Allan Affeldt, owner of the historic La Posada along Route 66 in Winslow, Ariz., posted this Facebook message today:
In Las Vegas new mexico today to open escrow to buy the Castaneda – another long-neglected fred harvey hotel, one of the loveliest and most famous in the southwest. Now i have until 8 april to complete purchase (and ponder my sanity). What could be more fun!
Hotel Castanada at 524 Railroad Ave. in Las Vegas, N.M. (map here), was for sale for $450,000, according to this listing.
La Castaneda was built as a Harvey House in 1898 and was one of the earliest to be built in Mission Revival style. New owners took over the hotel two years ago, but quickly put it back up for sale. (UPDATE: I’ve been informed the announced deal in 2012 fell through, and the hotel remains with its longtime owner.)
Las Vegas technically sits a few miles from Route 66, but has become a common side trip for travelers exploring the 1926-37 alignment of the old road that looped to Santa Fe.
Affeldt became the savior of La Posada, built in 1929, after he bought the nearly abandoned property in the 1990s and restored it.
Affeldt also in the past few years had been involved in the long and ongoing process of restoring El Garces, another Harvey House along old Route 66 in Needles, Calif.
UPDATE 2/14/2014: The Albuquerque Journal published a long story about the impending purchase.
UPDATE 3/20/2014: Affeldt said in a Facebook post on Thursday night that he will take possession of Hotel Castaneda on April 8.
(Image of La Castaneda in Las Vegas, N.M., by Perry Nelson via Flickr)
what a great place and bargain I hope he does purchase it there is a great Steak restaurant near there
Wow, great news!
If this becomes a reality, it will be the best news for the Santa Fe Loop in a really long time (since 1937!). I wish Allen all the best! We’ll be at La Posada this weekend, our favorite stop in Arizona on Rt 66. Las Vegas, NM will earn “honorary 66” status if Allen can recreate this fine old hotel!
I agree, Ken. I was searching on Google of the street the Harvey House in Las Vegas is on, and there are quite a few historic-looking but underused buildings. A revitalized hotel in that area could bring up the whole block in a big way.
bravo. i lived outside las vegas & went to school at highlands in the early to mid 70’s. i even performed music there in the old main dining room. i love that hotel~
so proud to know she will be coming back.
I can’t wait to see how it all turns out! I pray it will be updated and restored! Fred Harvey places have a wonderful appeal and interest of a day gone by. Of charm and casual elegance and a sense of discovery that I find ( dare I say ) ENCHANTING!
Wow that is so cool. Can not wait to check it out. We are on 66 now in Barstow staying in Owl canyon…real nice.
The Harvey Girls of Orange Empire railway museum wish you all the best. Please keep us up to date on your progress.
Well before Route 66 became iconic,Las Vegas was major stop on the old Santa Fe Trail, then for the railroad–rich in history, culture, wildlife, and natural beauty. Five miles way, another old Harvey property is now part of the United World College of the American West, in Montezuma (also known for free hot-springs). The Castaneda itself has a rich history ready for the very kind of revitalizing this new owner seems to offer, given his record with the widely loved La Posada.
This is fantastic news. Another piece of history brought back to life. Go for it Allen . Please!
OH, Glory, Glory, Hallelujah! I can’t tell you how thrilled I am that a man like Allen Affeldt has got hold of La Casteneda. When I visited there in 2008, that poor place was looking very neglected. I hope that his new project comes to a hapy fruition!
Thanks for saving another icon, Allen Affeldt. We will look forward to stopping there after we retire & take our trip down Route 66.
I’m sooooo pleased! These treasures deserve rescue and time will tell that this investment will pay off many times over in the future!