Allan Affeldt, known for restoring La Posada in Winslow, Arizona, is hoping for a summer 2019 reopening of his latest project, La Castaneda in Las Vegas, New Mexico.
The Santa Fe New Mexican newspaper published a long article about the former Harvey House restaurant and hotel built in 1898. Affeldt so far has spent about $1.2 million of his money fixing up the building since buying it in 2014. He’s also taken out a $4.5 million mortgage and $1.5 million in tax-credit equity for the project; the money also is being used to renovate the Plaza Hotel in Las Vegas’ downtown.
And it seems La Castaneda is having a ripple effect on buildings nearby:
San Miguel County Assistant District Attorney Tom Clayton is restoring the nearby Rawlings Building, which once served as a dorm for the Harvey Girls who worked at La Castañeda in its heyday. And artist Charles Ross is renovating a warehouse down the street with hopes of turning it into a studio and retail space.
Together, they hope they can change Las Vegas’ future, not just celebrate its past. But all acknowledge La Castañeda is the linchpin.
“You can notice all the renovations starting in the railroad district,” said Cindy Collins of Main Street Las Vegas, an economic development project with a historic-preservation bent. “The minute La Castañeda was purchased, people started buying buildings in that district and started renovating buildings across the street. It’s already creating economic development.”
The same sort of rejuvenation happened in Winslow when Affeldt bought La Posada nearly 20 years ago. Winslow’s population drifted to 5,000. It now is about 11,000. Part of that growth is due to Flagstaff commuters finding cheaper housing in Winslow, but there’s little doubt La Posada played a large role in the town’s renaissance.
Las Vegas never was on Route 66, but the original alignment came within two miles of town. Many modern-day travelers use Las Vegas as a side trip before heading to Santa Fe.
More tidbits from the article:
- Affeldt is taken with Las Vegas, describing it as richer architecturally and historically than the New Mexico cities of Taos or Albuquerque.
- Affeldt said he and his crew are almost finished with the demolition part of La Castaneda and have replaced all of its 199 windows.
- He hired The Range Cafe‘s Matt DiGregory to run La Castaneda’s restaurant and bar. The Range Cafe has four locations in the Albuquerque metro area.
- The upstairs hotel part once featured shared bathrooms and small sleeping quarters. Removal of some walls will enable overnight guests to sleep in larger rooms and their own bathrooms.
- The original Fred Harvey bakery in the building will be restored.
- Affeldt is looking at cross-promotions with La Castaneda and La Posada, especially with rail travelers.
The article concluded with a quote from Affeldt; “If we do it right, you will feel like you are arriving in 1899. Except we will have modern plumbing.”
(Image of La Castaneda in 2007 in Las Vegas, New Mexico, by Perry Nelson via Flickr)
I had the pleasure of recently interviewing Mr. Affeldt for a future episode of The Route 66 Podcast. The first 5 minutes of the interview I couldn’t believe all of his accomplishments when he was a college student, from organizing walks for social justice both in the US and in Moscow, to organizing a major rock concert with Bill Graham in the 1980’s Soviet Union.
I was able to share Mr. Affeldt’s past success in Winslow and future plans in Las Vegas with guests at the recent Route 66 Miles of Possibility Conference in Joliet, IL. I do remember him saying it would be easier to knock down those old railroad depots, but people want a historic building to visit… but everything needs to be updated inside from plumbing to electrical and more.
The episode will hopefully be released later this month. If you’re not yet on our mailing list, please join us at Route66Podcast.com.
Anthony Arno
Route 66 Podcast
Now retired, I’m planning on moving to Las Vegas. I used to take the Amtrak from San Francisco to Las Vegas to visit my father in Mora. I look forward to the re-opening and inviting friends and family to stay at the Castaneda !