First of all, let me explain that this 5 star review is a bit different than the usual reasons for rating a business 5 stars. Actually the case could be made that the reason I rated it so high was, in fact, because the Shaffer Hotel/Diner/Gallery, has nothing in common with other 5 star hotels. 5 stars to most people means, luxurious rooms and amenities, fine dining, exclusive access to the property and a gallery that most of us would not feel comfortable walking into. However, the Shaffer Hotel offers an experience that none of these properties could even get close to. First of all, the Shaffer Hotel is located in the middle of Mountainair, New Mexico. It's a quaint town that is ready to welcome you with open-arms. No traffic, no parking problems, no hustle and bustle, no platinum credit cards needed. The hotel was built in 1923. It retains virtually all of the features in construction and architecture that instantly transports you back to the days when "luxury" meant a place where you could come in from the cold, enjoy a good meal and get a good's night rest in a comfortable room. An interesting fact about the Shaffer is that the builder, Clem "Pop" Shaffer, after experiencing a fire which destroyed a blacksmith shop he owned, built the hotel using concrete filled with metal machine parts, pipes, old car parts and any other pieces of metal he could lay his hands on. It should also be noted, that if you look at the pictures of the exterior of the hotel and in various places of the interior of the diner you will see what we now call, "swastikas." This symbol back in 1923 - long before the rise of Hitler in Germany - was a symbol used by Native American Tribes like the Navajos and Hopis to mean peace and goodwill. Even after the rise of Adolf Hitler, "Pop" Shaffer definately refused to relinquish this symbol to an evil dictator in a foriegn land.
The rooms, by today's standards are small. Most have a double-bed, maybe a chair and a separate bathroom. However, there are other "cowboy" rooms, which just have a bed and chair with restrooms down the hall. You can literally feel the history all around you with every step you take into the lobby and up the stairway to the rooms. Are these accommodations for everyone? Absolutely not. However, if you and your family would like to literally "get away from it all" you will get this in spades at the Shaffer.
The diner, which re-openned in June of 2019, offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. All of the items are priced between $5.00 to $9.00. The meals are prepared "to order" in a kitchen at one end of the diner. The food is hot and flavorful and the service is welcoming and relaxed. It's not fancy, but oh so enjoyable!
The gallery is just a few steps from the diner. It's a great way to enhance your overall experience at the Shaffer. The atmosphere is peaceful. The artwork (provided by several different artists) offers a range of different styles and subject matter. When we were there, one of the owners/artists, Linda, explained the origin of many of the pieces. She fascinated with stories about the history of the Shaffer and the people who were part of it's incredible backstory. If you should be lucky enough to visit the Shaffer and wander into the Gallery, ask Linda about the ghosts at the Shaffer.
So how can a hotel with creaky floors, small rooms and basic amenities, with a diner that offers basic home-cooked meals at great prices and an art gallery that offers you a cultural experience in a welcoming, "come as you are" atmosphere merit a FIVE star review? Simple really...the Shaffer and the town of Mountainair offers you an experience that can't be matched anywhere else. read more