Vermejo spans more than 550,000 acres of northern New Mexico, reaching up into the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Ted Turner bought the land in 1996, and as a Ted Turner Reserve it pairs active conservation and rewilding with a small, discreet guest operation. Bison, elk, bighorn sheep and pronghorn move across a landscape of high plains and mountain forest. The estate's history reaches back to William Bartlett, for whom Casa Grande was built between 1907 and 1909. The mansion is now one of the guest lodgings, alongside Turner House, the Bartlett and Chandler cottages and Costilla Lodge. Each stay is shaped by Reserve Ambassadors who plan the days with guests, and two half-day guided activities are included every day, fly-fishing and wildlife viewing among them. Summer and autumn bring hiking, riding and ecology outings, and in winter the focus shifts to snowtubing, snowshoeing and stargazing. The holiday season brings Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year celebrations to the reserve. For travellers who want wildlife and open country on a vast scale within the United States, few places compare.
- Nearest airport
- Colorado Springs (COS), 131 Miles / 210 Kilometres
- Rooms
- 26 to 30 rooms
Insider tip Consider a festive stay: Vermejo hosts Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year celebrations, with snowtubing, snowshoeing and stargazing on the winter programme.
Why I choose it Conservation on a vast scale, with bison and elk across the high plains and mountains of New Mexico.
