Laguna Vista Saloon, July, 2003, Kathy Weiser

Long ago, a bride and her groom spent their honeymoon at the Laguna Vista. But the groom went hunting one day, never to return. The destitute bride was forced to work at the hotel. She continues to linger there, looking for her long lost husband.

Locals call the Laguna Vista Saloon, built in 1898, the "Guney". The El Monte, as it was originally called, was allegedly built with stolen railroad ties, which are still visible in some of the rooms. A would-be innkeeper transported the petrified railroad ties from Ute Park to Elizabethtown for two summers, but when he returned after the winter, the railroad ties were missing and a new hotel had been built in Therma, which later changed its name to Eagle Nest. Behind the original saloon were a 17-foot deep hand dug well and several icehouses. 

The El Monte was one of the busiest saloons in the 1920's and 30's when the politicians stopped over on their way to the horse races in Raton, New Mexico to partake of the many roulette, gaming tables and slot machines offered in the saloons, inns, and businesses of Eagle Nest. It was sometime during this period that the El Monte's name was changed to the Laguna Vista Lodge and was operated by a couple named Gene and Pearl Wilson. At this time, the Wilsons often had to protect their gambling profits when transporting them from the saloon to their living quarters, by arming themselves with guns.

In the early 1950's, Bob and Edith Sullivan purchased the property from the Wilson's, leasing the restaurant to Walter Ragsdales, who operated it for several years. As Eagle Nest Lake's popularity began to grow with the tourists, the Sullivan's advertised for college girls to help staff the lodge, restaurant, and saloon, as the small village of Eagle Nest could not provide the staffing needed for the popular tourist destination*. In 1964, the "new" hotel was built next to the original hotel for additional guests.

In 1971, Bert Clemens bought the property from the Sullivans and continues to operate it to this day. Bob and Edith Sullivan's son, Robert, stayed on in Eagle Nest for many years and was honored for his 25+ years as fire chief, councilor and mayor. Edith Sullivan, who operated the Laguna Vista for some twenty years, was honored as the Grand Marshall of the July 4th parade in 2003. Unfortunately, Mrs. Sullivan passed away on May 19, 2004.

So, does this old hotel and saloon has ghostly visitors similar to those at the St James Hotel in Cimarron, New Mexico, just a few miles down the road? Mr. Clemens says "yes," though he has never personally encountered them. At one point, a psychic visited the property who counted at least 22 spirits lingering around the place. One employee reported to Mr. Clemens, that while she was in the kitchen she heard the vacuum running in the dining room, but when she went to investigate no one was there and the vacuum was sitting still and silent.