyons make a magical landscape. The views change with the light through the day, so the scenery is different every time you look. We each took an art class and had wonderful experiences! The food in the dining hall was surprisingly and consistently good. There are vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options at every meal. Our room was a suite with a sitting room, bedroom, and full bath in one of the lodges on top of the mesa. The room and the bed were very comfortable. (There is no A/C, but with adobe, fans, and open windows the room was pleasant. We did have temps in the 80s most of the week, which is a little unusual for July.) There's a lot of walking to get around the campus, especially if you're staying on the mesa. In hot weather you'll want to carry water with you, and there are water station in most of the buildings. Besides our programs, GR offers various activities like horseback riding, hiking, and kayaking. There are two museums, one anthropology and one paleontology, that are small but worthwhile. The Trading Post in the Welcome Center has lots of good swag. On a clear night, the sky is spectacular! If you have never been to a dark sky site, you will be amazed at how many stars you can see. This is not an inexpensive place to go. I was surprised at how much it costs, actually. Of course, it's the middle of nowhere, so everything costs to bring it in, I guess. Anyway, it turned out to be well worth it after all. So between the natural beauty, the excellent program, and the good people you meet, this is a great place to be spiritually refreshed...

This was a short trip just to check the Ghost Ranch out. It's 2.5 - 3 hours from Albuquerque so wish we'd left earlier. It's a pretty drive and the views at the ranch are awesome. It's very historical and much of this is explained if you visit the Ghost house. Buildings also include many cottages and rooms, dining hall, a library, a beautiful building containing a meeting room and a worship room, welcome center with gift shop, two museums, stables, and a gorgeous cabin near the entrance. There are hiking trails and various tours offered. We plan to return for the paleontology tour. It's the home of the state fossil. There are various offerings that include overnight stays, but you can get a daypass for $10. This can be purchased online at which time each person electronically signs a release form. The website is well designed. You can pre-purchase boxed lunches and the gift shop had some food and snack items and a small dining area. There are many seating areas outside from where you can enjoy the views. Take good shoes or hiking boots if you're going to enjoy the trails. A family we met recommended hiking sticks for the longer trail and the paleontology tour. There is internet access but my cell service was spotty and I couldn't access GPS until I got to the main road. If going for the day, try and arrive at 9 am when the daypass access begins. The pass is good until 4 pm. You can see Abiqu Lake from the ranch (you'll pass the entrance on your way up). Consider combining with some time to fish. Before you reach the ranch there is a Georgia O'Keefe welcome center you can visit. There are several restaurants and an ice cream shop along the way. There are gas stations on both sides of the road so you can gas up just before or...