VERMEJO, NEW MEXICO
VERMEJO - A TED TURNER RESERVE, NEW MEXICO, USA
Bison herd at Vermejo (Photo by Noel Russell)
Vermejo, A Ted Turner Reserve is an ecotourist’s dream, situated on more than HALF A MILLION acres of northern New Mexico wilderness, the land and luxurious lodges are owned by legendary businessman and philanthropist, Ted Turner, perhaps best known as founder of CNN and creator of the cartoon Captain Planet. Ted was passionate about preserving land and native species (his motto is “Save Everything”). The property is the largest of the Ted Turner Reserves, which use hospitality to fund his wildlife conservation efforts. I learned a lot about conservation — especially regarding eco-friendly hunting practices. That’s the overview, but let me break it down even more:
LOCATION: The 500,000+ acres that Vermejo sits on are about a 4 hour drive from the Denver airport, and the final hour to the lodge is all spent driving within Vermejo’s vast property. Apart from the pristine and utterly unique landscape, people come to Vermejo to see the range of wildlife roaming free on the land including herds of bison, elk and wild horses. The property is also home to bears, beavers and mountain lions and the Vermejo river is seeing the return of indigenous trout (thanks to conservation efforts), making it a popular destination for fly-fishermen (and women!). Its remote locale lends itself to utter peace and quiet. You’ll find more stars adorn the night sky here. And if you’re a fan of mountain sunsets and sunrises - especially when reflected in glassy mountain lakes - then you’ve come to the right spot.
Horseback riding with unbeatable views (Photo by Noel Russell)
ACCOMMODATIONS: The main lodging options at Vermejo are at Casa Grande - the central lodge and gathering place for breakfast, dinner or drinks on the porch - or one of the nearby guest cottages. Each cottage is named after a former owner of the Vermejo property. I stayed at the Bartlett Cottage during my stay, a two-story, five-bedroom lodging with a central living room area where my friends and I would gather before heading out for our day’s adventures. The rooms are elegant, with some antiques dating back to Vermejo’s gilded-era origins. My room had its own fireplace and adjoining private bathroom. I slept soundly on the large, four-poster bed each night, thanks in part to the plethora of activities we were able to take part in during the day.
The luxurious lodging, beautiful landscape and interest in ecotourism are what brings people here. What brings them back, however, is the incredible staff. These people truly go out of their way to make you feel like visiting family. I actually experienced a period of withdrawal after my visit last October because I missed already missed the friends I’d made there.
First time I ever held a firearm (Photo by Noel Russell)
ACTIVITIES: One of the things that makes Vermejo such a memorable destination is that your stay includes TWO daily activities. Over a long weekend, our group did morning yoga, horseback riding, shooting practice, wilderness safaris and nature hikes. You can also try fly fishing or ice-fishing, archery, a fitness trail or a picnic by the lake (depending on the season of course). If you’re going to be out for the full day the staff will pack a picnic lunch for you, or you can come back mid-day for a leisurely lunch on the porch of Casa Grande. In the evenings we gathered with other guests on the porch again for some sunset wine and conversation by the fire, followed by dinner inside where we were treated to local bison or elk paired with produce grown at the on-site gardens.
Me and my new best friend, Blackie (Photo by Noel Russell)
STAFF: I know I mentioned it earlier, but the staff there make you feel like family. Partially because a lot of them are family (some having met while working at Vermejo), and live as one community just up the road from the main lodge. All the guides are passionate about the activities and adventures they lead you on, and share a wealth of knowledge as you follow their lead. The General Manager, Jade, has an entertaining or interesting story for seemingly every mountain trail or piece of furniture you come across during your stay, and is always excited to hear about your day when visiting your table at dinner.
PRICE: For the level of luxury they offer, Vermejo is surprisingly affordable — everything is included in the cost of your stay: three meals daily, all non-alcoholic beverages and two activities per day. That said, it’s still definitely a special-occasion splurge. The Bartlett Cottage where I stayed starts at $8,500/night during peak season for a max. of 10 people (or $850/night per person). In addition to the cost per night, be sure to factor in any alcoholic beverages, tipping, flights to and from Denver and the cost of car rental to get you to Vermejo.
