'To keep that history going is really important to us': Iconic New Mexico hotel reopens

CIMARRON — Cimarron residents, Old West enthusiasts and ghost hunters have been given a holiday present: a chance to revisit the St. James Hotel, which had been closed for the last few months.

The St. James, built in 1872 by Henri “Henry” Lambert, a former personal chef to President Abraham Lincoln, had been closed since mid-September after Bob Funk, the hotel’s owner since 2009, retired due to health reasons.

“Everyone was devastated because it employed so many people and brought so many tourists,” said Anita LeDoux, Cimarron resident and former St. James Hotel employee.

The disappointment did not last long, however.

Chad Mantz and his daughter Alyse Mantz — CEO and director of operations, respectively, for M Vacation Properties & Resorts, based out of Red River — learned about the hotel’s closure on Facebook. “My dad said, ‘The St. James is closing down,’” Alyse Mantz said. “‘Should we look into it?’”

The two visited the hotel to think about the idea some more. “We sat at the bar, we kind of thought about it and said, ‘Yeah, let’s contact them to see what it would take to get the St. James,’” said Alyse Mantz, who added she could not disclose the terms of the deal.

After they decided to buy the property, they continued researching the history of the hotel. “We were like, ‘Wow, this is awesome,’” she said.

Chad Mantz and Alyse Mantz hail from the Dodge City, Kansas-area where two of the hotel’s famous guests, Wyatt Earp and John Henry “Doc” Holliday, spent some time. “Earp and Holliday are very near and dear to us,” Alyse Mantz said. “To be able to keep that history going is really important to us.”

‘Very significant’ for New Mexico

The morning of Dec. 20, people lined up outside the doors to the over 150-year-old property to grab a drink, tour the historic property, soak in the nostalgic aroma and, perhaps, meet a ghost. Hotel manager Antonia Gonzales said people are making reservations as far out as a year in advance.

The re-opening of the hotel is “very significant” for New Mexico, State Historian Rob Martinez said in an email.

“Buildings such as the hotel were witness to historical events in the community and are a way of connecting us to our past,” Martinez said. “Whether it’s the Alvarado Hotel in Albuquerque, the La Fonda Hotel in Santa Fe, or the St. James Hotel in Cimarron, these spaces add color and context to our history and our ancestors.”

The hotel, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, gives people a chance to travel back in time and imagine what it might have been like to be a cowboy in the Old West, said LeDoux.

It’s also a special place for Boy Scouts on their way to the Philmont ranch, a national retreat for the group.

“As an iconic piece of the area’s history, the St. James serves as more than just a place to stay and dine — it’s an essential part of the Philmont experience, embodying the spirit of the Old West that Scouts and visitors come to embrace,” said Philmont Scout Ranch Director of Business Operations Shelley O’Neill.

Gunslingers and ghost stories

There are 22 rooms at the St. James Hotel, Mantz said, including 13 in the historic portion of the property that are named for those who stopped by, including the famous Kansas lawman and his gunslinging friend.

Two of the rooms are rumored to have ghosts.

Room 17 is Mary Lambert’s room. Lambert was Henri Lambert’s wife. “If she’s happy to see you, you’ll get a whiff of perfume,” Mantz said.

The other room, however, room 18 — also known as Thomas Wright’s room — is off limits.

In the 1880s, Henri Lambert lost the hotel to Wright in a poker game. But Wright did not have long to enjoy the victory. After the game, as Wright walked down the hall he was shot in the back. “He then crawled into his room and passed away,” Mantz said. It is unknown who shot Wright, she said, but “someone didn’t want him to have the hotel.”

Reports of Wright haunting the room began to surface in the 1980s. Some who stayed in room 18 reported getting nauseous while others got headaches, Mantz said. Other guests complained of heart palpitations. And for the last few decades, access to the room has been forbidden. However, she said people have left drinks on a stool outside the door or taken a drink in Wright’s honor.

After paying respects to the fallen owner, visitors can go to Lambert’s Restaurant and order from the mouth-watering menu that includes steak and Mexican food. For a nightcap, they can shuffle over to TJ’s Bar and order a cold one while looking at the 26 bullet holes in the tin ceiling.

As they look up, they will be serenaded by live music. The bar will have weekly concerts during the summer and monthly shows during the winter, Mantz said. Guests will also be able to enjoy karaoke and trivia nights as they enjoy their beverage.

It’s time to “bring life back to Cimarron,” a hotel employee said while getting things set up in the restaurant. The bar is considered iconic to many, including True West magazine, which listed TJ’s as one of the “authentic Old West” saloons and bars “you need to visit before they are gone.”

Thanks to Chad and Alyse Mantz, it has returned.

Gregory R.C. Hasman covers crime and is the road warrior. You can contact him at ghasman@abqjournal.com.